We congratulate Hans Heyer on his 70th birthday
03/16/2013
He belonged to the German touring car scene like almost no other, Hans Heyer, born exactly 70 years ago in Möchengladbach. Even as a youngster, he was fascinated by racing and so it was that he contested his first go-kart race at the age of 16, becoming Germany's most successful kart driver of all time over the years.
Heyer became known to the general public primarily through his racing in touring cars and GTs - in Mercedes Benz (red sow), Ford Capriin various shades, Porsche 911/935, Lancia Beta Montecarlo - but he also drove a single Formula 1 race in 1977 in an ATS Penske and also many sports car competitions (e.g. Sauber, Lancia).
He took part in Le Mans twelve times (picture above) and never finished, with all retirements being material-related. He was more successful in other endurance classics, winning the 24 Hours of Spa three times (BMW, Jaguar) and was victorious in 1000 km races in Monza, Mugello, Kyalami and at the Nürburgring.
He was German racing champion in 1975, 1976 (in a Zakspeed Ford Escort) and 1980 (in a Lancia Beta Montecarlo).
The likeable Heyer, who often appears in a hat, is said to have contested exactly one thousand races (according to his own statements), the last one in 2004 in a round of the VW Polo Cup.
We wish Hans Heyer all the best for his 70th birthday.
More pictures of Hans Heyer can be found in the Zwischengas archive.
