Ferrari 166 F2

Ferrari 166 F2
Category	Formula Two
Constructor	Ferrari
Designer(s)	Enzo Ferrari, Gioacchino Colombo, Valerio Colotti
Production	1948
Predecessor	Ferrari 125 F1
Successor	Ferrari 212 F2
Technical specifications
Suspension (front)	Independent suspension with deformable quadrilaterals and levers
Suspension (rear)	De Dion tube with transverse lever
Length	3,600 mm (141.7 in)
Width	1,400 mm (55.1 in)
Height	1,050 mm (41.3 in)
Wheelbase	2,160 mm (85.0 in)
Engine	Ferrari Colombo 1,995 cc (121.7 cu in) V12 supercharged
Weight	680 kg (1,499.1 lb)
Tyres	Dunlop ; Pirelli
Competition history
Notable entrants	Scuderia Ferrari
Debut	1948 Italian Grand Prix

Last updated January 21, 2025

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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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

source:^[6]

Engine

Name: Ferrari Tipo 166 F2 (166 FL)
Layout: Ferrari 12-cylinder V
Displacement : 1,995.02 cc (121.744 cu in)
Bore/stroke: 60 mm (2.4 in) × 58.8 mm (2.31 in)
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

Maximum speed: 7,000 rpm

Transmission

Longitudinal gearbox
Number of gears: 5 gears and reverse
Max speed: 240 km/h (150 mph)

Frame

Tubular single-seater with steel lattice spars and crossmembers
Wheelbase: 2,160 mm (85 in)
Front track: 1,278 mm (50.3 in)
Rear track: 1,250 mm (49 in)
Weight: 560 kg (1,230 lb)
Tank: 150 L (40 US gal)

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

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References

↑ "Le Parc Barbieux dit le Beau Jardin: Courses automobiles". Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
↑ "1952 Ferrari 166 F2". conceptcarz.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
↑ "Un tributo al chueco... Ferrari 166 F2 - FL". www.jmfangio.org. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
↑ "Ferrari 166 F2 - F1technical.net". www.f1technical.net. Archived from the original on 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
↑ "Ferrari 166F2-50". f1-facts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
↑ "1949 - 1951 Ferrari 166 F2 Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2022-06-24.

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[1] "Le Parc Barbieux dit le Beau Jardin: Courses automobiles". Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2022-06-24.

[2] "1952 Ferrari 166 F2". conceptcarz.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-06-24.

[3] "Un tributo al chueco... Ferrari 166 F2 - FL". www.jmfangio.org. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-06-24.

[4] "Ferrari 166 F2 - F1technical.net". www.f1technical.net. Archived from the original on 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2022-06-24.

[5] "Ferrari 166F2-50". f1-facts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2022-06-24.

[6] "1949 - 1951 Ferrari 166 F2 Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2022-06-24.

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