Greatest driver line up for a one off race, Nurburgring 1984
Discussion
Seeing an item on another forum made me think of this, in 1984 the new Nurburgring opened and to celebrate Mercedes had a one-off race with it's new Cosworth powered 190. The driver lineup was impressive for the year for anything outside a normal racing series.
May 12. 1984 Nürburgring race
Nürburgring, May 12, 1984 was a monumental time for the 16V. The brand new Nurburgring racetrack in Germany was hosting its first F1 race and a 190 E 2.3 16V won the supporting race which was great for public relations. Well actually, all the cars were identical 16V’s driven by many former world champions, so a 16V was destined to win, but who’s counting. Moss, Lauda, Prost and Hill were all beaten by a young upstart driver named Ayrton Senna as some of us F1 fans know went on to be a 3 time world champion. When the new Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit opened in May 1984, the inaugural race was a celebrity affair arranged by Mercedes, who had launched their 190 E 2.3-16 saloon just months before. It was meant as a light-hearted jape to generate publicity for the new car and track, but not everyone saw it that way. Mercedes provided 20 identical near road-spec 190s for a 12 lap race, and gathered together a strong field of Formula One drivers past, present and future to provide the thrills. Nine of them - Sir Jack Brabham (1959, 1960 and 1966), Phil Hill (1961), John Surtees (1964), Denny Hulme (1967), Niki Lauda (1975 and 1977), Alan Jones (1980) and Keke Rosberg (1982) - were former world champions, while another - Stirling Moss - could arguably claim to be the greatest of them all. Of the remainder - Carlos Reutemann, John Watson, Klaus Ludwig, Manfred Schute, Jacques Laffite, Udo Schutz, Hans Hermann, Elio de Angelis, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna - all had exemplary records in International racing. For hell-raisers like Hunt and Rosberg, the race was a chance to have fun, while Moss, Surtees and Hermann had barely raced for decades. But for the young Senna, a virtual unknown who had made his F1 debut just two months before, this was an opportunity to prove himself by beating F1's established stars. And win he did, fending off the attentions of Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutermann and Keke Rosberg. In The Hard Edge of Genius by Christopher Hilton, John Watson remembers: 'Ayrton took it very, very seriously. His attitude was that he had to win it. That day was cold and wet and he did a bloody good job.' The race was also Senna's first meeting - and first confrontation - with his arch rival Alain Prost, who recalled in an interview with Nigel Roebuck in 1998: 'I was coming from Geneva to Frankfurt on a scheduled flight, and Ayrton was due to land half an hour before, so Gerd Kremer of Mercedes asked me if I would bring him to the track. On the way we chatted, and he was very pleasant. Then we got to the track, and practised the cars. I was on pole with Ayrton second - After that he didn't talk to me any more! It seemed funny at the time. Then in the race, I took the lead - and he pushed me off the track after half a lap. So that was a good start...' After the race, an elated Senna said of his victory: 'Now I know I can do it'. Compared to the producion cars the transmission was adjusted to 4,08:1 instead of standard 3,08:1 so that they reached the top speed of 190 kmh. In comparison, the Nardo car transmission was 2,65:1 to reach top speed at 260km/h. Furthermore the cars were 15mm lower, had a rollcage, racing tires, exhausts were changed too. But the cars kept electrical seat adjustment.
Ps. Senna won.
Photos - http://www.smileeverymile.com/Templates/Mercedes_f...
Funny on a circuit at the time thought to be boring and tame it's one of the few currently used that actually has a few good places to overtake in F1.
May 12. 1984 Nürburgring race
Nürburgring, May 12, 1984 was a monumental time for the 16V. The brand new Nurburgring racetrack in Germany was hosting its first F1 race and a 190 E 2.3 16V won the supporting race which was great for public relations. Well actually, all the cars were identical 16V’s driven by many former world champions, so a 16V was destined to win, but who’s counting. Moss, Lauda, Prost and Hill were all beaten by a young upstart driver named Ayrton Senna as some of us F1 fans know went on to be a 3 time world champion. When the new Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit opened in May 1984, the inaugural race was a celebrity affair arranged by Mercedes, who had launched their 190 E 2.3-16 saloon just months before. It was meant as a light-hearted jape to generate publicity for the new car and track, but not everyone saw it that way. Mercedes provided 20 identical near road-spec 190s for a 12 lap race, and gathered together a strong field of Formula One drivers past, present and future to provide the thrills. Nine of them - Sir Jack Brabham (1959, 1960 and 1966), Phil Hill (1961), John Surtees (1964), Denny Hulme (1967), Niki Lauda (1975 and 1977), Alan Jones (1980) and Keke Rosberg (1982) - were former world champions, while another - Stirling Moss - could arguably claim to be the greatest of them all. Of the remainder - Carlos Reutemann, John Watson, Klaus Ludwig, Manfred Schute, Jacques Laffite, Udo Schutz, Hans Hermann, Elio de Angelis, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna - all had exemplary records in International racing. For hell-raisers like Hunt and Rosberg, the race was a chance to have fun, while Moss, Surtees and Hermann had barely raced for decades. But for the young Senna, a virtual unknown who had made his F1 debut just two months before, this was an opportunity to prove himself by beating F1's established stars. And win he did, fending off the attentions of Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutermann and Keke Rosberg. In The Hard Edge of Genius by Christopher Hilton, John Watson remembers: 'Ayrton took it very, very seriously. His attitude was that he had to win it. That day was cold and wet and he did a bloody good job.' The race was also Senna's first meeting - and first confrontation - with his arch rival Alain Prost, who recalled in an interview with Nigel Roebuck in 1998: 'I was coming from Geneva to Frankfurt on a scheduled flight, and Ayrton was due to land half an hour before, so Gerd Kremer of Mercedes asked me if I would bring him to the track. On the way we chatted, and he was very pleasant. Then we got to the track, and practised the cars. I was on pole with Ayrton second - After that he didn't talk to me any more! It seemed funny at the time. Then in the race, I took the lead - and he pushed me off the track after half a lap. So that was a good start...' After the race, an elated Senna said of his victory: 'Now I know I can do it'. Compared to the producion cars the transmission was adjusted to 4,08:1 instead of standard 3,08:1 so that they reached the top speed of 190 kmh. In comparison, the Nardo car transmission was 2,65:1 to reach top speed at 260km/h. Furthermore the cars were 15mm lower, had a rollcage, racing tires, exhausts were changed too. But the cars kept electrical seat adjustment.
Ps. Senna won.
Photos - http://www.smileeverymile.com/Templates/Mercedes_f...
Funny on a circuit at the time thought to be boring and tame it's one of the few currently used that actually has a few good places to overtake in F1.
I don't think "no one" had heard of Senna at all.
In fact, between 1981 and 1984, EVERYONE was talking about him. I remember reading the motor racing press in those years and his exploits in the lower formulae were certainly reported on and most commentators were saying that he was definitely "one to watch" and a potential future World Champion. I even remember being at the 1982 Phoenix Park motor races in Dublin and the commentators waxing lyrical about this Brazilian new kid on the block - and he wasn't even racing at the Park.
By pure coincidence, last night I was watching my recorded highlights of the now famous 1984 Monaco GP, the race almost won by Senna in the Toleman. During the race, as Senna was progressing through the field, James Hunt makes the comment about how impressive Senna had been at the Nurburgring "celebrity" race - he even makes a self deprecating joke about himself finishing a lowly 10th.
He also mentions how the only driver who challenged Senna in the previous year's British F3 Championship was Martin Brundle.
In fact, between 1981 and 1984, EVERYONE was talking about him. I remember reading the motor racing press in those years and his exploits in the lower formulae were certainly reported on and most commentators were saying that he was definitely "one to watch" and a potential future World Champion. I even remember being at the 1982 Phoenix Park motor races in Dublin and the commentators waxing lyrical about this Brazilian new kid on the block - and he wasn't even racing at the Park.
By pure coincidence, last night I was watching my recorded highlights of the now famous 1984 Monaco GP, the race almost won by Senna in the Toleman. During the race, as Senna was progressing through the field, James Hunt makes the comment about how impressive Senna had been at the Nurburgring "celebrity" race - he even makes a self deprecating joke about himself finishing a lowly 10th.
He also mentions how the only driver who challenged Senna in the previous year's British F3 Championship was Martin Brundle.
Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 10th August 07:51
Eric Mc said:
I even remember being at the 1982 Phoenix Park motor races in Dublin and the commentators waxing lyrical about this Brazilian new kid on the block - and he wasn't even racing at the Park.
He may not have been at the Park, but didn't he win the FF2000 race that year at Mondello? I think he was second on the grid, pole was local driver Joey Greenan. Once Senna got the hang of the circuit he was off in the distance...RE: 1984 Nurburgring. Apparently one of the fromages at M-B was a bit hacked off that none of the star drivers won the race. One of the Kremer brothers retorted that in years to come it would be a privilege to have a Senna-liveried car in a collection. I wonder where the car is now???
Eric Mc said:
I remember the Senna - Greenan battle at Mondello. I'm pretty sure it was shown on RTE's Saturday afternoon programme "Sports Stadium".
Hosted by Brendan O'Reilly, no doubt...but only when he time off from his acting career - do you remember him playing a garda in 'Flight of the Doves'?Great thread...what a talented field in which to show your class.
It seems Ford kept Senna a busy boy in 84 too with a touch of saloon car promotion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQmongxmek
It seems Ford kept Senna a busy boy in 84 too with a touch of saloon car promotion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQmongxmek
Edited by F.M on Saturday 11th August 17:36
F.M said:
Great thread...what a talented field in which to show your class.
It seems Ford kept Senna a busy boy in 84 too with a touch of saloon car promotion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQmongxmek
OMG! So instead of continuing my hunt for a decent NSX I should really be after an XR3 (without the 'i')!It seems Ford kept Senna a busy boy in 84 too with a touch of saloon car promotion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQmongxmek
Edited by F.M on Saturday 11th August 17:36
Brendan O'Reilly also represented Ireland in the High Jump - if I recall.
He seems to have been quite a talented chap.
The other presenters of Sports Stadium were Bill O'Herlihy, Jim Sherwin and Fred Cogley.
A quick Google search reveals that O'Reilly passed away in 2001
He seems to have been quite a talented chap.
The other presenters of Sports Stadium were Bill O'Herlihy, Jim Sherwin and Fred Cogley.
A quick Google search reveals that O'Reilly passed away in 2001
Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 12th August 10:04
FourWheelDrift said:
Seeing an item on another forum made me think of this, in 1984 the new Nurburgring opened and to celebrate Mercedes had a one-off race with it's new Cosworth powered 190. The driver lineup was impressive for the year for anything outside a normal racing series.
May 12. 1984 Nürburgring race
Nürburgring, May 12, 1984 was a monumental time for the 16V. The brand new Nurburgring racetrack in Germany was hosting its first F1 race and a 190 E 2.3 16V won the supporting race which was great for public relations. Well actually, all the cars were identical 16V’s driven by many former world champions, so a 16V was destined to win, but who’s counting. Moss, Lauda, Prost and Hill were all beaten by a young upstart driver named Ayrton Senna as some of us F1 fans know went on to be a 3 time world champion. When the new Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit opened in May 1984, the inaugural race was a celebrity affair arranged by Mercedes, who had launched their 190 E 2.3-16 saloon just months before. It was meant as a light-hearted jape to generate publicity for the new car and track, but not everyone saw it that way. Mercedes provided 20 identical near road-spec 190s for a 12 lap race, and gathered together a strong field of Formula One drivers past, present and future to provide the thrills. Nine of them - Sir Jack Brabham (1959, 1960 and 1966), Phil Hill (1961), John Surtees (1964), Denny Hulme (1967), Niki Lauda (1975 and 1977), Alan Jones (1980) and Keke Rosberg (1982) - were former world champions, while another - Stirling Moss - could arguably claim to be the greatest of them all. Of the remainder - Carlos Reutemann, John Watson, Klaus Ludwig, Manfred Schute, Jacques Laffite, Udo Schutz, Hans Hermann, Elio de Angelis, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna - all had exemplary records in International racing. For hell-raisers like Hunt and Rosberg, the race was a chance to have fun, while Moss, Surtees and Hermann had barely raced for decades. But for the young Senna, a virtual unknown who had made his F1 debut just two months before, this was an opportunity to prove himself by beating F1's established stars. And win he did, fending off the attentions of Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutermann and Keke Rosberg. In The Hard Edge of Genius by Christopher Hilton, John Watson remembers: 'Ayrton took it very, very seriously. His attitude was that he had to win it. That day was cold and wet and he did a bloody good job.' The race was also Senna's first meeting - and first confrontation - with his arch rival Alain Prost, who recalled in an interview with Nigel Roebuck in 1998: 'I was coming from Geneva to Frankfurt on a scheduled flight, and Ayrton was due to land half an hour before, so Gerd Kremer of Mercedes asked me if I would bring him to the track. On the way we chatted, and he was very pleasant. Then we got to the track, and practised the cars. I was on pole with Ayrton second - After that he didn't talk to me any more! It seemed funny at the time. Then in the race, I took the lead - and he pushed me off the track after half a lap. So that was a good start...' After the race, an elated Senna said of his victory: 'Now I know I can do it'. Compared to the producion cars the transmission was adjusted to 4,08:1 instead of standard 3,08:1 so that they reached the top speed of 190 kmh. In comparison, the Nardo car transmission was 2,65:1 to reach top speed at 260km/h. Furthermore the cars were 15mm lower, had a rollcage, racing tires, exhausts were changed too. But the cars kept electrical seat adjustment.
Ps. Senna won.
Photos - http://www.smileeverymile.com/Templates/Mercedes_f...
Funny on a circuit at the time thought to be boring and tame it's one of the few currently used that actually has a few good places to overtake in F1.
The GP circuit is still boring and tame!May 12. 1984 Nürburgring race
Nürburgring, May 12, 1984 was a monumental time for the 16V. The brand new Nurburgring racetrack in Germany was hosting its first F1 race and a 190 E 2.3 16V won the supporting race which was great for public relations. Well actually, all the cars were identical 16V’s driven by many former world champions, so a 16V was destined to win, but who’s counting. Moss, Lauda, Prost and Hill were all beaten by a young upstart driver named Ayrton Senna as some of us F1 fans know went on to be a 3 time world champion. When the new Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit opened in May 1984, the inaugural race was a celebrity affair arranged by Mercedes, who had launched their 190 E 2.3-16 saloon just months before. It was meant as a light-hearted jape to generate publicity for the new car and track, but not everyone saw it that way. Mercedes provided 20 identical near road-spec 190s for a 12 lap race, and gathered together a strong field of Formula One drivers past, present and future to provide the thrills. Nine of them - Sir Jack Brabham (1959, 1960 and 1966), Phil Hill (1961), John Surtees (1964), Denny Hulme (1967), Niki Lauda (1975 and 1977), Alan Jones (1980) and Keke Rosberg (1982) - were former world champions, while another - Stirling Moss - could arguably claim to be the greatest of them all. Of the remainder - Carlos Reutemann, John Watson, Klaus Ludwig, Manfred Schute, Jacques Laffite, Udo Schutz, Hans Hermann, Elio de Angelis, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna - all had exemplary records in International racing. For hell-raisers like Hunt and Rosberg, the race was a chance to have fun, while Moss, Surtees and Hermann had barely raced for decades. But for the young Senna, a virtual unknown who had made his F1 debut just two months before, this was an opportunity to prove himself by beating F1's established stars. And win he did, fending off the attentions of Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutermann and Keke Rosberg. In The Hard Edge of Genius by Christopher Hilton, John Watson remembers: 'Ayrton took it very, very seriously. His attitude was that he had to win it. That day was cold and wet and he did a bloody good job.' The race was also Senna's first meeting - and first confrontation - with his arch rival Alain Prost, who recalled in an interview with Nigel Roebuck in 1998: 'I was coming from Geneva to Frankfurt on a scheduled flight, and Ayrton was due to land half an hour before, so Gerd Kremer of Mercedes asked me if I would bring him to the track. On the way we chatted, and he was very pleasant. Then we got to the track, and practised the cars. I was on pole with Ayrton second - After that he didn't talk to me any more! It seemed funny at the time. Then in the race, I took the lead - and he pushed me off the track after half a lap. So that was a good start...' After the race, an elated Senna said of his victory: 'Now I know I can do it'. Compared to the producion cars the transmission was adjusted to 4,08:1 instead of standard 3,08:1 so that they reached the top speed of 190 kmh. In comparison, the Nardo car transmission was 2,65:1 to reach top speed at 260km/h. Furthermore the cars were 15mm lower, had a rollcage, racing tires, exhausts were changed too. But the cars kept electrical seat adjustment.
Ps. Senna won.
Photos - http://www.smileeverymile.com/Templates/Mercedes_f...
Funny on a circuit at the time thought to be boring and tame it's one of the few currently used that actually has a few good places to overtake in F1.
shane
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