Europe’s finest during the 70s & early 80s, the DRM-championship: part 2
By Marcel Hundscheid / Speed-O-Graphica
After having looked primarily at the origins of the DRM championship in our first part, in the second part we look back at the early years in which the championship caused a sensation.
The new DRM championship debuted in the World Motorcycle Championship support program at the Nürburgring. Hans-Joachim Stuck set the fastest time in the very first practice session of the championship, driving a Ford Cologne-entered Capri RS 2600.
In reality however, there was no 2.6-liter Ford engine under the hood, but rather a 2.940 cc six-cylinder that delivered around 300 hp. Ford had also used an aluminum cylinder head which saved a considerable amount of weight. Remarkable you might say, yet the regulations at the time offered sufficient scope for this type of application.
The then 21-year-old Stuck dominated the opening race and drove to the top step of the winner’s podium eight more times that year. Ultimately, the Bavarian managed to win nine of the ten races and went down in history as the very first winner of a DRM championship.
Results DRM Championship 1972
- Hans-Joachim Stuck, Ford Cologne Ford Capri RS 2600
- Klaus Fritzinger, Ford Capri RS 2600
- Dieter Basche, GS Tuning BMW 2002
Ford scored again in the championship a year later thanks to Dieter Glemser, who clinched the title with a Zakspeed-entered Ford Escort RS1600. However Glemser did not dominate as strongly as Stuck did in his championship year. Fellow Ford driver Hans Heyer could not prevent Glemser from taking home the title, although the points difference at the end of the season was only one, in Glemser’s favor.
In addition, Glemser drove an Escort, while Heyer lined up with a Capri. The power unit used by Glemser was also not a standard Ford, but a 1786 cc BDA engine used in Formula 2, while the cylinder head with four valves per cylinder was developed by Cosworth, accompanied by two overhead camshafts.
Results DRM -Championship 1973
- Dieter Glemser, Schwabengarage Zakspeed RTL Ford Escort RS1600
- Hans Heyer, Ford Cologne Ford Capri RS2600 LW
- Dieter Basche, GS Tuning BMW 2002
Glemser successfully defended his title in 1974, although the global oil crisis had far-reaching consequences for the championship. BMW and Ford announced they would reduce their racing activities following the business slump caused by the oil crisis. The ONS reacted by including only eight races in its DRM calendar.
Results DRM Championship 1974
- Dieter Glemser, Castrol Team Zakspeed RTL Ford Escort RS 1600
- Jörg Obermoser, Team Europa Möbel GS BMW Tuning BMW 2002
- Klaus Ludwig, Ford Cologne Ford Capri RS 3100
When the oil crisis of 1975 became history, the ONS increased the number of races again from eight to ten. However, when King Winter reigned in the Eifel, they were forced to cancel a race on the Nordschleife, resulting in a total of nine races in which points could be scored. At the end of the season, the championship went to Ford once again, thanks to Hans Heyer.
In 1975 Heyer lined up at the start with a Zakspeed-prepared Ford Escort RS, where he faced Klaus Ludwig as his most significant competitor. With three races remaining, Ludwig switched from the Escort to a Ford Capri RS 3100 in Division 1, thereby avoiding a direct duel with Heyer. However what Ludwig had hoped for failed, as he missed out on the title.
Results DRM Championship 1975
- Hans Heyer, Castrol Team Zakspeed Ford Escort RS Mk.II
- Klaus Ludwig, General Anzeiger Ford Capri RS3100
- Albrecht Krebs, Schnitzer/Rodenstock BMW 3.0 CSL
Effective January 1 1976, the FISA motorsport commission defined new technical regulations in its “Appendix J” to the Sporting Regulations. Modifications to racing cars were significantly restricted compared to their homologation models in Groups 2 and 4. Until then pistons had been unrestricted. From that moment tuners were only allowed to modify standard parts.
Organizers were not always happy with changes to the regulations and the ONS feared that there would not be enough cars on the starting grid at the start of the 1976 season. To prevent this they allowed older Group 2 cars that, however, complied with the new regulations in terms of weight and tire width.
In any case, this had the effect that the well-known participants appeared at the start with technical specifications that still conformed to the old regulations. The negative side of this decision was that the Ford Capri and BMW CSL would not participate in the DRM championship. To prevent this, older Group 2 cars were kept, which, however, met the new regulations in terms of weight and tire width.
Driving with narrower tires was not what the Fords and BMWs were built for. On the other hand, both brands had also announced a new model. Until 1976, Porsche effectively played no significant role. In that year however, the 934 appeared on the grid and immediately made its mark on the DRM championship by winning nine of the ten races in Division 1.
In the end not a single entered 934 managed to take home the title. Hans Heyer won five races and finished second four times with a Division 2 Zakspeed Ford Escort RS Mk.II. This was enough to clinch the championship.
Zakspeed was the team to beat, particularly in the early years of the DRM championship with four of the five Ford titles. In 1977, the ONS decided to amend the regulations again, whereby near-production touring cars were no longer welcome.
Results DRM Championship 1976
- Hans Heyer, Castrol Team Zakspeed Ford Escort Mk. II
- Klaus Ludwig, Europamöbel Team Zakspeed Ford Escort Mk. II
- Bob Wollek, Vaillant Kremer Team Porsche 934
In part 3 of our overview, we continue with the arrival of Group 5 cars, after which the popularity of the championship soared. Incidentally, not only in Germany but also far beyond.
