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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - How a caravan company became a racing team and then collapsed

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Created in 2017

Text:

Rainer Braun

Photos:

Hallo Fahrerlager (diverse Archive)

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Diverse Archive

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Hallo Fahrerlager (diverse Archive)

11

Diverse Archive

3

Eifelland 01 - The shattered F1 dream - 1972 German GP at the Nürburgring

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Eifelland 01 F1 - The shattered F1 dream - Eifelland front end during the 1972 tests

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Hannelore Werner in March Formula 3

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Eifelland boss Günther Hennerici and racing driver Hannelore Werner 1972

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Rolf Stommelen starts in Formula 2 in 1971 in a Brabham-Ford

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Eifelland 01 - The shattered F1 dream - A March 711 chassis serves as the template for the construction of the new Eifelland Formula 1

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Eifelland 01 - The shattered F1 dream - Designer Luigi Colani examines his unusual work

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Designer Luigi Colani

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Eifelland Formula 3 squad in the Nürburgring paddock in 1970

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Eifelland 01 - The shattered F1 dream - Eifelland front end at the GP debut in South Africa 1972

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Shortly after the takeover by Meeth Fensterbau, both logos are still stuck on the rear wing

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Rolf Stommelen, team manager Heinz Koblitschek and chief technician Erwin Derichs

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Eifelland 01 at the 2010 classic car GP

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Eifelland - The shattered F1 dream - Erwin Derichs

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Summary

Caravan manufacturer and motorsport patron Günther Hennerici made his dream come true with his own racing team. Initially, Formula 3 racing cars raced and won under his company name "Eifelland Wohnwagenbau". The team boss even found his way into Formula 1 via Formula 2, with the unconventional "Eifelland 01" celebrating its world championship premiere at the 1972 South African GP. But misjudgement, failure and ultimately a lack of money caused the project to fail. This also meant the end of all Eifelland activities in motorsport.

Estimated reading time: 11min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Caravan manufacturer and motorsport patron Günther Hennerici made his dream come true with his own racing team. Initially, Formula 3 racing cars raced and won under his company name "Eifelland Wohnwagenbau". The team boss even found his way into Formula 1 via Formula 2, with the unconventional "Eifelland 01" celebrating its world championship premiere at the 1972 South African GP. But misjudgement, failure and ultimately a lack of money caused the project to fail. This also meant the end of all Eifelland activities in motorsport. Günther Hennerici and his twin brother Heinz, two true sons of the Eifel and both members of AC Mayen, have always enjoyed racing. Heinz in particular, who lost an arm in the war, gave full throttle on the Ring despite his physical handicap. In long-distance tests, he heaved heavy limousines around the course, and a knob mounted on the steering wheel allowed him to turn left or right with one arm. When the sporting authorities issued stricter rules at some point and the one-armed Heinz was no longer allowed to compete, he dedicated himself to his home club AC Mayen as an irreplaceable helper at the big events on the Ring. There was hardly a starting grid for the 300 km race or the Super Sprint without his strict regiment.

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