Ferrari tries youngsters

During the early races of the 1970 Formula One season Ferrari only entered one car, the gorgeous 312B, for Belgian Jacky Ickx who had returned to the Scuderia after a spell at Brabham, but at the fourth round in Belgium (Spa), the team decided to run a second car to try out some younger drivers: Italian Ignazio Giunti and Swiss Clay Regazzoni.

Ignazio Giunti was given the second seat in Belgium, where he finished fourth, while Regazzoni (picture above) took his place at the following round in the Netherlands, also finishing fourth. Giunti was back in the seat for the following Grand Prix in France (Charade), but finished fourteenth, three laps behind the winner and eventual 1970 World Champion Jochen Rindt.

Regazzoni was back in the Ferrari for the British Grand Prix, note the open-face helmet, where he finished fourth again, but this time Regazzoni kept the race seat. Four podium finishes followed for Regazzoni during the final six rounds of the 1970 season, including a popular win at Monza, Ferrari’s home race.

However, the race was overshadowed by the death of Championship leader Rindt, during qualifying for the race. A first pole position, at the final round in Mexico (where Ickx won), capped a hugely successful first season in the top formula. Regazzoni finished third in the Drivers’ Championship with 33 points, 12 points behind posthumous World Champion Rindt.