The Ferrari 156 was a racecar made by Ferrari in 1961 to comply with then-new F1 regulations that reduced engine displacement from 2.5 to 1.5 litres, similar to the pre-1961 F2 class for which Ferrari had developed a mid-engined car also called 156.
Ferrari started the season with a 65 degrees Dino engine, then replaced by a new engine with the V-angle increased to 120 degrees and designed by Carlo Chiti. This increased the power by 10 hp (7 kW). Bore and stroke were 73.0 x 58.8 mm (2.3 in) with a displacement of 1,476.60 cc and a claimed 190 hp (142 kW) at 9,500 rpm. For 1962 a 24-valve version was planned with 200 hp (149 kW) at 10,000 rpm, but never appeared. In 1963 the 12-valve version fitted with Bosch direct-fuel injection instead of carburetors achieved that power level. The last victory for the Ferrari 156 was achieved by Italian Lorenzo Bandini in the 1964 Austrian Grand Prix.
A V-6 engine with 120 degree bank is smoother at producing power because every 120 degree rotation of engine crankshaft produces a power pulse.
Phil Hill won the 1961 World Championship of Drivers[1] and Ferrari secured the 1961 International Cup for F1 Manufacturers,[2] both victories achieved with the 156.[3]
Sharknose [edit]
The 1961 version was affectionately dubbed "sharknose" due to its characteristic air intake "nostrils". Then-Ferrari factory policy inevitably saw all the remaining sharknose 156s scrapped by the end of the 1963 season. Nevertheless such an F 156 is exhibited in the "Galleria Ferrari"[4] at Maranello, probably a replica. A similar intake duct styling was applied over forty years later to the Ferrari F430.
1963 Ferrari 156 Aero [edit]
The updated Ferrari 156, used in the 1963 season, did not feature the distinctive sharknose design.[5] but had a rather conventional intake, somewhat larger than the Ferrari 158 introduced in 1964.
Monza crash [edit]
On September 10, 1961, after a collision with Jim Clark's Lotus on the second lap of the Italian Grand Prix, the 156 of Wolfgang von Trips (Hill's teammate) became airborne and crashed into a side barrier, fatally throwing him from the car and killing fifteen spectators.
Famous drivers [edit]
In popular culture [edit]
- English Blues singer-songwriter Chris Rea had a meticulous replica of the sharknose built for him to use in his 1996 film, La Passione.
Complete Formula One World Championship results [edit]
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
References [edit]
Phil Hill
Wolfgang von Trips
Giancarlo Baghetti
Ricardo Rodríguez
Willy Mairesse
John Surtees
