 |
Mercedes-Benz
Motorsports
MB Classic
285 News Article(s) posted.
Mercedes-Benz News
This is where you will find the most comprehensive collection of Mercedes-Benz news anywhere.
Articles contained herein are copyright BenzWorld.org unless otherwise indicated at the bottom of the article.
| |
| BenzWorld's website
content, articles and publications are not endorsed or affiliated with Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz
USA, or Daimler Chrysler
No photos, articles, graphics, or BenzWorld.org logos may be
used or reproduced without written permission.
BenzWorld.org can be contacted at info@BenzWorld.org
All website content
Copyright ©
1999-2006
BenzWorld.org
Last Update:
November 24, 2003
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
| |  |
 On the 75th birthday of former racing driver Hans Herrmann
A member of the famous 1954/55 Daimler-Benz racing team
Sunday, February 23rd, 2003 | | | | |
Stuttgart, Feb 23, 2003
In his youth Hans Herrmann was the nice boy from next door; later countless mothers would have welcomed him as a son-in-law. In his racing years between 1952 and 1970, he gained a reputation as a fair but remorseless competitor in sports car and Formula races. As an opponent he was both feared and well-liked in equal measure. In 1954 and 1955 he was a member of the famous Daimler-Benz racing team managed by the legendary Alfred Neubauer. Natural charm and a puckish smile still remain the appealing characteristics of this lighthearted Swabian.
Hans Herrmann is celebrating his 75th birthday on February 23, 2003. Born in Stuttgart in 1928, Hans Herrmann trained as a confectioner and opened his own bakery and coffee shop at the early age of 22. Two years later, stimulated by the activities at the nearby Solitude racetrack, he took the life-changing decision to become a racing driver. The Winter Race in Hesse was his competitive debut, though he only saw the finishing flag as an "also-ran". Nonetheless the omens were good, and shortly afterwards he achieved the first victory in his class with the reward of a gold medal in the ADAC German Rally.
| | | | | |
Further successes followed. In 1953, in the second year of his motor racing career, his unexpected class victory in the classic Italian long-distance race – the Mille Miglia – opened the door of the Porsche racing stable for him. Since then he has been one of the all-time greats of the motor racing world. That same year he won the class victory for his team in the Le Mans 24-Hour race and was ranked 15th overall.
Hans Herrmann rapidly proved himself as a multi-talented and determined competitor behind the wheel of many different types of racing car by well-known manufacturers: "Well, if the car was fast, that made me fast as well," he once commented with a wink when asked for the reason behind his impressive string of successes.
Neither did his driving skills escape the attention of the legendary Daimler-Benz racing manager Alfred Neubauer. When the company returned to Grand Prix racing with the new W 196 Formula One racing car in 1954, Neubauer recruited the 26-year-old Hans Herrmann into the famous Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows team alongside world champion Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling. Truly a highlight in a very young career.
During his very first race in a Formula One monoposto, the French Grand Prix, Herrmann justified this faith by achieving the fastest lap. He was able to celebrate his first success with a third place in the Swiss Grand Prix, achieved fourth place in the Italian Grand Prix, and at the AVUS racetrack in Berlin he secured a triple victory for the team by finishing third behind Karl Kling and world champion Fangio.
In 1955 Lady Luck unfortunately deserted Herrmann and his Silver Arrow: after achieving fourth place in the Argentinean Grand Prix he suffered a serious accident during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. Medical opinion indicated that his career as a racing driver was over, however his iron will proved stronger. Daimler-Benz having withdrawn from Grand Prix racing at the end of the season, he switched to sports cars and racing cars with other famous names such as Abarth, Borgward, BRM, Cooper, Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati and of course Porsche, achieving success after success.
| | | | | |
After some 250 races Hans Herrmann ended his fantastic racing career with an overall victory in his fourteenth Le Mans 24-Hour race, just as he had promised his wife Magdalene beforehand.
Professor Jürgen Hubbert, the member of the DaimlerChrysler AG Board of Management responsible for the Mercedes Car Group and motor sports activities, once said of Hans Herrmann: "Fast racing drivers come and go, but those with real personality live on in the hearts of others. Hans Herrmann is one of these!“
His successful career is crowned by no less than 23 overall victories and 74 race or class victories, and countless trophies and awards fill the display cabinets in his home. Nowadays "Happy Hans", as his friends call him, lives in Sindelfingen as a successful supplier to the automotive industry. His sons Dino and Kai have followed their own professions.
During classic car events Hans Herrmann still likes to take the wheel of historical sports and racing cars from Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, to remind himself and others of former years.
| | | | | |
©1998-2003 DaimlerChrysler. All rights reserved.
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | |
