The Eifelrennen was an annual motor race, organised by ADAC Automobile Club from 1922 to 2003, held in Germany's Eifel mountain region. Like other races of its time it was first held on public roads. In 1927 it was moved to the newly-built Nürburgring.
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. From 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 Südschleife was used instead of the Nordschleife from 1928 until 1931 and from 1958 until 1968.
The connection between the 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 full length combined course (25.9 km) 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; Robert "Robby" Jecker, Harley-Davidson (1000cc) 1925: Paul Weyres 1926 1927: Toni Ulmen
ADAC Eifelrennen winners (automobiles) 1922: Kurt C. Volkhart, Steiger 1923: No race 1924: Wetzka / Haide, Austro-Daimler 1925 1926: Felten, Mannesmann
ADAC Eifelrennen winners (automobiles) on the Nürburgring
YearWinnerCarClass1927 Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz Sports car1928 Otto Spandel Steyr Sports car1929 W. Bartsch Amilcar Sports car1930 Heinrich-Joachim von Morgen Bugatti Grand Prix1931 Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix1932 Rudolf Caracciola Alfa Romeo Grand Prix1933 Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo Grand Prix1934 Manfred von Brauchitsch Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix1935 Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix1936 Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Grand Prix1937 Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Grand Prix1938 1939 Hermann Lang Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix19401948 1949 Karl Kling Veritas Sports car1950 Fritz Riess AFM-BMW Formula 21951 Paul Pietsch Veritas Formula 21952 Rudi Fischer Ferrari Formula 21953 Toulo de Graffenried Maserati Formula 21954 Karl-Günther Bechem Borgward Sports car1955 Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes-Benz Sports car1956 Walter Schock Mercedes-Benz GT1957 Heini Walter Porsche GT1958 Wolfgang Seidel Ferrari GT1959 Wolfgang von Trips Stanguellini-Fiat Formula Junior1960 Dennis Taylor Lola-Ford Formula Junior1961 Jo Siffert Lotus-Ford Formula Junior1962 Peter Warr Lotus-Ford Formula Junior1963 Gerhard Mitter Lotus-DKW Formula Junior1964 Jim Clark Lotus-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife1965 Paul Hawkins Alexis-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife1966 Jochen Rindt Brabham-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife1967 Jochen Rindt Brabham-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife1968 Chris Irwin Lola-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife1969 Jackie Stewart Matra-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife1970 Jochen Rindt Lotus-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife1971 François Cevert Tecno-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife1972 Jochen Mass March-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife1973 Reine Wisell GRD-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife1974 1975 Jacques Laffite Martini-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife1976 Freddy Kottulinsky Ralt-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife1977 Jochen Mass March-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife1978 Alex Ribeiro March-Hart Formula 2, Nordschleife1979 Marc Surer March-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife1980 Teo Fabi March-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife1981 Thierry Boutsen March-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife1982 Thierry Boutsen Spirit-Honda Formula 2, Nordschleife1983 Beppe Gabbiani March-BMW Formula 2, shortened Nordschleife1984 1985 1986 Volker Weidler Mercedes-Benz DTM, GP track1987 Manuel Reuter Ford DTM1988 Kurt Thiim BMW DTM Dany Snobeck Mercedes-Benz1989 Steve Soper BMW DTM Steve Soper BMW1990 Steve Soper BMW DTM Steve Soper BMW1991 Klaus Ludwig Mercedes-Benz DTM Klaus Ludwig Mercedes-Benz1992 Frank Biela Audi DTM Roland Asch Mercedes-Benz1993 Nicola Larini Alfa Romeo DTM Klaus Ludwig Mercedes-Benz1994 Klaus Ludwig Mercedes-Benz DTM Nicola Larini Alfa Romeo1995 Bernd Schneider Bernd Schneider DTM1996 Jörg van Ommen Manuel Reuter DTM1997 Laurent Aïello Laurent Aiello STW1998 Roland Asch Johnny Cecotto STW1999 Tom Kristensen Manuel Reuter STW2000 Manuel Reuter Manuel Reuter DTM2001 Laurent Aiello DTM2002 2003 Gianmaria Bruni Lola T99/50-Zytek Formula 30002004 Allan McNish Pierre Kaffer Audi LMES
References
External links
1922 1924 1927 1930s