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1977 Brno 
1976 Nurburgring  Go 1978 Nurburgring 
1977 Zandvoort 
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Grosser Preis der Tourenwagen

Nürburgring Nordschleife, BRD

Date: 10/7/1977
Track length: 22.835 m
Attendance: 50.000
Entries accepted: 138
Starters: 80
Finishers: 38, 39 classified

Pole position: Fitzpatrick/Schenken in 8.30,9
Fastest lap: Fitzpatrick in 8.29,8 = 161,251 kmh

Distance: 4 hours (ETCC), 2 hours (Group 1)
Average speed: 151,793 kmh
Weather:
Ruleset: Group 2/76
Car info: 1977 Cars

Pictures

The ETCC still was in bad shape, despite fine weather and a race on the traditional Nürburgring track - where it all began, in 1963. Jaguar was present, that was a relief, and fine battles could be expected in the 2000 and 1600 cc classes. But Jaguar, the 1963 winners, brought 12 engines with them, although there should have been a simple solution to their oil surge problem: from July 1, a dry sump system was allowed prevented it had been homologated - which Jaguar had not done.
Alpina, main competitor, had hired Quester and Nilsson to bring the second victory to this immaculate car - just one out of six so far was most disappointing.
Zakspeed, another great name from the ETCC past, sent two Mampe Escorts with Heyer/Hahne and Schommers/Müller Sr - and dry sump engines, of course.

Yet again one Jaguar retired after only after one lap: Fitzpatrick, starting from pole, lost oil pressure at Breidscheid. Their pole position time had actually been slower than Stuck’s 1976 time, by the way.
The second Jag however came in better shape the further the race developed, but still the winning Alpina BMW could lower its lap time to 9.15 with ease. The Zakspeed car of Heyer and Hahne finished third, with the Luigi BMW of Xhenceval/Dieudonné/Grohs fourth after a troublesome race.


Division 1-5
Pos Pos in class # Team / Entrant
Car- Engine
Drivers, Nationality Engine
vol. (cc)
Engine
Type
Group Distance,
time
Qualifying position Qualifying time Fastest lap Reason out,
remarks
1 1 1 BMW-Alpina
BMW 3.0 CSL
Gunnar Nilsson, S
Dieter Quester, A
3212 L6 Div. 5 27 laps, 4:03.42,2 2 8.33,9    
2 2 3 British Leyland
Jaguar XJ 12C 5.3
Derek Bell, GB
Andy Rouse, GB
5412 V12 Div. 5 27 laps, 4:05.49,8 5 8.47,9    
3 1 26 Mampe Ford Zakspeed
Ford Escort II RS
Hans Heyer, D
Armin Hahne, D
1840 L4 Div. 3 26 6 8.52,4 9.01,5  
4 3 4 Luigi Racing UFO
BMW 3.0 CSL
Jean Xhenceval, B
Pierre Dieudonné, B
Harald Grohs, D
3196 L6 Div. 5 26 4 8.43,6    
5 2 28 Eggenberger Motorsport
BMW 320
Walter Brun, CH
Helmut Kelleners, D
1990 L4 Div. 3 26 9 9.05,0    
6 1 79 Jägermeister Racing Team
VW Scirocco
Helmut Henzler, D
Willi Bergmeister, D
1596 L4 Div. 2 26 8 9.02,9 9.09,7  
7 2 80 Spiess Tuning
VW Scirocco
Anton Stocker, CH
Jörg Siegrist, CH
1596 L4 Div. 2 25 19 9.29,4    
8 3 33 IFM Efector
BMW 2002
Peter Ochs, D
Peter Kuhlmann, D
Rolf Rummel, D
1990 L4 Div. 2 25 16 9.26,1    
9 4 40 Jolly Club Switzerland
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Tarcisio Fornera, CH
Ruedi Franz, CH
1962 L4 Div. 2 25        
10 1 23 BMW racing with Castrol
BMW 530i US
Tom Walkinshaw, GB
Richard Lloyd, GB
Gilbert Greenall, GB
2985 L6 Div. 4 25 23 9.34,4    
11 5 62 Ford Berkenkamp Valvoline Racing Team
Ford Escort RS 2000
Matthias Schneider, D
Holger Soltwedel, D
Dieter Selzer, D
1993 L4 Div. 3 24        
12 6 29 Eggenberger Motorsport
BMW 320
Rainer Braun, D
Jürgen Reinke, D
1990 L4 Div. 3 24 13 9.21,5    
13 7 64 Alfa Romeo Hähn
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Frank Mayr, D
Manfred Mohr, D
1962 L4 Div. 3 24        
14 4 5 Luigi Racing UFO
BMW 3.0 CSL
Eddy Joosen, B
Claude De Wael, B
Umberto Grano, I
3196 L6 Div. 5 24 7 8.58,5    
15 3 78 Abex Pagid Racing
Audi 80 GTE
Hans-Joachim Nowak, D
Harald Ertl, A
1596 L4 Div. 2 24 15 9.24,7   Valve spring
16 8 66 Kneipp-Sanatorium “Sonnenhof”
Ford Escort RS 2000
Wulf-Gunter Schumacher, D
Karl Mauer, D
1993 L4 Div. 3 24 28 9.38,6    
17 2 52 Opel Bachem Racing Team
Opel Commodore GS/E
Lothar Schörg, A
Hannes Meyer, D
2784 L6 Div. 4 24        
18 9 77 BMW-Alpina
BMW 2002
Kurt Mirer, CH
Marco Vanoli, CH
1990 L4 Div. 3 24 29 9.38,7    
19 1 115 Team 43-70
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint
Juan-Pablo Zampa, RA
Eugenio Breard, RA
1299 B4 Div. 1 24     9.52,6  
20 3 16 Valvoline Renngemeinschaft
Opel Commodore GS/E
René Herzog, CH
Robert Rupitsch, D
2784 L6 Div. 4 23        
  4 50 Abex Pagid Racing Team
Opel Commodore GS/E
Johann Weisheidinger, A
Dietmar Hackner, D
Heinz-Jürgen Mählenhoff, D
2784 L6 Div. 4 23        
  5 11  
Opel Commodore GS/E
Salvatore Ferlito, I
Peter Wolf, D
2784 L6 Div. 4          
35 6 10 Smith Kendon Travel Sweets
Mazda Savanna RX-3
Wendy Markey, GB
Thomas Hunt, GB
2 x 573 R2 Div. 4          
  7 18 Ford Racing Team Diermeier
Ford Capri II 3.0S
Harald Hinz, D
Ralf Walter, D
2993 V6 Div. 4          
  10 53  
BMW 2002
Hermann Vincentz, D
Elmar Hölscher, D
1990 L4 Div. 3          
  11 37  
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Richard Mattozza, B
Jacques Berger, B
1962 L4 Div. 3          
  12 67 Michael Degenhardt
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Axel Felder, D
Uwe Reich, D
Peter Döring, D
1993 L4 Div. 3          
  13 54 Haribo Lakritzen Racing Team
BMW 2002
Egon Timmer, A
Tripo Gölz, A
Lothar Moll, D
1990 L4 Div. 3          
  14 49  
BMW 2002
Hans-Jürgen Maukisch, D
Eckhardt Keine, D
1990 L4 Div. 3          
31 15 63 Elf Racing
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Nico Demuth, L
Charles Van Stalle ("Chavan"), B
Robert Heiderscheid, L
1993 L4 Div. 3          
  16 75 Valvoline Racing
BMW 2002
Peter Schumacher, D
Josef Stockhausen, D
1990 L4 Div. 3   17 9.27,7    
  17 46 KWS Autotechnik Team
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Berthold Doll, D
Norbert Schommer, D
1993 L4 Div. 3          
  4 100  
VW Scirocco
Wolfgang Jacobs, D
Hans Werner Hilger, D
1596 L4 Div. 2 23        
  5 90 Valvoline Racing
VW Golf
Peter Valder, D
Axel Sonntag, D
1588 L4 Div. 2          
  6 92 Abt - Hinse Motorsport
Audi 80 GT
Georg Weber, D
Norbert Jülicher, D
1588 L4 Div. 2          
  7 93  
VW Scirocco
Horst Honrath, D
Helmut Güllich, D
1596 L4 Div. 2          
NRF 8 84 MSC Bad Cannstadt - Wienerwald
VW Scirocco
Wolfgang Wolf, D
Paul Wunsch, D
1596 L4 Div. 2   11 9.17,4    
  2 104  
Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior
Harry Schultze, D
Hans Motte, D
1290 L4 Div. 1 23        
  3 114 Team 43-70
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint
Nando Parrado, ROU
Max Macchi, I
1299 B4 Div. 1 23        
  4 129  
Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti
Dirk Amthor, D
Wolfgang Thiele, D
1186 B4 Div. 1 20        
DNF   30 Renngemeinschaft Bergisch Gladbach
BMW 2002
Ottmar Ickenroth, D
Richard Bremmekamp, D
1990 L4 Div. 3   26 9.35,0    
DNF   57  
BMW 2002
Heinz-Jürgen Dahmen, D
Peter Hähnlein, D
1990 L4 Div. 3   27 9.37,0    
DNF   65  
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Klaus Niedzwiedz, D
Horst Bonefeld, D
1993 L4 Div. 3   30 9.40,4    
DNF   27 Mampe Ford Zakspeed
Ford Escort II RS
Werner Schommers, D
Siegfried Müller Jr, D
1840 L4 Div. 3 1 10 9.08,9   Accident
DNF   36 Arrow American Shirts
Ford Escort II RS
Ron Kluit, NL
Alec Poole, IRL
1840 L4 Div. 3 1       Clutch
DNF   6 Jolly Club Milano
BMW 3.0 CSL
Martino Finotto, I
Carlo Facetti, I
3196 L6 Div. 5 11 3 8.38,6   Differential
DNF   47 KWS Freizeit Team 77
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Rudolf Doetsch, D
Ari Vatanen, SF
1993 L4 Div. 3   18 9.27,9   Engine
DNF   2 British Leyland
Jaguar XJ 12C 5.3
John Fitzpatrick, GB
Tim Schenken, AUS
5412 V12 Div. 5 1 1 8.30,9 8.29,8 Oil pressure
DNF   31 Renngemeinschaft Bergisch Gladbach
BMW 2002
Richard Bremmekamp, D
Hans-Jürgen Möhle, D
Ottmar Ickenroth, D
1990 L4 Div. 2   20 9.30,8    
DNF   15 AC Rübenach
Opel Commodore GS/E
Axel Sonntag, D
Werner Dittert, D
2784 L6 Div. 4       9.28,3  
DNF   35 Rhein-Ruhr Racing Team
BMW 2002
Dieter Hegels, D
Karl-Heinz Tibor, D
1990 L4 Div. 2   14 9.24,6    
DNF   56 MSTC Erbach
BMW 2002
Hans Weissgerber, D
Gert Englerth, D
1990 L4 Div. 2   12 9.19,9    
DNF   82 Kamei Autoextras
VW Golf
Bernd Renneisen, D
Jörg Denzel, D
1588 L4 Div. 2   21 9.33,1    
DNF   81 Misczyk Tuning
VW Scirocco
Manfred Mohr, D
Gerd Niehaus, D
1596 L4 Div. 2   24 9.34,4    
DNF   39 F.R.C. Düsseldorf
BMW 2002
Alois Matter, CH
Fredy Schnarwiler, CH
1990 L4 Div. 3   22 9.33,5    
DNF   43 AMC Hellertal DMV
BMW 2002
Joachim Utsch, D
Karl-Adolf Utsch, D
Walter Prüser, D
1990 L4 Div. 3   25 9.34,8    
DNF   38 ÖASC Racing Team
Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Alex Reiner, A
Werner Ausserhofer, A
1998 L4 Div. 3          
DNF   94 Valvoline Racing
BMW 1602
Peter Stern, D
Josef Wilhelmy, D
Udo Piesack, D
1573 L4 Div. 2          
DNS   9 Smith Kendon Travel Sweets
Mazda RX-5
David Palmer, GB
John Markey, GB
2 x 654 R2 Div. 4         Car did not start on the grid

2-hour Group 1 race class results
Pos Pos in class # Team / Entrant
Car- Engine
Drivers, Nationality Engine
vol. (cc)
Engine
Type
Group Distance,
time
Qualifying position Qualifying time Fastest lap Reason out,
remarks
  1 50? Abex Pagid Racing Team
Opel Commodore GS/E
Johann Weisheidinger, A
Dietmar Hackner, D
2784 L6 Group 1 +2000          
  2 53 Dealer Team Vauxhall
Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300
Holger Knudsen, DK
2279 L4 Group 1 +2000          
  3 52 Opel Bachem Racing Team
Opel Commodore GS/E
Lothar Schörg, A
Hannes Meyer, D
2784 L6 Group 1 +2000          
  4 56  
BMW 530i US
Fritz Möller, D
2985 L6 Group 1 +2000          
  5 59 AC Rübenach
Opel Commodore GS/E
Werner Dittert, D
Axel Sonntag, D
2784 L6 Group 1 +2000          
  6 ?  
BMW 530i US
Karl Oppitzhauser, A
Harald Neger, A
2985 L6 Group 1 +2000          
  7 55  
Ford Capri
Willy Loddenkemper, D
2993 V6 Group 1 +2000          
  1 65 Eichberg Racing
Ford Escort RS 2000
Klaus Niedzwiedz, D
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  2 85 KWS Freizeit Team 77
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Hartmut Bauer, D
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  3 64 Alfa Romeo Hähn
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Frank Mayr, D
Manfred Mohr, D
1962 L4 Group 1 2000          
  4 61 Ford Berkenkamp Racing
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Dieter Selzer, D
Rolf Körner, D
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  5 81 MSC Oer-Erkenschwick
Ford Escort RS 2000
Rolf Rosenkranz, D
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  6 62 Ford Berkenkamp Valvoline Racing Team
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Matthias Schneider, D
Holger Soltwedel, D
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  7 66 Kneipp-Sanatorium “Sonnenhof”
Ford Escort RS 2000
Wulf-Gunter Schumacher, D
Karl Mauer, D
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  8 69 Autohaus Wollstadt Racing Team
Opel Kadett GT/E
Heinz Kilp, D
1897 L4 Group 1 2000          
  9 71  
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Karl-Ernst Brune, D
Siegfried Schlacks, D
1962 L4 Group 1 2000          
  10 80  
Ford Escort RS 2000
Peter Staffel, D
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  11 77 AC Hilden
Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV
Helmut Gries, D
1962 L4 Group 1 2000          
  12 72 Akamot
Opel Kadett GT/E
Karl-Friedrich Hunold, D
Hermann Molitor, D
1897 L4 Group 1 2000          
  13 63 Elf Racing
Ford Escort RS 2000
Nico Demuth, L
Charles Van Stalle ("Chavan"), B
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  14 78 MSC Sinzig
Opel Kadett GT/E
Heinz Kalkuhl, D
1897 L4 Group 1 2000          
  15 82 Ford Gerstmann Racing Team
Ford Escort II RS 2000
Detlev Deege, D
1993 L4 Group 1 2000          
  1 97  
Audi 80 GTE
Alfons Hohenester, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  2 90 Valvoline/TM Automobiltechnik Racing Team
VW Golf GTI
Heinz-Jürgen Hoffknecht, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  3 96 Schultz Gruppe
VW Golf GTI
Walter Piel, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  4 103  
VW Golf GTI
Michael Eschmann, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  5 94 Valvoline Racing
VW Scirocco GTI
Peter Valder, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  6 105 AMC Duisburg
Toyota Celica GT
Peter John, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  7 92  
VW Scirocco GTI
Jürgen Bethschneider, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  8 95 Valvoline Renngemeinschaft
VW Scirocco GTI
Günther Küpper, D
Robert Rupitsch, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  9 101 Scuderia Lindau
VW Golf GTI
Georg Schwärzler, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  10 102  
VW Golf GTI
Joachim Escher, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  11 91  
VW Scirocco GTI
Helmut Konka, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  12 104  
Alfa Romeo
Hans-Peter Berg, D
1570 L4 Group 1 1600          
  13 99  
VW Golf GTI
Hans Hossfeld, D
1588 L4 Group 1 1600          
  1 112 Bergischer Motorclub e.V.
Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior
Hans Motte, D
Harry Schulze, D
1290 L4 Group 1 1300          
  2 136 Rhein-Weser Rennsport
Simca Rallye 2
Hans "Ali" Frensch, D
1294 L4 Group 1 1300          
  3 109  
Simca Rallye 2
Werner Prinz, D
1294 L4 Group 1 1300          
  4 115  
Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior
Hartmut Müller, D
1290 L4 Group 1 1300          
  5 113 MSC Dumeklemmer
Ford Escort 1300 GT
Hermann Küppers, D
1298 L4 Group 1 1300          
  6 114  
Simca Rallye 2
Rexford Swartz, USA
1294 L4 Group 1 1300          
  7 111 Simcasport W. Heiden
Simca Rallye 2
Jürgen Sander, D
1294 L4 Group 1 1300          
  8 118  
Alfa Romeo 1300 GT Junior
Andreas Praschma, D
1290 L4 Group 1 1300          
  1 133 MSC Paffrath
Audi 50
Helmut Haendeler, D
Rüdiger Hempel, D
1093 L4 Group 1 1150          
  2 127 Valvoline/TM Automobiltechnik Racing Team
Fiat 128 coupé 1100
Harald Wester, D
1116 L4 Group 1 1150          
  3 132  
Audi 50 GL
Thorwald Hey, D
1093 L4 Group 1 1150          
  4 128  
Fiat 128 coupé 1100
Karl-Josef Hark, D
1116 L4 Group 1 1150          
  5 131  
VW Polo GLS
Hans Georg Persch, D
1093 L4 Group 1 1150          
  6 130  
VW Polo GLS
Franz-Josef Hackmann, D
1093 L4 Group 1 1150          
  7 129  
Audi 50
Peter Scherer, D
1093 L4 Group 1 1150          
  8 ?  
Autobianchi A112
Charles Manz, CH
  L4 Group 1 1150