STORY OF THE DAY: Amon Gives the 612 Can-Am Its First Victory

On 10 November 1968, Chris Amon won at Las Vegas in the number 23 Ferrari 612 Can Am. The result at Stardust International Raceway gave Ferrari’s new large-capacity prototype an immediate success against machinery developed specifically for North America’s unrestricted Can-Am series.

Ferrari had entered the category seeking greater power than the earlier 350 Can-Am could provide. Amon’s victory demonstrated the promise of the enlarged concept and rewarded the difficult work of adapting Maranello’s prototype knowledge to the very different demands of short, high-intensity Can-Am racing.

The 612 Can Am was a broad open prototype built around a mid-mounted six-litre Ferrari V12 and tubular structure. It offered considerably greater power than its predecessor, while its dimensions, cooling requirements and substantial mechanical package presented new development challenges.

Amon was a New Zealand works driver celebrated for natural speed and unusually sensitive technical feedback. Successful in major endurance races and a leading Formula One competitor, he was particularly effective in unfamiliar or developing machinery. His Las Vegas victory gave the experimental 612 an important place in Ferrari’s Can-Am history.