STORY OF THE DAY: De Adamich wins at San Juan in Ferrari’s Formula Two car

Andrea de Adamich won the 1968 San Juan Grand Prix in Argentina with the number 14 Ferrari 166 F2. The race was the second round of the four-event Argentine Temporada and was not part of the Formula One World Championship. His victory contributed to his overall success in a series that attracted strong European Formula Two teams and leading Argentine competitors.

The Temporada placed unfamiliar circuits, intense heat and compressed preparation schedules before the visiting teams. De Adamich adapted effectively and converted Ferrari’s pace into victory at San Juan. His performance formed part of a consistently strong campaign rather than an isolated success, establishing him as the leading driver of that year’s series.

The Ferrari 166 F2 was built for the 1.6-litre Formula Two regulations and used a compact Dino V6 engine. Its light chassis and high-revving power unit were conceived for a category in which agility and modest weight were critical. The car also served Ferrari as a useful bridge between its junior single-seater programme and its larger Formula One designs.

Andrea de Adamich was an Italian driver from Trieste who first gained prominence by winning the European Touring Car Championship for Alfa Romeo. Ferrari recruited him for Formula Two and selected sports-car appearances, giving him experience in several forms of international competition. His San Juan victory remains an important example of his success with the Scuderia beyond the World Championship stage.