Eugen Böhringer (22January192219June2013) was a German racing driver and hotelier who spent the majority of his racing career on the Mercedes-Benz works team. A specialist in grueling long-distance events, his crowning achievement was victory in the 1962 European Rally Championship. Early life
Eugen Böhringer was born on 22 January 1922 in Rotenberg, Stuttgart to Gottfried and Emma Böhringer. By 1925 the family owned a Mercedes-Knight 16/45 PS Tourenwagen, and Emma Böhringer was one of the first women in the Stuttgart area to have a driver's license. In 1928, his father started a bus service between Rotenberg and Untertürkheim for commuting employees of the Mercedes-Benz plant located there. Before becoming a driver, Eugen worked as a chef at the family's hotel and restaurant. His road to fame began with him entering a Mercedes-Benz W105 in local and regional competitions for a wager with friends.
Racing career
Early successes brought a promotion to the Mercedes-Benz works team for 1960, and a second-place finish at Rallye Monte-Carlo behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Tourenwagen. The "fintail" saloons became his trademark, as he developed a reputation for nimble driving in rallies which often exceeded 5,000 kilometers.
Race results
1958 Stuttgart Solitude Rally, 1st place 1959 Stuttgart Solitude Rally, 1st place 1960 Rally Monte Carlo, 2nd place Coupe des Alpes, 2nd in class 1961 Rally Monte Carlo, 1st place in over 2000 cc class Tulpenrallye, 1st place Rally Acropolis, 1st place in over 2000 cc class Coupe des Alpes, 2nd place in class Rajd Polski, 1st place Liège–Sofia–Liège, 4th place Deutschland-Rallye, 2nd place 1962 Rally Monte Carlo, 2nd place overall, 1st in class Tulpenrallye, 1st in over 2000 cc class Rally Acropolis, 1st place Midnight Sun Rally Sweden, 5th place overall, 1st in class Rallye Solitude, 2nd place Rajd Polski, 1st place Liège–Sofia–Liège, 1st place Deutschland-Rallye, 2nd place
1963 Rally Acropolis, 1st place International ADAC 6-Hour-Race, 2nd in over 2500 cc class Deutschland-Rallye, 1st place Spa-Sofia-Liège, 1st place Argentine Touring Car Grand Prix, 1st place 1964 Rally Monte Carlo, 1st in over 2000 cc class Brands Hatch 6-Hour-Race, 1st in class 6 Hours of Zolder, 3rd in class International ADAC 6-Hour-Race, 1st place Macau Touring Car Grand Prix, 1st place Spa-Sofia-Liège, 3rd place Argentine Touring Car Grand Prix, 1st place 1965 Rally Monte Carlo, 2nd overall, 1st in class
References