Ferrari stars sparkle at Daytona... for six hours

40

Back in 1972, Ferrari's line-up of drivers included mega stars Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx, perhaps the best combo of talent that ever graced the world of sportscar racing.

At a time when jumping from one category of racing to the other was the norm rather than the exception, the Scuderia's F1 pair and their beautiful Ferrari 312 PB triumphed on this day 51 years ago in the Daytona 6-Hour event, establishing the foundations of the Italian manufacturer's world title that year.

Why was the endurance classic reduced to six hours, you ask? Because the FIA had declared 1972 a transition year for sportscar racing.

In its attempt to get speed and costs under control, the governing body had outlawed the heavy capacity prototypes, such as the glorious Porsche 917 and its arch-rival, the Ferrari 512, and replaced them with a new Group 5 Sportscar class with engines limited to 3 litres.

The FIA believed however that the new 3-litre cars would perhaps struggle to last 24 hours, prompting a reduction in Daytona's format while Le Mans remained an exception.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.