For the 1969 CanAm Season, the NART team returned with their 612 but with a modified engine. Ferrari had increased the engines output to 640 bhp by increasing the displacement to 6.9-liters, resulting in a new designation, the Ferrari 712 P. It would race only one event. A black-flag given after rule violations did not help Ferrari's attempt at winning the race. With further development, the Ferrari 350/612/712 may have had more success, but a CanAM championship was not what Ferrari wanted. Their efforts were switched back to World Championship competition for 1969, when the CSI regulations were changed, making competition more attractive for Ferrari. The Group 4 homologation requirements were lessened in an effort to lure more teams back to sports car racing. What had, in the prior year, required a minimum of 50 production cars in order to compete was lessened to just 25. Likewise, the rules surrounding Group 6 competition was simplified, hoping to appeal to teams such as Ferrari. The rule changes meant that Ferrari's 612 P chassis fitted with a gearbox and engine from their F1 efforts would qualify for the Group 6 class.
Chassis number 1010 was then prepared with a 7 litres and 680 bhp engine: the body was basically an enlarged 312P , and the performances in line with competitors. The car received an uprated suspension and drive train to cope with the additional power of the 7 liter engine.
* On July 25th 1971, 1010, under the Scuderia Ferrari banner, was entered in the Watkins Glen Can Am race. Driven by Mario Andretti, it qualified fifth, and in the race Andretti was running third and finally finished fourth. The rear wing had come off and the car’s handling was affected, and the car desperately needed development. “It was one of the worst cars I ever drove,” said Andretti.
To achieve anything, you must be prepared to dabble on the boundary of disaster.”
Sir Stirling Moss
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