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

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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)

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Deutsche Tourist-Trophäe (German Tourist Trophy)

ADAC Eifelrennen winners (automobiles)

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ADAC Eifelrennen winners (automobiles) on the Nürburgring

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1936 and 1937 winner Bernd Rosemeyer during the 1936 race.
 
1966, 1967 and 1970 winner Jochen Rindt during the 1970 race.
Year Winner[2] Car[2] Class[2]
1927   Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz Sports car
1928   Otto Spandel Steyr Sports car
1929   W. Bartsch Amilcar Sports car
1930   Heinrich-Joachim von Morgen Bugatti Grand Prix
1931   Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix
1932   Rudolf Caracciola Alfa Romeo Grand Prix
1933   Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo Grand Prix
1934   Manfred von Brauchitsch Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix
1935   Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix
1936   Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Grand Prix
1937   Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Grand Prix
1938
No Race
1939   Hermann Lang Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix
1940
1948
No Race
1949   Karl Kling Veritas Sports car
1950   Fritz Riess AFM-BMW Formula 2
1951   Paul Pietsch Veritas Formula 2
1952   Rudi Fischer Ferrari Formula 2
1953   Toulo de Graffenried Maserati Formula 2
1954   Karl-Günther Bechem Borgward Sports car
1955   Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes-Benz Sports car
1956   Walter Shock Mercedes-Benz GT
1957   Heini Walter Porsche GT
1958   Wolfgang Seidel Ferrari GT
1959   Wolfgang von Trips Stanguellini-Fiat Formula Junior
1960   Dennis Taylor Lola-Ford Formula Junior
1961   Jo Siffert Lotus-Ford Formula Junior
1962   Peter Warr Lotus-Ford Formula Junior
1963   Gerhard Mitter Lotus-DKW Formula Junior
1964   Jim Clark Lotus-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife[3]
1965   Paul Hawkins Alexis-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife[4]
1966   Jochen Rindt Brabham-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife[5]
1967   Jochen Rindt Brabham-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife[6]
1968   Chris Irwin Lola-Ford Formula 2, Südschleife[7]
1969   Jackie Stewart Matra-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife[8]
1970   Jochen Rindt Lotus-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife[9]
1971   François Cevert Tecno-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife
1972   Jochen Mass March-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife
1973   Reine Wisell GRD-Ford Formula 2, Nordschleife
1974
No Race
1975   Jacques Laffite Martini-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife
1976   Freddy Kottulinsky Ralt-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife
1977   Jochen Mass March-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife
1978   Alex Ribeiro March-Hart Formula 2, Nordschleife
1979   Marc Surer March-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife
1980   Teo Fabi March-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife
1981   Thierry Boutsen March-BMW Formula 2, Nordschleife
1982   Thierry Boutsen Spirit-Honda Formula 2, Nordschleife[10]
1983   Beppe Gabbiani March-BMW Formula 2, shortened Nordschleife
1984
No Race
1985
Cancelled due to snow
1986   Volker Weidler Mercedes-Benz DTM, GP track[11]
1987   Manuel Reuter Ford DTM[12]
1988   Kurt Thiim BMW DTM[13]
  Dany Snobeck Mercedes-Benz
1989   Steve Soper BMW DTM
  Steve Soper BMW
1990   Steve Soper BMW DTM
  Steve Soper BMW
1991   Klaus Ludwig Mercedes-Benz DTM
  Klaus Ludwig Mercedes-Benz
1992   Frank Biela Audi DTM
  Roland Asch Mercedes-Benz
1993   Nicola Larini Alfa Romeo DTM
  Klaus Ludwig Mercedes-Benz
1994   Klaus Ludwig Mercedes-Benz DTM
  Nicola Larini Alfa Romeo
1995   Bernd Schneider
  Bernd Schneider
DTM
1996   Jörg van Ommen
  Manuel Reuter
DTM
1997   Laurent Aïello
  Laurent Aiello
STW
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 Lola T99/50-Zytek Formula 3000
2004   Allan McNish
  Pierre Kaffer[14][15]
Audi LMES

References

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  1. ^ "Aus Gauen und Clubs des A.D.A.C." Der Motorfahrer (in German). 30. ADAC: 424. 1922-08-24.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c Higham, Peter (1995). The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing. pp. 386–387. ISBN 0851126421.
  3. ^ "F2 Register - Index". www.devontophotels.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  4. ^ "F2 Register - Index". www.devontophotels.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  5. ^ "F2 Register - Index". www.devontophotels.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  6. ^ "F2 Register - Index". www.devontophotels.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  7. ^ "F2 Register - Index". www.devontophotels.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  8. ^ "F2 Register - Index". www.devontophotels.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  9. ^ "F2 Register - Index". www.devontophotels.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  10. ^ "F2 Register - Index". www.devontophotels.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2009-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2009-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "2004 Eifelrennen". MotorSport Magazine Database. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Nürburgring 1000 Kilometres". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
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