The arrival of Harvey Postlethwaite as chassis engineer allowed Ferrari to develop a monocoque chassis made of honeycomb—a structure typical of beehives, with small hexagonal Kevlar cells covered by aluminum panels. This technology, new to the Maranello team, marked a significant step forward compared to the tubular frame with riveted panels used until the previous season, although it was already outdated by the arrival of carbon fiber, which was already being used by the main rival teams.
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| FERRARI 126C2, Gilles Villeneuve Long Beach, USA West GP 1982 |
The design of the mechanics and engine for the new Ferrari 126C2 single-seater was once again entrusted to the historic engineer Mauro Forghieri, while the car’s aerodynamics were developed through extensive sessions in the Pininfarina wind tunnel. The result was a car with soft, rounded shapes and a very appealing appearance, to the point of being considered one of the most beautiful single-seaters in the history of the Maranello team. The side pods were notably large, sloped forward, and featured Venturi channels on the bottom of the car. The nose had a sloping, rounded shape, and the front wing was significantly smaller than in previous years, as the extraordinary downforce generated by the car’s body (about 2.5 tons, the highest of the time) provided such aerodynamic load that the front appendage became almost unnecessary.
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| FERRARI 126C2, Didier Pironi Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1982 |
The engine was the Ferrari Tipo 21, a 120° turbocharged V6 powered by two KKK turbochargers, further improved in terms of reliability and power, now reaching 580 horsepower in race configuration. Thanks to Mauro Forghieri’s genius, the already powerful Ferrari V6 was further enhanced by introducing a system inspired by aircraft engines: the injection of atomized water into the air-fuel mixture to cool the combustion chambers. The 126C2 used an integrated gearbox and Ferrari-designed differential with five forward gears plus reverse. It had a wheelbase of 2657 mm, weighed 587 kg, and ran on Goodyear tires.
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| FERRARI 126C2, Patrick Tambay Hockenheimring, German GP 1982 |
From mid-season onward, Ferrari replaced the traditional rocker arm front suspension with a pull-rod suspension, a concept developed years earlier by Gordon Murray and used on the successful Brabham BT cars of the 1980s. The remarkable competitiveness of the 126C2, which secured Ferrari the Constructors’ Championship, was overshadowed by two serious accidents involving their lead drivers during the season. On May 8 at the Zolder circuit, Gilles Villeneuve lost his life in a collision with Jochen Mass’s March. In August at Hockenheim, Didier Pironi suffered multiple leg fractures in a rear-end collision with Alain Prost’s Renault, effectively ending his racing career.
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| FERRARI 126C2, Mario Andretti Monza, Italian GP 1982 |
To replace the two main drivers, Ferrari brought in Frenchman Patrick Tambay and the ever-reliable Italian-American Mario Andretti mid-season. They achieved four podiums, helping Ferrari clinch the Constructors’ Championship. During the 1982 season, the 126C2 secured three victories, eight podiums, and two pole positions, accumulating 74 points. Despite missing the last five races, Pironi still finished second in the Drivers’ Championship, just five points behind title winner Keke Rosberg in a Williams.
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