The boom in historic motorsport continues unabated. The "ADAC Hockenheim Historic - The Jim Clark Revival" from May 3 to 5, 2024 was the best proof of this. Around 33,000 spectators indulged in the racing of days gone by over the three days of the event - despite changeable weather on Sunday.
For once, results and motorsport perfection took a back seat. Much more important were emotions, sounds, smells, tastes and the beauty emanating from racing cars, where form was usually even more important than function. The almost 400 participants in nine racing series offered plenty of everything. Saturday in particular exceeded all expectations. Full grandstands, hustle and bustle in the paddock, almost 200 hard-working media representatives on site - there was certainly no shortage of superlatives at the debut of the popular classic event under the patronage of the ADAC.
And even if the results at the "ADAC Hockenheim Historic" are sometimes no more than a side note, this in no way means that the automotive treasures were not driven in a manner befitting their species. On the contrary: when more than 40 racing cars from the good old days of DTM, STW or DTC are let off the leash at the "Touring Cars - Golden Era", no prisoners are taken on the track - especially not when warhorses like Kris Nissen, Olaf Manthey, Harald Grohs or Altfrid Heger are at the wheel.
Double victory for Heger, bad racing luck for Nissen
Incidentally, the latter won both races in the Audi V8, while the former had to retire his BMW M3 DTM prematurely on Sunday due to a broken V-belt. Big names were also on the grid in other racing series. Former Formula 1 driver Antonio Pizzonia from Brazil, for example, who won both races in the BOSS GP series at the wheel of his Dallara T12 from the former World Series, as he did last year. Or Ralf Kelleners, who, in his bright yellow De Tomaso Pantera GTS, stirred up the field of the DRM Revival, which also included the aforementioned Olaf Manthey, Peter Mücke and others.
As always, Marco Werner was one of the frequent riders. Visitors to the "ADAC Hockenheim Historic" witnessed the Dortmund-born driver jump out of his Lotus 22 from the "Lurani Trophy" at the pits and sprint into the Gebhardt pits with his helmet on to board his Gebhardt C88 from the "Momo Sportscar Supercup". This was once again dominated by Briton Michael Lyons in his Gebhardt C91. And of course Werner was also there in Ronnie Peterson's Lotus 76 from the 1974 Formula 1 season, when the historic Grand Prix Guild presented the fans in the grandstands with a visual and acoustic show at its finest.
Grand Prix racer from 1948
Incidentally, a real rarity was also present: Dr. Klaus Lehr drove his Talbot Lago T26 C, which took part in the first post-war Grand Prix - the 1948 Monaco Grand Prix. Even back then, the 4.5-liter six-cylinder engine produced an impressive 280 hp; the brakes were of course drum brakes. Lehr: "I also drive a Maserati 250 F, which is ten years younger. The difference in driving is huge."
As always, Kurt Ahrens was also there. The Braunschweig native, who turned 84 a few days ago and was one of the most versatile and fastest racing drivers in Germany in the 60s and 70s, once again took the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Jim Clark memorial in memory of the man who died on April 7, 1968 in Hockenheim. Clemens Schickentanz (79), who was the first winner of the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife alongside Hans-Joachim Stuck in 1970, was also there to sign countless autographs.
