Ickx Ferrari set for Masters Racing Series debut

post from Classic cars, Vintage Racing, Classic Rally on 16 May 2008 01:59:37 PM. © Classic cars, Vintage Racing, Classic Rally

One of the most significant cars to return to racing in 2008, an ex-Jacky Ickx Ferrari 312B2, will make its debut in the Grand Prix Masters races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit next weekend (25/26 May).

The Ferrari 312B2 that won the 1972 German Grand Prix in the hands of Ickx has not been raced since the 1970s, but is now due to return to racing in the skilled hands of James Hanson and is due on the grid at Brands after a long rebuild.

After spending most of its life in private collections, the car was demonstrated by Ickx at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix in 2006, but has not raced for well over three decades. Ickx's 1972 victory at the Nurburgring was his last Grand Prix victory as the 312B2 struggled to compete with the Lotus 72 and Tyrrells.

Now owned by James Hanson, the 1971 3-litre flat 12-engined Ferrari has been painstakingly rebuilt over the last 18 months. It was shown in public at Race Retro in March 2007 when it took pride of place on the Masters stand and is now ready to race once more.

"It came as a runner, and it is very original," said Hanson. "But it needed some work before it could be raced again. It will be brilliant to race it and the car should create a lot of interest," he said.

Subject to its progress at Brands Hatch during the Masters Racing Festival, it is hoped that the Ferrari will contest other Grand Prix Masters races this summer.

Source: Masters Racing Series

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