Ferrari 166 F2

The Ferrari 166 F2 is an open-wheel formula racing single-seater car, designed, developed and built by Italian manufacturer and team Scuderia Ferrari, for Formula 2 racing, in 1948. This is the car in which Argentinian driver, and eventual five-time Formula One world champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, became known in Europe.

History
Inspired by the Ferrari 125 F1, the 166 F2 uses its improved and lowered chassis with a longer wheelbase which improves stability in turns. The front wheels are independent and the rear is fitted with a rigid axle, replaced in 1950 by a de Dion axle.

The Ferrari 166 F2 was the first of a long series of cars comprising the 166 families. After the 166 F2, Ferrari introduced the 166 S, 166 Inter, and 166 MM.

The Ferrari 166 F2 made its racing debut at the Florence Grand Prix on September 26, 1948, won by French driver Raymond Sommer, nicknamed the Boar of the Ardennes.

Design
The Ferrari 166 F2 was designed around the Ferrari 2-litre V12 engine which already fitted the 166 "civilian GT" versions with covered wheels, but whose power had been increased to 150 hp thanks to the adoption of three Weber 32DCF carburetors instead of one on the sports versions.

The Ferrari 166 F2, whose name derives mainly from its destination to participate in Formula 2 competitions, was the car that made the Argentinian driver Juan Manuel Fangio famous in Europe. The model he drove never sported Ferrari red but a blue/yellow livery in the colors of the Argentinian Automobile Club.

The 166 F2 has constantly evolved and will become more and more competitive until it uncompromisingly dominates the races of the time. With this car, Scuderia Ferrari won many victories: 6 out of 13 races in 1949, and 13 out of 18 races in 1950 and 1951 with drivers Ascari, Villoresi, and Fangio in particular.

In 1950, the Ferrari 166 F2 bearing the number 10 finished first in the Grand Prix du Cinquantenaire on the Parc Barbieux circuit in Roubaix, France. Driver Raymond Sommer finished the 101 laps in 2 hours 20 minutes 21 seconds and 1 hundredth.

Version 166 FL
In 1949, Ferrari launched the 166 FL version (for Formula Libre), also known as the 166 C America. This model was an evolution of the basic Italian version only intended for competitions on the South American continent in formula libre. The power of its engine reached 260 hp at 7000 rpm. This car dominated the Argentinian Temporadas for several seasons despite fierce competition from Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and other Mercedes-Benz.

The 166 FL in Argentine yellow and blue colors was built in 1949 for winter racing in Argentina. The 166 FL was the queen of the winters of 1950 and 1951 and Gonzalez led it to victory at the Buenos Aires GP in 1951. In 1953, three victories would be won by Villoresi and Ascari at the wheel of a Ferrari 166 FL.

Technical specifications
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Engine
Maximum speed: 7,000 rpm
 * Name: Ferrari Tipo 166 F2 (166 FL)
 * Layout: Ferrari 12-cylinder V
 * Displacement : 1,995.02 cc
 * Bore/stroke: 60 mm × 58.8 mm
 * Timing: 2-valves per cylinder
 * Fuel supply: 3 double-barrel Weber 32 DCF carburettors (1 double-barrel Weber 40 carburettor plus Roots turbocharger)
 * Power: 160 hp at 7000 rpm - 310 hp at 7000  rpm with Roots turbocharger

Transmission

 * Longitudinal gearbox
 * Number of gears: 5 gears and reverse
 * Max speed: 240 km/h

Frame

 * Tubular single-seater with steel lattice spars and crossmembers
 * Wheelbase: 2160 mm
 * Front track: 1278 mm
 * Rear track: 1250 mm
 * Weight: 560 kg
 * Tank: 150 L

Suspensions

 * Independent front suspension with deformable quadrilaterals and levers
 * De Dion type rear axle with transverse lever

Wheels

 * 16-inch rims
 * Official single-seater tyres: Pirelli
 * Private single-seater tires: Pirelli