After six years of the "ADAC Eifelrennen", the proven concept has a new name: The classic event will be known as the "Historic Trophy Nürburgring". There will be plenty on offer on May 30 to June 1, 2014.
Mercedes and the Nürburgring
The Nürburgring, one of the most popular race tracks in the world, is closely linked to the motorsport history of Mercedes-Benz. As early as the inaugural race on June 19, 1927, Rudolf Caracciola won ahead of his team colleague Adolf Rosenberger in a Mercedes-Benz Type S. The legendary Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows were also born in the Eifel: the W 25 started the race in silver livery at the beginning of June 1934 after, according to legend, the racing cars were initially stripped of their white paint for weight reasons. Manfred von Brauchitsch immediately wins the prestigious International Eifel Race in a new record time.
With its appearance at the Historic Trohpy Nürburgring 2014, Mercedes wants to build on the old days.
"With fascinating original vehicles and former racing drivers, we want to revive the historic racing of past eras in an authentic way and thus ensure numerous other magical moments. This is particularly successful at the Nürburgring," says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic.
Dunlop FHR Endurance Cup and Youngtimer Trophy
Mercedes-Benz Classic's current involvement in historic motorsport began in 2011, when the traditional division of the Stuttgart-based brand set up a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) to compete in the Dunlop FHR Endurance Cup. Since 2013, a Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (W 201) has been competing in the Youngtimer Trophy in addition to this vehicle, which fans affectionately call the "racing tail fin".
The Dunlop FHR Endurance Cup and the Youngtimer Trophy represent two different eras of touring car racing - and yet they complement each other perfectly. While GT vehicles and touring cars built between 1947 and 1975 compete in the FHR Endurance Cup organized by the FHR (Fahrergemeinschaft Historischer Rennsport e. V.), vehicles built between 1966 and 1990 take part in the Youngtimer Trophy. The regulations for both racing series are largely based on the specifications for the homologation of the historic models. This ensures maximum authenticity and originality of the racing cars used. At the "Historiyc Trophy Nürburgring", races are held for both series.
At the three-hour race as part of the Youngtimer Trophy on Saturday, May 31, 2014, brand ambassador Bernd Schneider will compete in the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (EVO II for short). The EVO II honors the brand's 120th motorsport anniversary in a very special way. For its second season as a works racing car in the Youngtimer Trophy, the racing touring car built in accordance with Group A regulations has been given a special body wrap: Historic photo motifs tell the motorsport story from its origins 120 years ago, through the first triumphs in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) to the current racing activities of Mercedes-Benz.
The 220 SE (W 111)"tail fin" saloon is already in its fourth season in the Dunlop FHR Endurance Cup. During the three-hour race, also on Saturday, May 31, 2014, the "racing tail fin" will be driven by Jörg van Ommen. The car in its authentic gray livery complies with the regulations of Appendix K of the FIA International Sporting Code. The 220 SE's major successes in the 1960s included winning the European Rally Championship in 1960 and 1962 as well as Ewy Rosqvist and Ursula Wirth's victory in the VI Grand Prix of Argentina in 1962.
SSK starts in the "elephant race"
On Sunday, June 1, 2014, the 225 hp (166 kW) Mercedes-Benz SSK (W 06) invites you on a journey back to a particularly glamorous era in motorsport history. Brand ambassador Jochen Mass will compete in the so-called "Elephant Race" with the 1928-built supercharged sports car.
The race for the big sports cars of the 1920s and early 1930s is reminiscent of the era in which the Nürburgring's inaugural race took place in 1927. Rudolf Caracciola, who was victorious at the time and later became the idol of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow era, laid the foundations for his honorary title of "Champion of the Nürburgring" on this day.
DTM legends - original cars and their drivers
On Saturday and Sunday, the brand ambassadors and former DTM racing drivers Roland Asch, Bernd Schneider, Ellen Lohr, Klaus Ludwig, Kurt Thiim and Jörg van Ommen will open a particularly colorful and fascinating chapter in the motorsport history of Mercedes-Benz: the DTM commitment of the brand with the three-pointed star.
The revival "30 years of the inaugural Nürburgring GP race" with the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16, the original winning car from 1984 driven by the then 24-year-old Brazilian Ayrton Senna, as well as rides on the Grand Prix circuit exclusively for members of the official brand clubs, focus on the racing versions of the Mercedes Benz Type 190 (W 201).
Mercedes-Benz entered the German Touring Car Championship in 1988 with the 190 E 2.3 16 (W 201). Since then, the brand has been continuously active in this series, which was held in its original form until 1996 and was relaunched in 2000 as today's German Touring Car Masters (DTM). Since 1994, Mercedes-Benz has been competing in the DTM with racing touring cars derived from vehicles of the current C-Class.
The weekend of the "Historic Trophy Nürburgring" offers fans of historic racing a variety of training and racing sessions as well as a colorful supporting program. In 2014, this will once again include the presentation of numerous vehicles from the officially recognized Mercedes-Benz brand clubs in the paddock area and the large brand club meeting. The varied supporting program also includes special offers for club members: exclusive parking facilities in the paddock, cab rides in former DTM cars on the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit, autograph sessions and meetings with the brand ambassadors and more.
Further information on the 2014 Historic Trophy Nürburgring can be found on the event website.
For inspiration, please refer to our reports from 2013 and 2012.
