THE ARGENTINIAN F2 TEMPORADA OF 1968
The quick dash of the Cavallino Rampante in the Argentinian Pampas
By Lorenzo Baer
PART 4
RACE N° 4
GRAN PREMIO AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS (BUENOS AIRES, VARIANT N° 6)
The location of the last championship race could be the same as the first, but the similarities stop right there. In the December 1st presentation, the race was held on the variant of the circuit called n° 9, with 3,413 meters in length; for the climax of the season, the variant chosen was n°6, with 4,208 meters.
In any case, the difference between the two variants used in the Argentine season was quite stark, not simply translating into the lap distance value: while variant n°9 was basically a high-speed circuit, with only one ‘slow’ session ( between curves 3 – Entrada a Los Mixtos – and 9 – Salida del Tobogã), the variant 6 would demand much more from the pilots’ technique; the Salida del Siervo was crossed, giving way to another sequence of curves in the heart of the circuit, the best known being the Confitería.
Therefore, it was expected, once again, that the Ferraris would dictate the rhythm, given its supremacy in all circuits so far. Both in straight-line speed and cornering agility, the scarlet cars were the ones to beat. Hard to imagine this before the start of the championship!
Much of this is due to the watchful eye of the Italian team of engineers, led by the almost mythological Mauro Forghieri; when resources were given and focus was directed, Ferrari’s full competence was demonstrated on the track; but, as is known, at the end of the 60s, the Scuderia’s effort was splitted between the manufacture of F1, F2, touring, prototypes, and street cars!
So, it’s worth making some small inquiries about the Ferrari operations in the late 60´s. Instead of splitting attention across all these categories, wouldn’t it make more sense to focus on 2 or 3, especially given the internal chaos at the Scuderia at the time? And how many victories in the race circuits this mentality, of trying everything instead of focusing, costed to Ferrari? We will never know for sure, but the question is always up in the air.
Just a small scratch. The damage may look extensive from the outside, but De Adamich_s car emerged almost mechanically intact from the accident on the first lap of the second heat. Even so, the race was already doomed for Ferrari. Credits Pinterest
Anyway, at least at the end of 1968, the Scuderia regained some of its lost glory and respect. Already in the official timed sessions, on the Saturday before the race, Brambilla and De Adamich were the fastest, ensuring that the two Ferraris, once again, were in the front row. In third place, Jochen Rindt was again taking his spot as the chaser of the Italian duo.
Even with the lead on the starting grid, Ferrari’s mood deteriorated rapidly during the afternoon, as is so typical of the Italian team: the news of Andrea de Adamich’s non-renewal with the Maranello team, and his pre-contract with the rival Alfa-Romeo for the 1969 season, fell like a bomb in the pits. After the discovery of the news by the Argentine press, the pilot was enraged. De Adamich’s chagrin was further heightened when he discovered that it was Enzo Ferrari who had leaked the information, at a press conference in Modena a week earlier.
The race, scheduled for December 22nd, would be held in a different way from the previous 3 stages: instead of following one full sprint race pattern, the last race was reserved for a scheme of 2 heats, each having 25 laps. The pilot with the lowest combined time from the 2 heats would be declared the winner of the Gran Premio Aerolineas Argentinas.
Given the start of the first heat, it seemed that the plot of the last few races would repeat itself once again: De Adamich’s Ferrari in first, with Brambilla close behind; they were both followed by Jochen Rindt’s Brabham. Another driver who demonstrated that he had a car the match, in the last stage, was Jo Siffert, who was following the first group.
Another one who was showing an eagerness to stand out from the rest of the peloton was the Englishman Piers Courage, who tried to maintain a constant pace, keeping in his sights the four pilots who were battling ahead, and opening distance from the skirmish that came right behind, between Jean Pierre Beltoise and Jackie Oliver. Matra, which for the first time was testing high-mounted wings on its cars, showed inconsistent performance, as its pilots were still adapting to the new technology.
At one point, Beltoise and Oliver came to violently touch each other on the circuit, causing part of the rear fairing of Oliver’s Lotus to detach from the car; but nothing that disturbed the dispute between the two drivers, who continued to punish each other throughout the first heat.
When a Ferrari one-two was already taken for granted in the first heat, bad luck struck ‘Tino’ Brambilla again: the pilot, who was leading the race on the final lap, heard his engine falter. Then a dull explosion came from the engine and quickly, it was all over. An oil leak destroyed the engine, and the pilot, desolate with the bad luck he had had in the last 3 races, said goodbye to the land of tango.
Who took advantage of the problem was De Adamich, who, passing through the Entrada a Los Mixtos, saw the despair of his teammate; having nothing to do with it, he continued accelerating, and crossed the finish line, with a time of 48”14.200, almost six seconds ahead of Rindt. In third was Siffert, with Piers Courage less than 3 tenths of a second behind.
End of the first heat, and the preparation for the second one was already in full swing. But even before that could happen, bad luck struck Scuderia Ferrari again. At the start of the second heat, a confusing accident occurred.
Despite winning the first race in Buenos Aires, ‘Tino’ Brambilla suffered from reliability problems with the Ferrari in the remaining three races of the Temporada. Credits Unknown
De Adamich lost control of his car when he accelerated after the start clearance, heading towards a group of guests and drivers who were standing in the pits. Without having time to react, the Ferrari went straight to a group of people standing on the pits, injuring half a dozen reporters, spectators and even the pilot Carlos Marincovich. Confusion grew in the pit area, with the police asking for the postponement of the race. While other people wanted to go after the Italian driver, to make a little ‘chat’ with him.
In the end, the conclusion was that the accident was due to a touch on the rear of the car (with Reutemann or Courage as the main suspects), which caused a small mechanical change in the balance of the machine. Both De Adamich and the Ferrari car emerged, at least outwardly, almost intact from the accident, even with half a lap behind the peloton. Internally, however, the damage had been done, as would be seen in the second heat.
After the dust had settled and all the wounded were removed, the race continued at its pace. And, to everyone’s surprise, this time it wasn’t a red car that was leading the race: it was the british green, traditional for Brabham cars. Now, it was finally Rindt’s turn to grab a victory in Argentine lands! But sometimes, the story likes to be unpredictable, putting a dash of drama wherever possible.
Behind the Austrian, followed in order: Siffert, Oliver, Courage and the surprising Reutemann, who drove like an experienced driver of the great motorsport circus. However, the joy of the Argentine pilot would not last long in this second heat, when after completing six laps, the Brabham refused to continue, with oil pressure problems.
While Rindt was looking for peace of mind in the race, something he hadn’t had so far in the championship, another Brabham was chasing him. After jostling for position with Siffert and Oliver for most of the second heat, Piers Courage had broken free from the duo and was now attacking the leader of the race, who was also his teammate.
From then on the race began to be a seesaw of emotions. First, Jochen Rindt, who had gained a good margin of time ahead of the pursuers, began to have engine problems: he was losing time when switching to lower gears, something that was precious on the twisty circuit of Buenos Aires. With that, the three immediate chasers behind began to approach. Jo Siffert, who had the third best combined times (behind De Adamich and Rindt), relied on the problems of both drivers to take the first position overall.
However, on the final lap, Siffert started to slow down, which cost him precious seconds in the sum – the official excuse was that Siffert’s car started to have the same problem as Rindt’s; the unofficial, which was commented at the time, was that ‘Seppi’ ended up getting confused in the lap count, thinking that he had already completed the 25 laps of the second heat, when, in fact, there was 1 remaining.
Who best capitalized on the problem of all direct opponents was the Englishman Piers Courage, who surreptitiously took the first position of the race, holding it until the final flag. In second crossed Jackie Oliver and his Lotus; in third and fourth, the faltering Jochen Rindt and Jo Siffert, respectively.
EPILOGUE OF THE 1968 TEMPORADA SERIES
Brambilla’s success in the first race in Buenos Aires, in addition to the two achieved by De Adamich in Córdoba and San Juan, were enough for the Scuderia to be declared the champion of the 1968 Argentine F2 Temporada. This was largely due to regularity of the drivers in the races, especially De Adamich, who was always in the top positions in almost every single stage of the Temporada (the exemption being the second race in Buenos Aires).
More significant than the individual success of the drivers, however, was that winning the Temporada title was a small, but important relief for Scuderia Ferrari as a whole. This championship was the last opportunity in 1968 for the team to achieve some success on the tracks; realizing it, the squad came together in unison, focusing on a common objective of winning this title no matter how.
Through serious work and dedication, the mission was accomplished, making, to a certain extent, the chaotic year of 1968 less bad than it theoretically could have been. Winning is always memorable; but winning in the middle of a crisis, well… it is something that always has that special taste.
Also read:
Part 1: Introduction: Gran Premio Gas Del Estado
Part 2: Gran Premio Líneas Marítimas Argentinas
Part 3: Gran Premio Empresas Agua y Energia Eletrica
Rindt, De Adamich and Brambilla lined-up for the first heat of the last race of the Temporada in Buenos Aires. Credits AutoMundo magazine
The last race of the Temporada was an almost complete fiasco for Ferrari. Even starting in the first two positions, none of the red cars from Maranello finished the race. Credits Archivio Ferrari
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