The Ferrari 312P is one of the more unmistakable shapes that sports car racing ever saw, and has been appearing in magazines, historic racing almanacs and luxuriously produced history books in six decades.
It’s a 48 year old shape, with technology under the surface of equal vintage. Yet it’s still more than capable of showing those impetuant youths a thing or two.


Ferrari boycotted sports car racing in 1968 for, uh, political reasons. They were keen not to come back unless they had something strong enough to wipe certain other brands noses in the dirt.
In 1969 they came back, and the 312 was their weapon.

This car represents the 312’s first iteration, with open spyder bodywork. There was also a closed version and it was those that were contested at LeMans.
As with so many historic race cars this one has a fascinating  history. It doesn’t effervesce with racing triumph, but has packed plenty of drama into its life. A full chronical of its career can be found here.

As has its owner and driver, David Franklin, with 50 years of racing under his belt. He is a British Hillclimb and British Sprint Champion, and is still in demand for wheel-man duties in historic racing today.
He’s 72 years old. So did he take it easy this weekend? Nope.

He took the 312p and hurled it up the hillclimb, coming seventh overall in the final shootout. In the process soundly thrashing a current British Touring Car and many, many other exotic, bang-up-to-date machines in the process.
As Goodwood keeps pointing out – age ain’t nothing but a number.

(All images copyright Chris Haining / Hooniverse 2016)