Ferrari 712 Can-Am to go Shell

The mighty seve-litre V12 Ferrari 712 Can-Am car is set to hit the tracks of Europe in the last two rounds of this year’s Shell Historical FerrariMaserati Challenge, at Hockenheim and Vallelunga.

Built on a cut-down 512S coupe-type frame, the 712 appeared just once as a works entry, when Mario Andretti took a fourth place in the Watkins Glen Can-Am race in July 1971, before being acquired by US Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti. Jean-Pierre Jarier drove it under the Chinetti’s NART banner at Watkins Glen and Elkhart Lake in 72. Its fourth and final appearance, at the Glen two years later, now in winged high downforce set-up, saw Brian Redman sub for Sam Posey who had crashed in practice.

Acquired at a US auction this spring by Brazilian collector Carlos Monteverde, the monster, reckoned to develop well over 650bhp, will be driven by former British Hillclimb champion David Franklin. MP