Ferrari 412T2
It’s a Ferrari designed in England, in Shalford to be precise, where John Barnard managed to establish a second facility, this time called Ferrari Design and Development (FDD), not far from the first technological hub opened in Guilford in the late 1980s. Gustav Brunner also participates in the project, in his second stint at Ferrari as well.
The 412 T2 is partly an evolution of the previous car, the 412 T1, which allowed Gerhard Berger to secure Ferrari’s first victory in three years. But it also reflects its time, meaning the many safety modifications introduced by the regulations after the terrible accidents of the previous season.
The most noticeable change concerns the engine, which remains a 12-cylinder but now has a 75° inclination and, above all, a displacement of only 3 liters instead of 3.5. The use of a lightweight alloy for the engine block and reduced dimensions compared to the previous model allow Ferrari to save 10 kilograms with the engine alone.
Drivers:
Jean Alesi: In his final season with Ferrari, Alesi finally secures his first Formula 1 victory. It’s on June 11, 1995, at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal. Alesi wins the Canadian Grand Prix. It will be his only career victory. His season reflects the ups and downs of a car with fluctuating performance. Alongside the victory in Canada and four second places in Buenos Aires, Imola, Silverstone, and Nürburgring (European GP), there are eight retirements in 17 total races.
Gerhard Berger: Six times on the podium, six times third. This is the balance of the 1995 season for the Austrian. Brazil, San Marino, Spain, Monaco, Germany, and Hungary. These are the races where Gerhard steps onto the third step of the podium. Like his teammate, he suffers from the lack of reliability of a car that is never the best in the field, often plagued by technical issues, and doesn’t allow the two Ferrari drivers to join the fight for the world title. His only pole position in the history of the 412 T2 comes at Spa.
Our model cars:
New are the redesigned front and rear wings, redesigned to reduce downforce in light of the regulatory changes introduced this year. Contrary to the trend compared to rivals, Barnard decides to forego the raised nose in favor of a classic sloping nose.
Barnard also introduces the novelty of the clutch control positioned behind the steering wheel, with a lever above the gearshift. Only Berger will use it, while Alesi will prefer to continue using the pedal clutch. Seventeen races, one victory, one pole position, and three fastest laps.
