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Derek Bell to be reunited with Ferrari 512M at Goodwood Members’ Meeting

Published 08 February 2016

Racing driver Derek Bell MBE will be reunited with the first sports car he ever competed in - the iconic Ferrari 512M Group 5 racer - at this year’s Goodwood Members’ Meeting in March. Five-times Le Mans winner Bell first raced the Ferrari 512M during the Spa 1000km in 1970.

Bell said, ‘The car means a lot to me as it was the first sports car that I ever drove. Hardly anyone remembers my relationship with Ferrari - they all associate me with rivals Porsche, and the Porsche 956 Rothmans and 962 cars that I raced.

‘I will always have a strong fondness for this car, as it’s been a major part of my life,’ he added.

The Ferrari 512M began its life as a 512S, one of only 25 cars built to contest the Manufacturers’ World Championship in 1970 and 1971.

Derek Bell

It was the first sports car Bell drove in an endurance race at the Spa 1000 Km, entered by the Belgium racing team Ecurie Francorchamps.

Bell shared it with Belgian driver Hughes de Fierlant. Designed by Giacomo Calari as both a berlinetta and a spider, it features a 5.0 litre V12 engine, weighs only 840kg and has a top speed of over 212mph.

Bell started the Spa 1000km in 7th place, and finished 8th overall. He drove the 512S, chassis number 1030, again in the 9hrs of Kyalami in November with the Ecurie Francorchamps team.

The car is heading to the Members’ Meeting courtesy of Hong Kong-based Blackbird Automotive. Bell and the Ferrari were first reunited at the 2015 Goodwood Revival. You can see a short video about that below.