Porsche Moment

Total 911 recounts the story behind a famous picture from Porsche’s past…

At 600m altitude, the paddock at the Nürburgring catches the north wind and even in summer it can be unpleasantly cold, if not wet as well. Here at the 1,000km race held on 29 May, 1983, three friends have, for now, forgotten the cold. On the left is Klaus Bischof – one of Porsche’s most recognisable mechanics and later Museum curator. Klaus was recruited by Zuffenhausen in 1968 and, once the site at Weissach was established, moved there. At the beginning of the 1980s he was selected for Porsche’s onslaught on Group C with the 956. By 1983, under director Peter Falk, he was responsible for one works 956 and Norbert Singer the other.

In the centre is Helmut Schmid who also joined Porsche in 1968 and by 1972, was seconded to the Rinzler team in the USA that was running George Follmer’s 917 Turbo in the Can-am championships. He later returned to Porsche where he continued his career as a race mechanic; his CV made him an obvious choice for Porsche’s Group C squad. On the right is 26-year-old Stefan Bellof, a prodigy of a racing driver who in previous seasons had shone in junior formulae and was already competing with Tyrrell in Formula 1. Porsche soon spotted this talent and during his first Group C season in 1983, he and Derek Bell shared three victories. The 1,000km was not to be one of these: the pair retired after 19 laps.

Porsche’s latest foray in endurance racing was an intense period. Working closely meant drivers and mechanics often formed lasting friendships, something that Derek Bell has remarked on in his memoirs and which both Klaus and Helmut have said in interviews. The mechanics appreciated drivers who recognised their efforts – veterans Derek and Jacky Ickx especially were popular and Stefan’s youthful enthusiasm made him the pit crew’s favourite. He was also good at feedback, always volunteering what revs he was using or water and oil temperatures without prompting. Stefan’s zest extended to his racing and by 1984 when, but for its premature curtailment, he looked as if he would win a wet Monaco GP in his underpowered Tyrrell. He was described as the best German driver since the 1930s. Alas, his Walter Brun-entered 956 crashed fatally at Spa in 1985 trying to pass Jacky’s works 962 at Eau Rouge.

The racing world was appalled. Everyone felt that they’d lost a friend and Klaus wasn’t alone in blaming Jacky for not giving way and causing both of them to go off. However, most would agree eventually with Derek Bell’s judgement that Stefan was trying too hard to defeat the Belgian in front of his home crowd. Both Derek and Ken Tyrrell had long expressed concern about Stefan’s impetuousness; Jacky shocked but uninjured, immediately announced his retirement from racing. The wound went deep though, and Klaus is said to have forgiven him only in recent years.