Eifelrennen

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.

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	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