Andrea de Adamich

Who is Andrea de Adamich?

Andrea Lodovico de Adamich is a former racing driver from Italy. He participated in 34 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, making his début on 1 January 1968. He scored a total of 6 championship points. He also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races.

De Adamich was born in Trieste, but the family originated from Fiume where his ancestor Andrea Lodovico de Adamich had been the wealthiest and most powerful merchant. Andrea de Adamich was an accomplished saloon and sport-car racer who performed solidly when asked to race in F1 where he was one of the few drivers to have worn spectacles to race.

He won the 1966 European Touring Car Championship at the start of a long relationship with Alfa Romeo and made his GP debut in the 1968 South African race when his Ferrari spun off on oil. Later in the season he won a South American F2 tournament with Ferrari but was not retained by the Italian giants and he returned to the Alfa Romeo fold as they entered F1 supplying engines to a third works McLaren. De Adamich only finished once in 1970 in the McLaren-Alfa and had no more luck the following year when the Alfa engine deal switched to March.