Eifelrennen
From WOI Encyclopedia Italia
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.
Contents |
History
Starting from 1922, the first races were held on a 33 km long combination of public roads around Nideggen, 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 May 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 Eifelrennen winners (motorcycles)
Deutsche Tourist-Trophäe (German Tourist Trophy)
- 1922 Sixtus Meyer, Harley-Davidson 1000 ccm
- 1923 - No Race -
- 1924 Franz Bieber, BMW - (1000 ccm : Robert "Robby" Jecker, Harley-Davidson)
- 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 Caracciola | Sports car |
| 1928 | O. Spandel | Sports car |
| 1929 | W. Bartsch | Sports car |
| 1930 | Heinrich-Joachim von Morgen | Grand Prix |
| 1931 | Rudolf Caracciola | Grand Prix |
| 1932 | Rudolf Caracciola | Grand Prix |
| 1933 |  Tazio Nuvolari | Grand Prix |
| 1934 | Manfred von Brauchitsch | Grand Prix |
| 1935 | Rudolf Caracciola | Grand Prix |
| 1936 |  Bernd Rosemeyer | Grand Prix |
| 1937 | Bernd Rosemeyer | Grand Prix |
| 1938 | - No Race - | |
| 1939 | Hermann Lang | Grand Prix |
| 1940 | - No Race - | |
| 1948 | - No Race - | |
| 1949 |  Karl Kling | Sports car |
| 1950 | Fritz Riess | Formula 2 |
| 1951 | Paul Pietsch | Formula 2 |
| 1952 |  Rudi Fischer | Formula 2 |
| 1953 | Toulo de Graffenried | Formula 2 |
| 1954 | Karl-Günther Bechem | Sports car |
| 1955 |  Juan Manuel Fangio | Sports car |
| 1956 | Walter Schock | Gran Turismo |
| 1957 | Heini Walter | GT |
| 1958 | Wolfgang Seidel | GT |
| 1959 | Wolfgang von Trips | Formula Junior |
| 1960 |  Dennis Taylor | Formula Junior |
| 1961 | Jo Siffert | Formula Junior |
| 1962 | Peter Warr | Formula Junior |
| 1963 | Gerhard Mitter | Formula Junior |
| 1964 | Jim Clark | Formula 2 |
| 1965 |  Paul Hawkins | Formula 2 |
| 1966 |  Jochen Rindt | Formula 2 |
| 1967 | Jochen Rindt | Formula 2 |
| 1968 | Chris Irwin | Formula 2 |
| 1969 | Jackie Stewart | Formula 2 |
| 1970 | Jochen Rindt | Formula 2 |
| 1971 |  François Cevert | Formula 2 |
| 1972 | Jochen Mass | Formula 2 |
| 1973 |  Reine Wisell | Formula 2 |
| 1974 | - No Race - | |
| 1975 | Jacques Laffite | Formula 2 |
| 1976 | Freddy Kottulinsky | Formula 2 |
| 1977 | Jochen Mass | Formula 2 |
| 1978 |  Alex Ribeiro | Formula 2 |
| 1979 | Marc Surer | Formula 2 |
| 1980 | Teo Fabi | Formula 2 |
| 1981 | .png){kind=small} Thierry Boutsen | Formula 2 |
| 1982 | Thierry Boutsen | Formula 2 |
| 1983 | Beppe Gabbiani | Formula 2 |
| 1984 | - No Race - | |
| 1985 | - No Race - | |
| 1986 | Volker Weidler | DTM |
| 1987 | Manuel Reuter | DTM |
| 1988 |  Kurt Thiim Dany Snobeck | DTM |
| 1989 | Steve Soper Steve Soper | DTM |
| 1990 | Steve Soper Steve Soper | DTM |
| 1991 | Klaus Ludwig Klaus Ludwig | DTM |
| 1992 | Roland Asch Frank Biela | DTM |
| 1993 | Klaus Ludwig Nicola Larini | DTM |
| 1994 | Nicola Larini Klaus Ludwig | DTM |
| 1995 | Bernd Schneider Bernd Schneider | DTM |
| 1996 | Jörg van Ommen Manuel Reuter | DTM |
| 1997 | Laurent Aïello Laurent Aiello | STW Supertouring |
| 1998 | Roland Asch Johnny Cecotto | STW |
| 1999 | Tom Kristensen Manuel Reuter | STW |
| 2000 | Manuel Reuter Manuel Reuter | DTM |
| 2001 | Laurent Aiello | DTM |
| 2002 | - No Race - | |
| 2003 | Gianmaria Bruni | Formula 3000 |
