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Klaus Ludwig

This article is about the racing driver. For the musician, see Klaus Uwe Ludwig.

Klaus Karl Ludwig (born 5 October 1949) is a German racing driver.[1]

Klaus Ludwig
Klaus Ludwig in 2009
NationalityGermany German
Born (1949-10-05) 5 October 1949 (age 75)
Bonn, West Germany
Related toLuca Ludwig (son)
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
Years active2000
Former teamsHWA 2
Starts16
Wins2
Podiums7
Poles2
Fastest laps0
Best finish3rd in 2000
FIA GT Championship
Years active1997–1998
Former teamsAMG Mercedes
Kremer Racing
Starts19
Championships1 (1998)
Wins9
Podiums14
Poles6
Fastest laps5
International Touring Car Championship
Years active1995–1996
Former teamsZakspeed Opel
Opel Team Rosberg
Starts33
Wins4
Podiums8
Poles4
Fastest laps0
Best finish7th in 1996
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
Years active1985–1995
Former teamsOpel Team Rosberg
AMG-Mercedes
Ford-Grab Motorsport
ABR Ringhausen Rennsport
Starts173
Championships3 (1988, 1992, 1994)
Wins32
Podiums67
Poles23
Fastest laps16
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1978–1979, 1982–1986, 1988, 1998
TeamsAMG-Mercedes
Porsche AG
Joest Racing
Zakspeed
Porsche Kremer Racing
Weisberg Gelo Team
Best finish1st (1979, 1984, 1985)
Class wins3 (1979, 1984, 1985)

Biography

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He also known as König Ludwig ("King Ludwig") for his success in touring cars and in sports car racing.

 
Klaus Ludwig's 1981 Group 5 Zakspeed Ford Capri at the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim, Germany
 
Ludwig drove the Roush-Zakspeed Ford Mustang Turbo during the 1981 and 1982 Camel GT race seasons.

In the 1970s, Ludwig drove for Ford in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft, winning in 1979 with a Kremer Racing-Porsche 935. With this car, based on the then 15-year-old Porsche 911 road car design, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in the wet, an unprecedented win against the faster pure sports car racing prototypes (though it was subsequently matched in 1995 when a McLaren F1 GTR won the race at its first attempt).[2]

In 1984 and 1985, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Joest Racing in their #7 Porsche 956. Considering Le Mans and sports cars too dangerous after the deaths of Manfred Winkelhock and Stefan Bellof, he was recruited for the 1987 World Touring Car Championship for Ford only to finish runner-up by a single point to BMW driver Roberto Ravaglia after a post-season disqualification (after Ludwig claimed the pole, he and fellow West German Klaus Niedzwiedz had finished second behind teammates Steve Soper and Pierre Dieudonné at the Bathurst 1000 in Australia, but both cars were disqualified due to illegal wheel arch size on their Ford Sierra RS500s). He then moved to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM), and became champion in 1988 in a Ford Sierra RS500. Ludwig also represented IMSA in the 1986 International Race of Champions, finishing 8th.

He repeated the success at Mercedes-Benz in 1992 and 1994, before moving back to sports cars racing for them in 1997 to become the 1998 FIA GT Champion. He retired when the series did not continue in the 1999 season.

He soon returned in June 1999, to win the 24 Hours Nürburgring on the Nordschleife for the third time driving a Zakspeed Viper.

When the DTM resumed as Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in 2000, he returned to the series, winning at the age of 50 years at the Sachsenring circuit, only to retire once again.

Ludwig returned as a "hobby pilot" to the Nürburgring Nordschleife when given the opportunity to drive a high power vehicle. The years 2004 and 2005 saw him enter the 24 Hours Nürburgring with Uwe Alzen on the Jürgen Alzen Porsche 996 GT2 Bi-Turbo. With a normally aspirated Porsche 997 GT3 of the Alzen brothers, Ludwig and Christian Abt managed to beat the old distance record in the 2006 edition of the 24h, yet finished only second, 1 lap behind the winners.

Ludwig has also worked as a TV commentator on DTM races.

Racing record

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Achievements

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Complete European Formula Two Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Pts
1976 Willi Kauhsen Racing Team March 762 Hart HOC
Ret 		THR VAL
13 		SAL PAU
7 		HOC
9 		ROU MUG
9 		PER EST NOG
6 		HOC
10 		12th 4
1977 Willi Kauhsen Racing Team Jabouille 2J Renault SIL
Ret 		THR
Ret 		HOC
Ret 		NÜR
8 		VAL
DSQ 		PAU
7 		MUG ROU NOG PER MIS EST NC 0
KWS Autotechnik Chevron B40 Ford DON
Ret
Sources:[3][4]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1978 West Germany  Weisberg Gelo Team United Kingdom  John Fitzpatrick
Netherlands  Toine Hezemans 		Porsche 935/77 Gr.5
+2.0 		19 DNF DNF
1979 West Germany  Porsche Kremer Racing United States  Don Whittington
United States  Bill Whittington 		Porsche 935 K3 Gr.5
+2.0 		307 1st 1st
1982 West Germany  Ford Germany
West Germany  Zakspeed 		Switzerland  Marc Surer
West Germany  Manfred Winkelhock 		Ford C100 C 67 DNF DNF
1983 West Germany  Sorga S.A. Joest Racing Sweden  Stefan Johansson
France  Bob Wollek 		Porsche 956 C 354 6th 6th
1984 West Germany  New-Man Joest Racing France  Henri Pescarolo Porsche 956B C1 360 1st 1st
1985 West Germany  New-Man Joest Racing Italy  Paolo Barilla
West Germany  Louis Krages 		Porsche 956B C1 374 1st 1st
1986 West Germany  Joest Racing Italy  Paolo Barilla
West Germany  Louis Krages 		Porsche 956B C1 196 DNF DNF
1988 West Germany  Porsche AG West Germany  Hans-Joachim Stuck
United Kingdom  Derek Bell 		Porsche 962C C1 394 2nd 2nd
1998 West Germany  AMG-Mercedes West Germany  Bernd Schneider
Australia  Mark Webber 		Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM GT1 19 DNF DNF
Sources:[3][5]

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
1987 Switzerland  Eggenberger Motorsport Ford Sierra RS Cosworth MNZ
DSQ 		JAR
ovr:4
cls:1 		DIJ
ovr:4
cls:4 		NÜR
ovr:1
cls:1 		SPA
Ret 		2nd 268
Ford Sierra RS500 BRN
ovr:1
cls:1 		SIL
ovr:6
cls:1 		BAT
DSQ 		CLD
ovr:12
cls:8 		WEL
ovr:1
cls:1 		FUJ
ovr:1
cls:1
Sources:[3][6]

* Overall positions shown. WTCC points paying positions may be different

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft/Masters results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos. Pts
1985 ABR Ringhausen Rennsport Ford Sierra XR4 TI ZOL WUN AVU MFA ERD ERD DIE
12 		DIE
1 		ZOL
1 		SIE
1 		NÜR
1 		11th 73.5
1986 ABR Ringhausen Rennsport Ford Sierra XR4 TI ZOL
Ret 		HOC
5 		NÜR AVU MFA WUN NÜR
Ret 		ZOL NÜR 25th 14
1987 Ford-Grab Motorsport GmbH Ford Sierra XR4 TI HOC ZOL NÜR AVU MFA NOR NÜR
1 		WUN DIE SAL NC 0
1988 Team Hein Gericke Ford Grab Motorsport Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth ZOL
1
1 		ZOL
2
1 		HOC
1
10 		HOC
2
8 		NÜR
1
2 		NÜR
2
5 		BRN
1
2 		BRN
2
2 		AVU
1
Ret 		AVU
2
12 		MFA
1
Ret 		MFA
2
9 		NÜR
1
5 		NÜR
2
4 		NOR
1
23 		NOR
2
1 		WUN
1
1 		WUN
2
1 		SAL
1
C 		SAL
2
C 		HUN
1
Ret 		HUN
2
Ret 		HOC
1
9 		HOC
2
5 		1st 258
1989 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 ZOL
1
Ret 		ZOL
2
DNS 		HOC
1
1 		HOC
2
20 		NÜR
1
3 		NÜR
2
Ret 		11th 155
Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo MFA
1
Ret 		MFA
2
DNS 		AVU
1
3 		AVU
2
10 		NÜR
1
DNS 		NÜR
2
DNS 		NOR
1 		NOR
2 		HOC
1
Ret 		HOC
2
DNS 		DIE
1
1 		DIE
2
1 		NÜR
1
1 		NÜR
2
1 		HOC
1
5 		HOC
2
Ret
1990 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo ZOL
1
4 		ZOL
2
2 		HOC
1
1 		HOC
2
Ret 		NÜR
1
4 		NÜR
2
3 		AVU
1
9 		AVU
2
Ret 		MFA
1
2 		MFA
2
6 		WUN
1
22 		WUN
2
11 		5th 140
Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 NÜR
1
Ret 		NÜR
2
15 		NOR
1
4 		NOR
2
4 		DIE
1
7 		DIE
2
6 		NÜR
1
7 		NÜR
2
7 		HOC
1
5 		HOC
2
7
1991 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 ZOL
1
2 		ZOL
2
14 		HOC
1
7 		HOC
2
7 		NÜR
1
1 		NÜR
2
1 		AVU
1
7 		AVU
2
Ret 		WUN
1
3 		WUN
2
3 		NOR
1
Ret 		NOR
2
7 		DIE
1
8 		DIE
2
3 		NÜR
1
1 		NÜR
2
1 		ALE
1
9 		ALE
2
Ret 		HOC
1
6 		HOC
2
5 		BRN
1
1 		BRN
2
Ret 		DON
1
4 		DON
2
4 		2nd 166
1992 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 ZOL
1
2 		ZOL
2
11 		NÜR
1
7 		NÜR
2
5 		WUN
1
2 		WUN
2
3 		AVU
1
4 		AVU
2
7 		HOC
1
Ret 		HOC
2
2 		NÜR
1
1 		NÜR
2
1 		NOR
1
8 		NOR
2
12 		BRN
1
Ret 		BRN
2
4 		DIE
1
1 		DIE
2
1 		ALE
1
Ret 		ALE
2
4 		NÜR
1
4 		NÜR
2
1 		HOC
1
3 		HOC
2
Ret 		1st 228
1993 AMG-Mercedes Berlin 2000 Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 93 ZOL
1
4 		ZOL
2
7 		HOC
1
Ret 		NÜR
1
3 		WUN
1
5 		WUN
2
3 		NÜR
1
2 		NÜR
2
3 		NOR
1
Ret 		NOR
2
5 		DON
1
6 		DON
2
Ret 		DIE
1
3 		DIE
2
2 		ALE
1
5 		ALE
2
Ret 		AVU
1
2 		AVU
2
22 		HOC
1
5 		HOC
2
Ret 		4th 171
Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 HOC
2
3 		NÜR
2
1
1994 AMG Mercedes D2 Privat Team Mercedes C-Class V6 ZOL
1
8 		ZOL
2
5 		HOC
1
5 		HOC
2
8 		NÜR
1
1 		NÜR
2
3 		MUG
1
8 		MUG
2
17 		NÜR
1
2 		NÜR
2
1 		NOR
1
3 		NOR
2
5 		DON
1
20 		DON
2
DNS 		DIE
1
1 		DIE
2
2 		NÜR
1
2 		NÜR
2
2 		AVU
1
4 		AVU
2
8 		ALE
1
Ret 		ALE
2
4 		HOC
1
2 		HOC
2
4 		1st 222
1995 Opel Team Rosberg Opel Calibra V6 4x4 HOC
1
5 		HOC
2
3 		AVU
1
Ret 		AVU
2
DNS 		NOR
1
2 		NOR
2
Ret 		DIE
1
Ret 		DIE
2
Ret 		NÜR
1
7 		NÜR
2
10 		ALE
1
Ret 		ALE
2
DNS 		HOC
1
1 		HOC
2
1 		3rd 80
2000 HWA 2 AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM HOC
1
9 		HOC
2
9 		OSC
1
8 		OSC
2
11 		NOR
1
2 		NOR
2
3 		SAC
1
1 		SAC
2
1 		NÜR
1
2 		NÜR
2
2 		LAU
1
C 		LAU
2
C 		OSC
1
6 		OSC
2
3 		NÜR
1
12 		NÜR
2
Ret 		HOC
1
Ret 		HOC
2
11 		3rd 122
Sources:[3][4][6]

Complete International Touring Car Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pos. Pts
1995 Opel Team Rosberg Opel Calibra V6 4x4 MUG
1
8 		MUG
2
Ret 		HEL
1
15 		HEL
2
Ret 		DON
1
8 		DON
2
Ret 		EST
1
17 		EST
2
8 		MAG
1
3 		MAG
2
Ret 		14th 21
1996 Zakspeed Opel Opel Calibra V6 4x4 HOC
1
Ret 		HOC
2
DNS 		NÜR
1
Ret 		NÜR
2
Ret 		EST
1
3 		EST
2
11 		HEL
1
3 		HEL
2
Ret 		NOR
1
1 		NOR
2
1 		DIE
1
Ret 		DIE
2
Ret 		SIL
1
1 		SIL
2
Ret 		NÜR
1
Ret 		NÜR
2
11 		MAG
1
9 		MAG
2
5 		MUG
1 		MUG
2 		HOC
1
1 		HOC
2
2 		INT
1
Ret 		INT
2
18† 		SUZ
1
Ret 		SUZ
2
10 		7th 130
Sources:[4][6]
  • † — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

References

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  1. ^ "Pole Positionen: Klaus Ludwig" (in German). Motorsport-Total.com. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  2. ^ Meaden, Richard (24 February 2015). "McLaren F1 at the Le Mans 24 hours". Evo. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Klaus Ludwig Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Klaus Ludwig". Motor Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Klaus Ludwig". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Klaus Ludwig race results". TouringCars.net. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Klaus Ludwig.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft Champion
1979 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft Champion
1981 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1979 with:
Bill Whittington
Don Whittington 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1984 with:
Henri Pescarolo 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Klaus Ludwig
Henri Pescarolo
 Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1985 with:
Paolo Barilla
Louis Krages 		Succeeded by
Preceded by German Touring Car Champion
1988 		Succeeded by
Preceded by German Touring Car Champion
1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by German Touring Car Champion
1994 		Succeeded by
Preceded by FIA GT Champion
1998 with:
Ricardo Zonta 		Succeeded by
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