This Ferrari 512 M Changed the Racing World Forever
966,946
Published 2014-10-14
In a historic run of bum luck, however, the car never won a single race.
Debuting at the 24 Hours of Daytona, Donohue put the 512 M on the pole. Just before midnight, however, Vic Elford blew a tire on his Porsche 917 and in the ensuing slowdown, Charles Perry and his 911S ran into Donohue and the 512 M. The Penske crew taped and patched up the car as best they could and watched Donohue and Hobbs fight their way back to a third place finish.
Next up was the 12 Hours of Sebring, where the 512 M was once again on the pole. In the fourth hour of the race, away from photographers’ cameras, Pedro Rodriguez, driving a Porsche 917, rammed Donohue multiple times, sending the Ferrari into the pits for repairs. Once again, the pit crew managed to get the car back on the track, where it finished sixth.
Shipped to France for the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Ferrari 512 M was considered an underdog against the long-tailed Porsche 917s, which had a speed advantage over the Ferrari. Alas, the Sunoco team barely got a chance to prove itself: the 512 M retired with engine failure on Saturday evening.
Finally, it was back to the United States for the Watkins Glen 6 hours. Donohue was leading in the 54th lap when a broken steering knuckle sent him into the pits and out of the race. The Penske team came back the next day to run the car in the Watkins Glen Can Am race but the car’s original racing days were over.
Despite its misfortunes on the track, the Sunoco Ferrari 512 M and the team that ran it remain among the most important racing stories of the 1970s. At a time when racing teams paid little attention to “spit and polish,” Roger Penske demanded that his cars and his teams be precise, disciplined, and spotless. Remove bad luck from the equation and this insistence on excellence would’ve paid off. As it is, it still changed the world of motorsports, as other teams quickly realized that they would have to change their own operations if they hoped to compete successfully in the long term.
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All Comments (21)
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That sound. That glorious sound.
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I could listen to David Hobbs talk about racing all day. I miss him announcing F1, in my area coverage switched from NBCSN to ESPN this year and we have a new group of announcers who are knowledgeable, and do a good job, but Mr. Hobbs can never be replaced.
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The 512 and the Porsche 917 are the best looking old school race cars, in my opinion. Amazing.
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The narration of David Hobbs is simply wonderful...
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I have to watch (listen to) this clip every few months or so. Magic.
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David is a fantastic driver, and a great story teller. It's always better when someone who's driven the car is there to describe it.
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That blue and yellow is just stunning, how perfect.
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When I was 12, I saw these incredible cars race at Watkins Glen. These cars are incredibly loud and impressive to watch. As a kid, the impressions they made on me have never left.
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I’d give anything before I die to see Penske and Sunoco reunite, in any racing series. There simply has never been a classier combination of gorgeous chrome, immaculate preparation, and elegant livery in auto racing. 👑
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Wow.... David Hobbs, thank you for featuring him 🙏🇺🇸
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This is how a race cars should sound, and Sir David Hobbs is a true great driver, epic vid
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American cars are often over looked but you have to love the #50 BFG/Lifesavers Greenwood Corvette trailing just behind the 512M in the old photo @1:32 in the video. That Vette set a GT class record at Lemans of 215 mph on the Mulsanne Straight back in 71.
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So sweet to have David Hobbs on here
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I keep coming back to these videos of the great cars … can never get enough !
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David Hobbs is awesome, great to hear from him.
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Il miglior canale in assoluto, grazie per i brividi che suscitate con ogni nuovo video. The best channel ever, thanks for chills aroused with any new video.
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What a gem of a vid! So amazing to have Mr Hobbs presentating! This guys can drive! :)
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This car is one of the most beautiful works of mechanical art I have ever seen in my 15 years of life.
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I'd really like to have that onboard in it's entirety, beautiful sound! Not a bad driver either!
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Man, if you guys could get your hands on a Mazda 787b that would just be the best thing ever. My favorite race car of all time, along with the cinematography of your videos would be too perfect.
