Regular readers who go back to my days posting stories about cars at rowdy.com may remember seeing today’s photo’s before, however since my original post is long lost to the infosphere and I have found out a little more about this particular car I will ask your indulgence a second time.

The Ferrari 312 T3 was the third evolution of the Ferrari Grand Prix cars built to Formula One regulations with a 3 liter / 183 cui 180 degree V12 motor and transverse gearbox built for the 1978 World Drivers and Constructors Championships which had been won for a second time in 1977 by Niki Lauda who moved onto the Brabham Team for ’78. Argentinian Carlos Reutemann and Canadian young gun Gilles Villeneuve were to drive for the Ferrari team in 1978 and despite the car being completely outclassed by the revolutionary Lotus 79 ground effects car the superior reliability of the Ferrari 312 T3 managed to secure second place in the Constructors Championship for Ferrari picking up 4 wins to the eight scored by the Lotus team.

This particular car, chassis #034, was used exclusively by Gilles Villeneuve in 1978 and for one race in 1979, the most important of which was the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix which marked Gilles first Grand Prix victory. This car was acquired by Mr N.Mason in the mid 1980’s and has been a regular guest at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the car is seen here, ever since.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Allez ! Allez ! Allez ! Gilles !’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !