Porsche 3512
Encyclopedia
The Porsche 3512 was a racing
engine
designed by Porsche
for use in Formula One
racing during the 3.5-liter normally aspirated era of Grand Prix racing. The engine was a V12
configuration, with an 80-degree vee
angle, and displacement
was just under 3.5 liters (hence the designation 3512). The engine was also unusual for having a power take-off
from the center of the engine. The engine was used by the Footwork
team at the start of the 1991 Formula One season
. The engine was Porsche's first complete design for Grand Prix racing since 1987
.
The Porsche 3512 was intended for the new Footwork FA12
, but the size and bulk of the engine meant the car had to be re-designed to install it properly, so the 1990-based car called the A11C was used for the first three race meetings. Both Michele Alboreto
and Alex Caffi
failed to qualify for the United States GP
, but Alboreto managed to qualify the car at Interlagos
until retiring from the race. Alboreto also qualified for the San Marino GP
, but failed to qualify for the Monaco
, Canadian
, and Mexican
Grands Prix. Alex Caffi failed to qualify for the next three events, and was replaced for the North American rounds after sustaining injuries from a road accident. Stefan Johansson
took his place at Canada, qualifying for the race but retiring with an engine failure. Stefan failed to qualify for the Mexican GP, which would ultimately be the last appearance of the Porsche 3512 engine at a World Championship event.
One possible reason the Porsche engine was uncompetitive was the weight of engine; when items like the clutch, flywheel, and other ancillaries were installed, it weighed 418 pounds, compared to the Ferrari V12 (308 lb.) and the Honda V12 (352 lb.) racing at the same time. The novel method of drawing power from the center of the engine led to oil pressure problems. By the time the Footwork team appeared at the French Grand Prix, the team switched back to the Ford-Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 engines for the rest of the year, in a modified version of the car designated the FA12C. Porsche pulled out of Formula One again a few months after the French Grand Prix. The announcement was made around the time of the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix
.
A replacement for the 3512 was in development at the time of Porsche's withdrawal from Formula One. This V10 engine
would not be completed until several years later, when it was modified for use in the stillborn Porsche LMP
project in 2000. The engine eventually became mass-produced
when a further variant was chosen as the powerplant of the Porsche Carrera GT
supercar.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
designed by Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
for use in Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
racing during the 3.5-liter normally aspirated era of Grand Prix racing. The engine was a V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
configuration, with an 80-degree vee
V engine
A V engine, or Vee engine is a common configuration for an internal combustion engine. The cylinders and pistons are aligned, in two separate planes or 'banks', so that they appear to be in a "V" when viewed along the axis of the crankshaft...
angle, and displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
was just under 3.5 liters (hence the designation 3512). The engine was also unusual for having a power take-off
Power take-off
A power take-off or power takeoff is a splined driveshaft, usually on a tractor or truck, that can be used to provide power to an attachment or separate machine. It is designed to be easily connected and disconnected...
from the center of the engine. The engine was used by the Footwork
Footwork Arrows
Footwork Arrows was the name of a Formula One motor racing team, competing during the mid-1990s. Japanese businessman Wataru Ohashi, who was the president of Footwork Express Co., Ltd., a Japanese logistics company, began investing heavily in the Arrows team in 1990, the deal including requiring...
team at the start of the 1991 Formula One season
1991 Formula One season
The 1991 Formula One season was the 42nd season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1991 FIA Formula One World Championship, which commenced on March 10, 1991 and ended on November 3 after sixteen races...
. The engine was Porsche's first complete design for Grand Prix racing since 1987
1987 Formula One season
The 1987 Formula One season was the 38th season of Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1987 FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers and Constructors which commenced on April 12, 1987 and ended on November 15 after sixteen races...
.
The Porsche 3512 was intended for the new Footwork FA12
Footwork FA12
The Footwork FA12 was a Formula One car designed and built by the Footwork Arrows team for the 1991 season. The number 9 car was driven by Michele Alboreto and the number 10 car was shared by Alex Caffi and Stefan Johansson...
, but the size and bulk of the engine meant the car had to be re-designed to install it properly, so the 1990-based car called the A11C was used for the first three race meetings. Both Michele Alboreto
Michele Alboreto
Michele Alboreto was an Italian racing driver. He is famous for finishing runner up to Alain Prost in the 1985 Formula One World Championship, as well as winning the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2001 12 Hours of Sebring sports car races...
and Alex Caffi
Alex Caffi
Alessandro "Alex" Caffi is a former Formula One driver from Italy. He participated in 75 Grands Prix, debuting on September 7, 1986...
failed to qualify for the United States GP
1991 United States Grand Prix
The 1991 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on March 10, 1991 in Phoenix, Arizona.__FORCETOC__-Summary:Ayrton Senna's new McLaren-Honda had not turned a wheel prior to arriving in Phoenix for the start of the 1991 Formula One season, but when it did, no one could even stay close...
, but Alboreto managed to qualify the car at Interlagos
1991 Brazilian Grand Prix
The 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Interlagos on March 24, 1991.- Race summary :Ayrton Senna made a perfect start to lead from Nigel Mansell, Riccardo Patrese, Jean Alesi, Gerhard Berger and Alain Prost, building up a lead of some 3 seconds by lap 8. However Mansell was...
until retiring from the race. Alboreto also qualified for the San Marino GP
1991 San Marino Grand Prix
The 1991 San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Imola on 28 April 1991.- Background :Stefan Johansson was replaced at AGS by F1 debutant Fabrizio Barbazza...
, but failed to qualify for the Monaco
1991 Monaco Grand Prix
The 1991 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Monaco on May 12, 1991.-Report:Ayrton Senna shocked no-one by taking pole position, but second place was a surprise with Stefano Modena taking full advantage of the superior Pirelli qualifying tyres to be second followed by Patrese, Piquet,...
, Canadian
1991 Canadian Grand Prix
The 1991 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 2, 1991.- Report :There had been a lot of action in the back rooms of Formula One between the Monaco and Canadian Grands Prix, with the most notable change being that Cesare Fiorio had been fired as team...
, and Mexican
1991 Mexican Grand Prix
The 1991 Mexican Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Mexico City on June 16, 1991. It was the sixth race of the 1991 Formula One season.-Report:...
Grands Prix. Alex Caffi failed to qualify for the next three events, and was replaced for the North American rounds after sustaining injuries from a road accident. Stefan Johansson
Stefan Johansson
Stefan Nils Edwin Johansson is a former Formula One driver from who drove for among others both Ferrari and McLaren during his Grand Prix career. Since leaving Formula One he has raced in a number of categories, including CART, various kinds of Sports car racing, and Grand Prix Masters...
took his place at Canada, qualifying for the race but retiring with an engine failure. Stefan failed to qualify for the Mexican GP, which would ultimately be the last appearance of the Porsche 3512 engine at a World Championship event.
One possible reason the Porsche engine was uncompetitive was the weight of engine; when items like the clutch, flywheel, and other ancillaries were installed, it weighed 418 pounds, compared to the Ferrari V12 (308 lb.) and the Honda V12 (352 lb.) racing at the same time. The novel method of drawing power from the center of the engine led to oil pressure problems. By the time the Footwork team appeared at the French Grand Prix, the team switched back to the Ford-Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 engines for the rest of the year, in a modified version of the car designated the FA12C. Porsche pulled out of Formula One again a few months after the French Grand Prix. The announcement was made around the time of the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix
1991 Japanese Grand Prix
The 1991 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Suzuka on October 20, 1991. It was the fifteenth round of the 1991 Formula One season.- Report :...
.
A replacement for the 3512 was in development at the time of Porsche's withdrawal from Formula One. This V10 engine
V10 engine
A V10 engine is a V engine with 10 cylinders in two banks of five with a distinct exhaust note.- Mechanics :The V10 is essentially the result of mating two even-firing straight-5 engines together. The straight-5 engine shows first and second order rocking motion...
would not be completed until several years later, when it was modified for use in the stillborn Porsche LMP
Porsche LMP
The Porsche LMP was a stillborn Porsche Le Mans Prototype project with intentions to race in 2000. It was a planned replacement for both the LMP1-98 and 911 GT1-98 following Porsche's one year sabbatical from the top Le Mans Prototype class in 1999...
project in 2000. The engine eventually became mass-produced
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
when a further variant was chosen as the powerplant of the Porsche Carrera GT
Porsche Carrera GT
The Porsche Carrera GT is a mid-engined sports car that was manufactured by Porsche in Leipzig, Germany.- History :The development of the Carrera GT can be traced back to the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. Due in part to the FIA and ACO rule changes in 1998, both designs had ended. Porsche at...
supercar.
External links
- Photo of Porsche 3512 engine.
