Eifelrennen
Encyclopedia
The ADAC Eifelrennen was an annual motor race, organised by ADAC
Automobile Club from 1922 to 2003, held in Germany
's Eifel
mountain region even before the Nürburgring
was built there.
, Wollersheim, Vlatten, Heimbach
, Hasenfeld and other villages in the Eifel
mountains, similar to the Targa Florio
which was a very important race at that time, and popular in Germany due to two wins by Mercedes
(still without Benz then).
In 1922, all vehicles were allowed, cars, motorbikes, and even bicycles with supporting engines. Over 100 entrants showed up to compete in the 10 lap event. The track was not paved, and muddy after heavy rains.
In 1924 to 1926, the races for 2 and 4 wheels were held on separate days, and classes were introduced. Still, several fatal accidents happened. Even spectator stands collapsed, caused by stormy weather.
The unsatisfying safety situation led to the construction of the Nürburgring
circuit in that area, which was inaugurated on Saturday, 18 June 1927 by the 5. Eifelrennen weekend, starting with motorcycle races. On Sunday, Rudolf Caracciola
won the first car race on a Mercedes-Benz
S.
The connection of motorcycle and car races was discontinued in 1974, when organisers, drivers and German motorcycle Grand Prix
riders disagreed on the best way to make the track safe for both kinds of racing - with straw bales or without? As a result, international contenders for the motorcycle World Championships boycotted the races, leaving the GP wins to rather unknown Germans (even to German fans) who decided to ride anyway.
After the modern Grand Prix
track was built at the Nürburgring in 1984 and F2 was replaced with F3000, the Eifelrennen was discontinued as it always was associated with the long Nordschleife.
Later, the trademark was given to a standard rounds of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
and STW touring car racing
on this short GP track. Often two separate races were held, thus two winners.
The last Eifelrennen was held in early May 2003 when several races were held, including an VLN
endurance race on the 25.9 km full combined Nordschleife in preparation for the 24 Hours Nürburgring
race three weeks later.
Currently there are no major race series cooperating with the ADAC to host a weekend as Eifelrennen.
)
ADAC
The ADAC is Germany's and Europe's largest automobile club, with more than 17 million members in June 2010. It was founded on May 24, 1903 as "Deutsche Motorradfahrer-Vereinigung" and was renamed in 1911...
Automobile Club from 1922 to 2003, held in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
mountain region even before the Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
was built there.
History
Starting from 1922, the first races were held on a 33 km long combination of public roads around NideggenNideggen
Nideggen is a town in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the river Rur, in the Eifel hills, approx. 15 km south of Düren....
, Wollersheim, Vlatten, Heimbach
Heimbach
Heimbach is a town in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the river Rur, in the Eifel hills, approx. 20 km south of Düren. Heimbach is the city with the smallest number of residents in North Rhine-Westphalia...
, Hasenfeld and other villages in the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
mountains, similar to the Targa Florio
Targa Florio
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973...
which was a very important race at that time, and popular in Germany due to two wins by Mercedes
Mercedes (car)
Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler...
(still without Benz then).
In 1922, all vehicles were allowed, cars, motorbikes, and even bicycles with supporting engines. Over 100 entrants showed up to compete in the 10 lap event. The track was not paved, and muddy after heavy rains.
In 1924 to 1926, the races for 2 and 4 wheels were held on separate days, and classes were introduced. Still, several fatal accidents happened. Even spectator stands collapsed, caused by stormy weather.
The unsatisfying safety situation led to the construction of the Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
circuit in that area, which was inaugurated on Saturday, 18 June 1927 by the 5. Eifelrennen weekend, starting with motorcycle races. On Sunday, Rudolf Caracciola
Rudolf Caracciola
Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola , more commonly Rudolf Caracciola , was a racing driver from Remagen, Germany. He won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times...
won the first car race on a Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
S.
The connection of motorcycle and car races was discontinued in 1974, when organisers, drivers and German motorcycle Grand Prix
German motorcycle Grand Prix
The German motorcycle Grand Prix, first held in 1925, is since 1952 part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship.- History :The first two Großer Preis von Deutschland races were held at Berlin's AVUS before moving to the new the purpose-built Nürburgring which was used in its full...
riders disagreed on the best way to make the track safe for both kinds of racing - with straw bales or without? As a result, international contenders for the motorcycle World Championships boycotted the races, leaving the GP wins to rather unknown Germans (even to German fans) who decided to ride anyway.
After the modern Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
track was built at the Nürburgring in 1984 and F2 was replaced with F3000, the Eifelrennen was discontinued as it always was associated with the long Nordschleife.
Later, the trademark was given to a standard rounds of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide....
and STW touring car racing
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
on this short GP track. Often two separate races were held, thus two winners.
The last Eifelrennen was held in early May 2003 when several races were held, including an VLN
VLN
The VLN, properly the Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring is an organisation of motorsport clubs of which each hosts one event of a ten-race series held on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the "VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring"...
endurance race on the 25.9 km full combined Nordschleife in preparation for the 24 Hours Nürburgring
24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...
race three weeks later.
Currently there are no major race series cooperating with the ADAC to host a weekend as Eifelrennen.
ADAC Eifelrennen winners (motorcycles)
Deutsche Tourist-Trophäe (German Tourist TrophyTourist Trophy
Tourist Trophy may refer to:* Isle of Man TT, the original Tourist Trophy motorcycle racing event* RAC Tourist Trophy, the longest awarded prize in motorsports* Dutch TT at Assen, a MotoGP event...
)
- 1922 Sixtus Meyer, Harley-DavidsonHarley-DavidsonHarley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
1000 ccm - 1923 - No Race -
- 1924 Franz Bieber, BMW - (1000 ccm : Robert "Robby" Jecker, Harley-DavidsonHarley-DavidsonHarley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
) - 1925 Paul Weyres
- 1926
- 1927 Toni Ulmen
ADAC Eifelrennen winners (automobiles)
- 1922 Fritz von Opel / Hans von Opel, Opel
- 1923 - No Race -
- 1924 Wetzka / Haide, Austro-Daimler
- 1925
- 1926 Felten, Mannesmann
ADAC Eifelrennen winners (automobiles) on the Nürburgring
| Year | Winner | Class |
|---|---|---|
| 1927 |  Rudolf CaracciolaRudolf Caracciola Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola , more commonly Rudolf Caracciola , was a racing driver from Remagen, Germany. He won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times... |
Sports car Sports car racing Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars.... |
| 1928 | O. Spandel |
Sports car |
| 1929 | W. Bartsch |
Sports car |
| 1930 | Heinrich-Joachim von Morgen |
Grand Prix Grand Prix motor racing Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver... |
| 1931 | Rudolf Caracciola |
Grand Prix |
| 1932 | Rudolf Caracciola |
Grand Prix |
| 1933 |  Tazio NuvolariTazio Nuvolari Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing... |
Grand Prix |
| 1934 | Manfred von Brauchitsch Manfred von Brauchitsch Manfred Georg Rudolf von Brauchitsch was a German auto racing driver who drove for Mercedes-Benz in the famous "Silver Arrows" of Grand Prix motor racing in the 1930s.... |
Grand Prix |
| 1935 | Rudolf Caracciola |
Grand Prix |
| 1936 |  Bernd RosemeyerBernd Rosemeyer Bernd Rosemeyer was a German racing driver.- Career :... |
Grand Prix |
| 1937 | Bernd Rosemeyer |
Grand Prix |
| 1938 | - No Race - | |
| 1939 | Hermann Lang Hermann Lang Hermann Lang was a German champion race car driver.Born in the Bad Cannstatt district of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, at age fourteen Hermann Lang had to go to work to help support his family following the death of his father... |
Grand Prix |
| 1940 | - No Race - | |
| 1948 | - No Race - | |
| 1949 |  Karl KlingKarl Kling Karl Kling was a motor racing driver and manager from Germany. He participated in 11 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 4 July 1954. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 17 championship points.It is said, that he was born too late and too early... |
Sports car |
| 1950 | Fritz Riess Fritz Riess Fritz Riess or Rieß was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, on August 3, 1952... |
Formula 2 |
| 1951 | Paul Pietsch Paul Pietsch Paul Pietsch is a former racing driver from Germany and founder of the magazine Das Auto.-Biography:Born in Freiburg, Pietsch began his racing career in 1932 with a private Bugatti and Alfa Romeo.... |
Formula 2 |
| 1952 |  Rudi FischerRudi Fischer Rudolf "Rudi" Fischer was a racing driver from Switzerland.Fischer participated in eight World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 27 May 1951. He achieved two podiums, and scored a total of 10 championship points... |
Formula 2 |
| 1953 | Toulo de Graffenried Toulo de Graffenried Baron Emmanuel 'Toulo' de Graffenried was a Swiss motor racing driver. He participated in 23 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 13, 1950, and scored a total of 9 championship points... |
Formula 2 |
| 1954 | Karl-Günther Bechem Günther Bechem Karl-Günther Bechem was a former racing driver from Germany.Bechem started out in sports car racing before competing in Formula One in the 1952 German Grand Prix, driving a BMW under the alias "Bernhard Nacke". He failed to finish the race, and so did not score any World Championship points... |
Sports car |
| 1955 |  Juan Manuel FangioJuan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing... |
Sports car |
| 1956 | Walter Schock |
Gran Turismo Grand tourer A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement.... |
| 1957 | Heini Walter Heini Walter Heini Walter was a Swiss racing driver. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, on 5 August 1962. He finished 14th, scoring no World Championship points. He also participated in some non-Championship Formula One races.-Complete World Championship Formula One results:-... |
GT |
| 1958 | Wolfgang Seidel Wolfgang Seidel Wolfgang Seidel was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in 12 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 2 August 1953... |
GT |
| 1959 | Wolfgang von Trips |
Formula Junior Formula Junior Formula Junior is an open wheel formula racing class first adopted in October 1958 by the CSI . The class was intended to provide an entry level class where you could use inexpensive mechanical components from ordinary automobiles... |
| 1960 |  Dennis TaylorDennis Taylor (racing driver) Dennis Taylor was a British racing driver from England. He competed in 500cc Formula 3 from 1952 to 1954... |
Formula Junior |
| 1961 | Jo Siffert Jo Siffert Joseph Siffert was a Swiss racing driver.Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and close friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of a dairy owner... |
Formula Junior |
| 1962 | Peter Warr Peter Warr Peter E. Warr was an English businessman, racing driver and a manager for several Formula One teams, including Walter Wolf Racing, Fittipaldi Automotive, and Team Lotus.... |
Formula Junior |
| 1963 | Gerhard Mitter Gerhard Mitter Gerhard Karl Mitter was a German Formula One and sportscar driver.Mitter was born in Schönlinde in Czechoslovakia, but his family was expelled from there, to Leonberg near Stuttgart.... |
Formula Junior |
| 1964 | Jim Clark Jim Clark James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965.... |
Formula 2, Südschleife |
| 1965 |  Paul Hawkins |
Formula 2, Südschleife |
| 1966 |  Jochen RindtJochen Rindt Karl Jochen Rindt was a German racing driver who represented Austria during his career. He is the only driver to posthumously win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship , after being killed in practice for the Italian Grand Prix... |
Formula 2, Südschleife |
| 1967 | Jochen Rindt |
Formula 2, Südschleife |
| 1968 | Chris Irwin Chris Irwin Chris Irwin is a British former racing driver. He participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 16 July 1966... |
Formula 2, Südschleife |
| 1969 | Jackie Stewart Jackie Stewart Sir John Young Stewart, OBE , better known as Jackie Stewart, and nicknamed The Flying Scotsman, is a Scottish former racing driver and team owner. He competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Drivers' Championships. He also competed in Can-Am... |
Formula 2, Nordschleife |
| 1970 | Jochen Rindt |
Formula 2, Nordschleife |
| 1971 |  François CevertFrançois Cevert Albert François Cevert Goldenberg was a French racing driver who took part in the Formula One World Championship.-Family background:... |
Formula 2 |
| 1972 | Jochen Mass Jochen Mass Jochen Richard Mass is a former race car driver from Germany.He participated in 114 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 14, 1973 at the British Grand Prix... |
Formula 2 |
| 1973 |  Reine WisellReine Wisell Reine Wisell is a former racing driver from Sweden. He participated in 23 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on October 4, 1970. He achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 13 championship points. He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races... |
Formula 2 |
| 1974 | - No Race - | |
| 1975 | Jacques Laffite Jacques Laffite Jacques-Henri Laffite is a French former racing driver who competed in Formula One from to . He achieved six grand prix wins, all while driving for the Ligier team. He is now a TV commentator on French television TF1.... |
Formula 2 |
| 1976 | Freddy Kottulinsky Freddy Kottulinsky Winfried Philippe Adalbert Karl Graf Kottulinsky Freiherr von Kottulin, better known as Freddy Kottulinsky , was a German-Swedish racing and rallying driver who won the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1980. He was born in München.... |
Formula 2 |
| 1977 | Jochen Mass |
Formula 2 |
| 1978 |  Alex RibeiroAlex Ribeiro Alex Dias Ribeiro is a former racing driver from Brazil. He participated in 20 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, but scored no World Championship points.... |
Formula 2 |
| 1979 | Marc Surer Marc Surer Marc Surer is a former racing driver from Switzerland. He participated in 88 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 9 September 1979. He scored a total of 17 championship points.... |
Formula 2 |
| 1980 |  Teo FabiTeo Fabi Teodorico Fabi , better known as Teo Fabi, is an Italian former racing driver.-Career:Fabi participated in 71 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on January 23, 1982. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 23 championship points... |
Formula 2 |
| 1981 |  Thierry BoutsenThierry Boutsen Thierry Marc Boutsen is a former racing driver who raced for the Arrows, Benetton, Williams, Ligier and Jordan teams in Formula One.-Career:thumb|left|Boutsen driving for [[Arrows]] at the [[1984 Dallas Grand Prix]].... |
Formula 2 |
| 1982 | Thierry Boutsen |
Formula 2, Nordschleife |
| 1983 | Beppe Gabbiani Beppe Gabbiani Giuseppe "Beppe" Gabbiani is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 17 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 1 October 1978, and scored no championship points... |
Formula 2, shortened Nordschleife |
| 1984 | - No Race - | |
| 1985 | - No Race - | |
| 1986 | Volker Weidler Volker Weidler Volker Weidler is a former racing driver from Germany, best known for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991.-Formula racing:In 1985, he became German Formula Three champion.... |
DTM Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide.... , GP track |
| 1987 | Manuel Reuter Manuel Reuter Manuel Reuter is a German former race car driver.He has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice:*in 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans for Sauber-Mercedes*in 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans for Joest Racing... |
DTM |
| 1988 |  Kurt ThiimKurt Thiim Kurt Thiim is a Danish race car driver. After his karting career he raced for several years in single-seaters before moving to the DTM in 1986... Dany Snobeck |
DTM |
| 1989 | Steve Soper Steve Soper Steve Soper is a retired racing driver from Surrey, England, born in 1951. He raced in sports cars and touring cars at the top level for over 20 years. In 1983 he almost won the British Touring Car Championship before his Rover was deemed illegal. He finished as runner-up in the series in 1988 in a... Steve Soper |
DTM |
| 1990 | Steve Soper Steve Soper |
DTM |
| 1991 | Klaus Ludwig Klaus Ludwig Klaus Ludwig is a German race driver.- Biography :Unlike Hans-Joachim Stuck, Rolf Stommelen, Harald Ertl, Hans Heyer and Jochen Mass, he has never raced in single seaters... Klaus Ludwig |
DTM |
| 1992 | Roland Asch Roland Asch Roland Asch is a race car driver who is strongly associated with his home town Ammerbuch near Stuttgart, speaking the local Swabian dialect in interviews and commercials.... Frank BielaFrank Biela Frank Biela is an auto racing driver, mainly competing in touring cars and sportscar racing. He has raced exclusively in cars manufactured by the Audi marque since 1990.... |
DTM |
| 1993 | Klaus Ludwig Nicola Larini Nicola Larini Nicola Larini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 75 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 6, 1987. He finished second in the tragic 1994 San Marino Grand Prix on a substitute outing for Ferrari, but only scored points once more in his career... |
DTM |
| 1994 | Nicola Larini Klaus Ludwig |
DTM |
| 1995 | Bernd Schneider Bernd Schneider (racecar driver) Bernd Schneider is a retired racing driver from Germany.-Early years:Schneider was named after legendary driver Bernd Rosemeyer, winner of the 1936 European Drivers Championship. Introduced to karting at an early age, he displayed an obvious talent for racing... Bernd Schneider |
DTM |
| 1996 | Jörg van Ommen Jörg van Ommen Jörg Van Ommen is a former German racing driver. He drove for Mercedes-AMG in the DTM in 1995 & 1996, finishing 2nd place in 1995 in a Mercedes C-Class.-External links:*, Driver Database... Manuel Reuter |
DTM |
| 1997 | Laurent Aïello Laurent Aïello Laurent Aïello is a race car driver.In 1990 he won the Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three support race. His two seasons in International Formula 3000 were not successful however, and though he won the French Formula Three Championship. 2005 was his final competitive season... Laurent Aiello |
STW STW -Mathematics:*The Shimura-Taniyama-Weil conjecture, a generalization of Fermat's last theorem.-Music:*Stop the War Coalition, an anti-war group in the United Kingdom*Salt the Wound, a deathcore band-Other:... Supertouring Supertouring Super Touring, Class 2 or Class II was a motor racing Touring Cars category defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile for national touring car racing in 1993. It was based on the "2 litre Touring Car Formula" created for the British Touring Car Championship in 1990... |
| 1998 | Roland Asch Johnny CecottoJohnny Cecotto Alberto "Johnny" Cecotto is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver... |
STW |
| 1999 | Tom Kristensen Tom Kristensen Tom Kristensen is a Danish racing driver. He has won many championships in auto racing but his most famous achievement is being the only person to win the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times, six of which were consecutive... Manuel Reuter |
STW |
| 2000 | Manuel Reuter Manuel Reuter |
DTM Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe.... |
| 2001 | Laurent Aiello |
DTM |
| 2002 | - No Race - | |
| 2003 | Gianmaria Bruni Gianmaria Bruni Gianmaria "Gimmi" Bruni is an Italian racing driver who in 2004 drove in Formula One with the Minardi team, and is now racing in the Le Mans Series and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.... |
Formula 3000 Formula 3000 The Formula 3000 International Championship was a motor racing series created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile in 1985 to become the final preparatory step for drivers hoping to enter the Formula One championship... |