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Zakspeed Ford Capri Turbo Gr5
Page 1: Origins of the Zakspeed Capri
Page 2: Development & first season
Page 3: Race History 1979-1980
Page 4: Race History 1981-1983
Page 5: Technical Details & Liveries
Gallery

DEUTSCHE RENNSPORT MEISTERSCHAFT 1981

ABOVE: Klaus Ludwig's championship-winning Division 2 car from 1981
Photo from Auto & Technik Museum, Sinsheim, Germany. Courtesy of Simon Miller

1981 season

The following year, Ludwig switched permanently to Division 2. The 1981 car is easily identifiable as the livery was altered by reversing the black with red/white detail to white with red/black. Niedwiedz also stayed with Zakspeed in Division 2 with the blue/black D & W car. They were joined by J�rgen Hamelmann in a Pentosin-sponsored green, yellow and black car.

With eleven Division 2 wins, Ludwig finally took the overall DRM title for the Zakspeed/Ford Capri.

Also in the same year, a Division 1 car was raced by the Liqui-Moly team for Manfred Winklehock. This took six Division 1 wins and gained Winklehock second in class and third overall in the DRM championship. There are pictures of the L-M car in the gallery.

CIRCUITDIVISION 2DIVISION 1
Zolder 22nd March 19811st. K. Ludwig
3rd. J. Hammelmann
DNF K. Niedzwiedz
1st. M. Winklehock
Nurburgring 29th March 19811st. K. Ludwig
4th. J. Hammelmann
DNF K. Niedzwiedz
DNF M. Winklehock
Hockenheim 5th April 19811st. K. Ludwig
4th. J. Hammelmann
DNF K. Niedzwiedz
3rd. M. Winklehock
Nurburgring 25th April 19811st. K. Ludwig
5th. K. Niedzwiedz
DNF J. Hammelmann
1st. M. Winklehock
Mainz-Finthen 17th May 19811st. K. Ludwig
2nd. K. Niedzwiedz
DNF J. Hammelmann
2nd. M. Winklehock
Wunstorf 21st June 19811st. K. Ludwig
2nd. K. Niedzwiedz
4th. J. Hammelmann
DNF M. Winklehock
Norisring 28th June 19812nd. K. Ludwig
DNF K. Niedzwiedz
DNF J. Hammelmann
3rd. M. Winklehock
Nurburgring 5th July 1981DNF K. Niedwiedz
DNF J. Hammelmann
DNF K. Ludwig
2nd. M. Winklehock
Salzburgring 12th July 19811st. K. Ludwig
3rd. J. Hammelmann
DNF K. Niedzwiedz
DNF M. Winklehock
Hockenheim 1st August 19811st. K. Ludwig
4th. J. Hammelmann
DNF K. Niedzwiedz
1st. M. Winklehock
Zolder 23rd August 19811st. K. Ludwig
2nd. K. Niedzwiedz
3rd. J. Hammelmann
1st. M. Winklehock
Hockenheim 6th September 19811st. K. Ludwig
2nd. K. Niedzwiedz
3rd. J. Hammelmann
1st. M. Winklehock
Nurburgring 20th September 19811st. K. Niedzwiedz
3rd. J. Hammelmann
DNF K. Ludwig
1st. M. Winklehock
OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS 1981
1st. Klaus Ludwig
3rd. M. Winklehock (Div 1 champion)
6th. J�rgen Hammelmann
5th. Klaus Niedwiedz


DEUTSCHE RENNSPORT MEISTERSCHAFT 1982

ABOVE: The orange 'Jagermeister' car of Klaus Ludwig. This was raced at several DRM rounds in 1982, whilst the Ford C-100 was in development.

1982 Season

The two-class structure of the DRM was abandoned from 1982 onwards, to favour the new 'Group C' and 'Group 6' sports prototype cars being built. Zakspeed and Ford used the season to develop the Ford C-100 but continued to race a 1.7 ltr (i.e. Division 1-spec) Capri in several rounds. Ludwig remained with the team switching between the two cars, both in the new orange 'Jagermeister 'colours. Klaus Nidzwiedz also continued in his now 'striped' D & W car - also Division 1-spec - along with newcomer Lili Reisenbichler in a white 'Ford & Sport' car. With the rules now favouring prototypes, the Porsche 936 was dominant, although Niedzwiedz won twice and came third overall. Ludwig's highest placing in a Capri was 2nd at the Salzburgring in May.

At the same time, Zakspeed were also contracted to produce a Gr.5 Ford Mustang to compete in the the American IMSA series by Ford USA. The IMSA Mustang was a thinly veiled reskinning of the Gr.5 Capri (see the Zakspeed Mustang Gallery).

The Capri was raced for one more season in 1983 with Jorg Van Ommen at the wheel. By this time, the old Gr 5 car could no longer compete with the protoypes. The best result was 4th at Mainz-Finthen in May.

As a footnote, the special short-stroke Capri Turbo engine (used from 1981 in certain races) formed the basis for Zakspeed's Formula 1 project when the team made their ill-fated entry into the Grand Prix world as a chassis/engine constructor. Zakspeed F1 were backed by the West cigarette brand, which now adorns the McLaren/Mercedes cars, but made no impact on the track.

CIRCUITRACE RESULT
Zolder 21st March 19821st. K. Niedzwiedz
DNF L. Reisenbichler
Hockenheim 4th April 19823rd. K. Niedzwiedz
DNF L. Reisenbichler
Nurburgring 25th April 19821st. K. Niedzwiedz
3rd. K. Ludwig
Mainz-Finthen 9th May 1982DNF K. Ludwig
Salzburgring 23rd May 19822nd. K. Ludwig
DNF K. Niedzwiedz
Wunstorf 6th June 19823rd. K. Ludwig
DNF K. Niedzwiedz
Norisring 27th June 19824th. K. Niedzwiedz
DNF L. Reisenbichler
Hockenheim 7th August 19822nd. K. Niedzwiedz
DNF L. Reisenbichler
Hockenheim 29th August 19823rd. K. Niedzwiedz
Nurburgring 26th September 19822nd. K. Niedzwiedz
OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS 1981
3rd. Klaus Niedwiedz
4th. K. Ludwig (Capri/C-100)
CONTINUE TO TECHNICAL DETAILS & LIVERIES � � �
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