Paul Pietsch (20 June 1911 – 31 May 2012) was a racing driver, journalist and publisher from Germany, who founded the magazine Das AutoGlückwunsch zum 100. Geburtstag - ADAC Motorwelt 6/2012 p12 and published many other as his Motor Presse Stuttgart became the largest publisher in the European market for technology and special interest magazines.
He had a career in 1930s Grand Prix racing, and returned after the war, becoming the first German ever to take part in Formula One World Championship Grand Prix.
Biography Born in Freiburg, Pietsch began his racing career in 1932 with a private Bugatti and Alfa Romeo.
Racing with an Alfa Romeo, Pietsch won the 1933 III Svenska Isloppet GP ice race in Hemfjärden, and the 1934 I Vallentunaloppet ice race in Vellentunasjön, both in Sweden.
From the 1935 German Grand Prix he raced three GPs for Auto Union, and finished third in the 1935 Italian Grand Prix before leaving the team with its hard-to-drive rear engines. From 1937 onwards he entered a private Maserati. His greatest hours came in the 1939 German Grand Prix which he led from lap two until the ignition failed, making him drop down to third, which was still an excellent result for a privateer against the dominant force of the Silver Arrows.
After the war, Pietsch participated in three World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on September 3, 1950. His drive in a factory Alfa Romeo in the 1951 German Grand Prix ended with an accident. He scored no championship points.
At that time, Pietsch was already a successful editor and publisher of motorcycle and automobile magazines. His company, Motor Presse Stuttgart, is the largest in the European market for technology and special interest magazines.
From the death of his countryman Karl Kling in 2003 until his own death, Pietsch was the oldest surviving Formula One driver, at age 100 and the last surviving driver of pre-war Grand Prix era. His son Peter-Paul Pietsch races often at the Nürburgring with fellow journalists.
On 31 May 2012, Pietsch died from pneumonia at the age of 100 years, 11 months and 11 days. Pietsch was also the first Grand Prix driver to reach the age of 100.
Racing record
Complete European Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pts 1932 Pilesi Racing Team Bugatti T35B Bugatti 2.3 L8 ITA FRA GER 22nd 23 1935 Auto Union AG Auto Union B Auto Union 5.0 V16 MON FRA BEL GER SUI11 ITA ESP 15th 47 1937 P. Pietsch Maserati 6C-34 Maserati 3.7 L6 BEL GER MON SUI ITA 17th 35 1938 P. Pietsch Maserati 6CM Maserati 1.5 L6 FRA GER SUI ITA 14th 28 1939 Officine A. Maserati Maserati 8CTF Maserati 3.0 L8 BEL FRA GER 14th 26 P. Pietsch Maserati 4CL Maserati 1.5 L4 SUI Notes – As a co-driver Pietsch was ineligible for championship points
Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pts 1950 Paul Pietsch Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0 1951 Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo 159 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 Motor Presse Verlag Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0
See also List of centenarians (sportspeople)
References