September 1971 Ecuador

Marlboro 12 Hours of Ecuador

Yahuarcocha, Ecuador

Ferrari 512M/S (chassis #1014)

Result; 1st

The 1971 Marlboro 12 Hours of Ecuador at Yahuarcocha (pronounced Yaw-ara-kocha) is to date the most prestigious race to have been run in Ecuador, with several overseas visitors taking part in the event which was heavily sponsored by Marlboro. Tony Adamowicz co-drove to victory with Greg Young in a Young American Racing Team Ferrari 512M/S.

Adamowicz collection

The 512M/S I drove in Ecuador with Greg Young of the Young American Racing Team was a stunning example of the 512M. It was black, and as pristine looking as the Blue Penske 512M that was not successful. We won the race, which was sponsored heavily by Marlboro. This was a hybrid car because it was the M bodywork with the roof removed like the 512S models. The chassis number was 1014, and it was the only one I ever saw like that. Greg Young’s Mom sponsored him in the car and later in Can Am racing.

Six months before winning the Ecuador race, Gregg had flipped the car five times at the 3/20/71 Sebring 12 Hours.

Young hit a sand embankment at the hairpin turn in lap 29 of the race. The car then caught on fire and Young couldn’t open the door. Corner workers lifted the car allowing Young to escape.

Adamowicz collection – Autosports Marketing Associates, Ltd. photo (autosportsltd.com)

After burning to the ground, the car was meticulously repaired to the point that it rivaled Penske’s immaculate blue 512M driven by Donohue. Six months after this Sebring crash, we won the 12 Hours of Ecuador in it.

A month later, Greg wrecked the Ferrari again at Fuji, Japan. He was lucky to escape from the high-speed crash, and the car never raced again.

It was soon restored by Kirk F. White and has been owned by other collectors over the years.

Newspaper article translation:

“This is the fabulous Ferrari 512-S, which will participate in the “12 Hours” on Sunday. I arrived yesterday in Quito, by plane. It cost $78,000, so it is the most expensive car of the many that have arrived in Ecuador, and it develops a speed of 350 kilometers per hour. It will be guided by the American Tony Adamowicz.”