Technology in race cars (7): Ferrari 156 - The shark in the pool of garage owners

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Technology in race cars (7): Ferrari 156 - The shark in the pool of garage owners

Created on August 4, 2021

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Archiv Gerhard Schütz

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Ludvigsen Partners

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Archiv

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Ferrari 156 (1961) - Phil Hill at the wheel of the Sharknose

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Ferrari 156 (1961 - Count Berghe von Trips in the mid-engined Monoposto at Monza in 1961

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - things are looking up

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - it couldn't be flatter

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - well embedded V6 engine

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Ferrari 156 (1961) - Sectional drawing of the Tipo 178

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - the shark in the dry dock; Carlo Chiti on the left, Enzo Ferrari at the back

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - with 65-degree V6, as already used in the Dino 246 F1

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - the 65-degree V6 with gearbox in front of the rear axle

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - the flat 120-degree V-6 engine

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Ferrari 156 (1961) - tubular frame and chassis

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - the 65-degree V6 with gearbox behind the axle

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - strong finish with the wrecking ball

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - Show performances for photographers?

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Ferrari 156 F1 (1961) - Harbor tour in Monaco, at the wheel Richie Ginther

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Ferrari 156 (1961) - Wolfgang von Trips wins the 1961 British GP, Phil Hill and Richie Ginther finish second and third

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Ferrari 156 (1961) - Winner W. von Trips at the 1961 British Grand Prix

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Ferrari 156 (1961) - Phil Hill ahead of Richie Ginther at the 1961 British Grand Prix

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Ferrari 156 (1961) - Phil Hill at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort in 1962

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Ferrari 156 (1961) - Start of the French Grand Prix in Reims

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Summary

When the Formula 1 regulations for 1961 were based on Formula 2 with 1.5-liter engines, Ferrari had the best cards. Nevertheless, they built a new car with a mid-engine and raced at the front right from the start, eventually winning the world championship. The Ferrari 156 with 65- and 120-degree V6 was the measure of all things in the 1961 season; the British garage teams had no chance. No car survived. This article from the series "Technology in racing cars from 1958 to 1978" looks at the Ferrari 156 in detail and shows it in historical and current images.

This article contains the following chapters

Developed by universal designers
Used with two engines
Tubular frame and independent suspension

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The years 1958-1978 were the two most creative decades in the history of racing technology. This series portrays the most innovative, pioneering and exotic designs of Formula 1, Indy cars, sports cars and CanAm, and at the same time traces the major lines of development that still have an impact today. The series started with Lotus, one of the most important innovation drivers of these two decades. And the series will also finish with Lotus: With the first ground-effect Formula 1 to win a world championship in 1978, the Type 79. The world championship victories of the small Cooper in the 2.5-litre F1 formula in 1959/1960 inspired the regulations authorities for 1961 to base the regulations for the new Formula 1 up to 1965 on the previous Formula 2 cars with their 1.5-litre engines - today we would probably call this downsizing. The English teams were not enthusiastic because they thought this would put Ferrari at an advantage. Ferrari had derived its Dino 246 F1 for 1958-60 from a 1.5-liter Formula 2 (see article on the Dino 246 F1 TiR (2)).

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