Roland Asch
Encyclopedia
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.
His career started 1973 with slalom
before moving to hillclimbing
to become German Champion in 1981. After racing also on circuits in the lower Trophy division of the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft
, he made his Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
(DTM) début at age 34 in 1985. From 1985 to 1994 Asch consistently drove for Mercedes
in DTM, moving to the German Supertouring Championship (STW)
in 1995 for four years when the DTM faltered.
, Asch was accused by some of hitting an opponent intentionally to support his Opel
teammate Uwe Alzen
.
Asch was called into the pits for a jump start penalty, yet he was focused on racing like he always is, later stating that his radio had failed. Near the end of the race, he missed a braking point at the last chicane, ran over the grass and back on the track, hitting Audi
's Christian Abt
. While this incident was mainly considered a race accident, he was punished for ignoring the penalty, and some fans even called him Arsch. Alzen had celebrated immediately after the race, but the championship was given to Abt in November after video evidence was considered by the officials.
Similar incidents caused by others had occurred earlier. One case in 1990 involved a young Michael Schumacher
as the culprit who decided the DTM championship in the first corner by taking out a contender.
Apart from touring car racing
, Asch was also busy in Porsche
series. He won the German Porsche 944
Turbo Cup twice, in 1988 and 1989, before winning the German Porsche Carrera Cup
in 1991.
Well in his 50s, Asch has returned to the German Porsche Carrera Cup, where he raced until 2003, bar a one-off race during the 2004 season.
In 2004 he also drove some races in the European Touring Car Championship
for RS-Line Ford
, the brand he runs a dealership for at Ammerbuch.
Since the 1999 24 Hours Nürburgring
, he races the Nissan Skyline GT-R
entry of Japanese team Falken
every year as their lead driver.
Currently, he is supporting his son Sebastian Asch
, who is racing in the SEAT León
Cup.
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
who is strongly associated with his home town Ammerbuch
Ammerbuch
Ammerbuch is a municipality in the district of Tübingen, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 7 km northwest of Tübingen.See Also: Entringen...
near Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, speaking the local Swabian
Swabian German
Swabian is one of the Alemannic dialects of High German. It is spoken in Swabia, a region which covers much of Germany's southwestern state Baden-Württemberg, including its capital Stuttgart, the rural area known as the Swabian Alb, and Bavaria...
dialect in interviews and commercials.
His career started 1973 with slalom
Autocross
Autocross is a form of motorsports that emphasizes safe competition and active participation. An autocross is a timed competition where drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course on either sealed or unsealed surfaces...
before moving to hillclimbing
Hillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
to become German Champion in 1981. After racing also on circuits in the lower Trophy division of the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft or simply DRM as it was known, was a touring car and Sportscar racing series...
, he made his 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....
(DTM) début at age 34 in 1985. From 1985 to 1994 Asch consistently drove for Mercedes
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...
in DTM, moving to the German Supertouring Championship (STW)
Super Tourenwagen Cup
The Super Tourenwagen Cup, or German Supertouring Championship, was a touring car racing series held between 1994 and 1999 in Germany.The championship was established when BMW and Audi both left the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft in 1992, after the series had adopted the more expensive Class 1...
in 1995 for four years when the DTM faltered.
Incidents
At the end of the 1999 and final STW season at the NürburgringNürburgring
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...
, Asch was accused by some of hitting an opponent intentionally to support his Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
teammate Uwe Alzen
Uwe Alzen
Uwe Alzen is a German racing driver specialised in touring car racing and sports car racing....
.
Asch was called into the pits for a jump start penalty, yet he was focused on racing like he always is, later stating that his radio had failed. Near the end of the race, he missed a braking point at the last chicane, ran over the grass and back on the track, hitting Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
's Christian Abt
Christian Abt
Christian Abt is a race car driver born in Kempten, Germany, into a family of amateur race drivers and car dealers.His elder brother Hans-Jürgen Abt runs the Abt Sportsline Audi racing teams as well as their tuning company for Audi and Volkswagen.Christian Abt started his career in motocross and...
. While this incident was mainly considered a race accident, he was punished for ignoring the penalty, and some fans even called him Arsch. Alzen had celebrated immediately after the race, but the championship was given to Abt in November after video evidence was considered by the officials.
Similar incidents caused by others had occurred earlier. One case in 1990 involved a young Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
as the culprit who decided the DTM championship in the first corner by taking out a contender.
Apart from 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:...
, Asch was also busy in Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
series. He won the German Porsche 944
Porsche 944
The Porsche 944 is a sports car built by Porsche from 1982 to 1991. It was built on the same platform as the 924, although 924 production continued through 1988. The 944 was intended to last into the 1990s, but major revisions planned for a 944 S3 model were eventually rolled into the 968 instead,...
Turbo Cup twice, in 1988 and 1989, before winning the German Porsche Carrera Cup
Porsche Carrera Cup
Porsche Carrera Cup is a number of one-make sports car racing series competed with Porsche 911 Carreras, including the following:-Regional:...
in 1991.
Well in his 50s, Asch has returned to the German Porsche Carrera Cup, where he raced until 2003, bar a one-off race during the 2004 season.
In 2004 he also drove some races in the European Touring Car Championship
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
for RS-Line Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, the brand he runs a dealership for at Ammerbuch.
Since the 1999 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:...
, he races the Nissan Skyline GT-R
Nissan Skyline GT-R
The Nissan Skyline GT-R is a Japanese sports car based on the Nissan Skyline range.The first GT-Rs were produced from 1969–1973. After a 16 year hiatus since the KPGC110 in 1972, the GT-R name was revived in 1989 with the Skyline R32. This car was nicknamed "Godzilla" by the Australian motoring...
entry of Japanese team Falken
Falken Tires
Falken Tire Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer of automobile tires. Originally created in 1983 as a brand for Ohtsu Tire and Rubber to sell their lineup of performance tires under, Falken became part of Sumitomo Rubber Industries when they acquired Ohtsu in 2003...
every year as their lead driver.
Currently, he is supporting his son Sebastian Asch
Sebastian Asch
Sebastian Asch is a race car driver, son of Roland Asch.Starting his career in slalom and karting, he drove in the 2004 German Ford Fiesta Cup, driving the #8 car.Currently, he is winning in the SEAT León Cup....
, who is racing in the SEAT León
SEAT León
The SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with...
Cup.