Maurer Motorsport (Germany)

Maurer Motorsport was a German motor racing team, which took between 1979 and 1983 with self-made vehicles in the Formula 2 European Championship. The team was founded by industrialist Willy Mason; the cars designed primarily Gustav Brunner. They were usually painted black and wore in the early years of advertising labels " Gin Half and Half ", a herbal liqueur, the one of Mason's company produced.

The German entrepreneur Willy Mason was occasionally driven circuit racing in the early 1970s. After the cessation of active career, he first supported some German teams in the sports car segment. From 1979, Maurer finally ran a works team in the Formula 2 European Championship for five years was present and achieved some successes.

Maurer as a sponsor in motorsports

In the late 1970s, Mason supported with its brand " Gin Half and Half " first the Zakspeed team, a Ford Capri, inter alia, for Hans Heyer began in the German Racing Championship. Occasionally, the team Kremer Racing sponsored, drove for the Klaus Ludwig.

History of the racing team

The first contact with the formula 2 had Willy Mason in the summer of 1978. Maurer promoted at this time racing driver Armin Hahne, who had previously competed mainly in the German Racing Championship and now sought to enter into formula racing. Maurer's attempt to convey Hahne a Formula 2 cockpit at Chevron failed due to the different financial needs of the participants. Shortly thereafter, Maurer Hahne allowed a test drive for the German Formula 2 team of Manfred Cassani. However Cassani put a used race car, their competitiveness was limited from the outset.

Together with the Austrian engineer Gustav Brunner, Maurer decided then to build your own racing team, which - should use self-constructed racing cars - unusual for this racing class.

In the unsuccessful extending first season 1979 operated Maurer Motorsport from a base in Germany. At the turn of 1979/80 Maurer took over the factory buildings and part of the equipment of the bankrupt British racing car manufacturer Chevron in Bolton. Over the next three and a half years Maurer their own racing cars were made there, and the racing operation of the factory team was also prepared in Bolton. In the last year of his Formula 2 exposures Maurer moved the business back to Germany.

1979

Maurer Motorsport first appeared in the Formula 2 season 1979. The team used the MM1 one, a race car, which had been designed by Gustav Brunner. The car was manufactured in the UK by the company John Thompson, which also supplied the Formula 1 teams. The MM1 was wide and had an unusual, two outer struts worn rear wing. When driving a prepared by Erich Baier BMW engine .. was the only rider of the team Armin Hahne was committed.

The first season of Maurer Motorsport was unsuccessful. The team made ​​its debut in the fourth championship race of the season, the ADAC Eifel Race at the Nürburgring, but withdrew before qualifying back because the MM1 at this time was not yet ready for use. It was not until the following event in Rome Maurer went to regularly. Overall, Hahnemann took in 1979 at only a single race in part; For all other events he missed either the qualifications or the team withdrew prematurely due to technical problems back. At the last race of the season at Donington Hahne succeeded for the first time qualification. However, he had the race in the 58th lap stop after an accident.

1980

For next season Maurer shifted its operation to the UK. The new car, the Maurer MM80, was also a development Gustav Brunner. The car was slimmer and had conventional lines. The BMW engine was prepared at Maurer himself.

As a driver Eje Elgh and Markus Höttinger were committed. Höttinger could, however, go only twice for bricklayers at the start. Already in the second race of the year, the Jim Clark Memorial race at Hockenheim, he was killed. He was killed during the race by a swirling through the air rear of the previously crashed Derek Warwick. Höttinger died at the scene. Later Helmut Henzler took over the second Maurer cockpit. He came three times in eight attempts to the finish; his best finish was eighth place in the race at Mugello.

The Swede Eje Elgh drove in the first four races of the year mason second car, but came in no start to the finish. He was replaced for two races with Patrick Gaillard, who also never saw the target; Beppe Gabbiani then took the car for the rest of the season. Gabbiani came at the Grote Prijs of Zandvoort, in which Hans -Georg citizen was killed in a car of the Tiga teams finished sixth. That He scored the first championship point for a driver with a bricklayer.

To race in Hockenheim a third car for Mario Ketterer has been reported, but this was not at the start. At the last race of the season Eje Elgh drove the third bricklayer; he qualified, but did not finish.

1981

The third Formula 2 season was a successful year for Maurer Motorsport. The team announced the MM81, a new design of Gustav Brunner, which triggered before the first race protests of competitors. It was suspected that the MM81 was designed for ground effect and foul had moveable cheeks. After an investigation of the cars, the FIA ​​said the car for compliant. The car was powered by a prepared at Mader BMW engine.

1981 Maurer put a regular two cars, a third vehicle came in individual races for use. One of the regular driver was Roberto Guerrero. He could finish only six of twelve championship races, but reached the third race of the year at the " BARC 200 " in Thruxton, the first victory for the Mason team. His lead over second-placed Riccardo palletizing, who was driving a March for the provided with quasi -status team Onyx, was 41 seconds. Two fourth places in Enna and Misano brought a further Guerrero points.

The second regular driver was Eje Elgh. He also went to every race and came with one exception always the finish. He also won once ( at the Gran Premio di Roma in Vallelunga ) and came beyond Thruxton and the Nürburgring each finished second. In addition, he scored a third place in the Grand Prix de Belgique F2 at Spa-Francorchamps and a plurality of fourth and fifth places. Elgh was third in the championship with 37 points behind Geoff Lees in Ralt factory team (51 points) and Thierry Boutsen in March factory team (37 points).

In two events, Manfred Winkelhock drove a third Maurer MM81. He was in Spa fifth and the subsequent race in Donington third parties. In this race he was the best Maurer - pilot.

1982

1982 Maurer temporarily dominated the Formula 2 European Championship. This year, the Mason factory team used three cars and supplied beyond the private Bertram Schäfer Racing Team with two other cars.

The team entered throughout the year with the MM82 to. A special feature of the car were double spring units that were suitable to establish contact between aprons and road surfaces when the car was in motion. The works cars were powered with powerful, prepared by Heidegger BMW engines.

Maurer's first driver was Stefan Bellof, who played his first season in Formula 2. Bellof had tested a Formula 2 car for Maurer in October 1981 for the first time. Willy Mason took over in 1982, the management of the Giessen racer and supported him financially and organizationally. Bellof also received support from BMW. Mediated by Dieter Stappert, he brought the team for the upcoming season with three free motors. Bellofs debut in the Formula 2 was successful. He won the first two races of the season - his first Formula 2 race - superior. This, as well as a second place in Enna, a third at Hockenheim and each a fifth place at the Nurburgring and in Misano achieved Bellof total of 33 points, so he finished the season as the fourth in the Formula 2 Championship and the reputation of the " coming man in the German Motorsport " consolidated.

The second Maurer was driven by Beppe Gabbiani. The Italians came eight times to the finish and was fifth with 26 points behind Bellof.

The third mason was driven in the first three races of the year of Peter Schindler, who came out of the points twice far to the finish. When ADAC Eifel Race at the Nürburgring, he was replaced by Eje Elgh, who was 17. Then took over Jean-Louis Schlesser the car for the rest of the season. Schlesser was six times the finish, but reached no points. When Rhine Cup at Hockenheim he was replaced once by Alain Ferté, who failed with broken suspension.

The private team Bertram Schäfer Racing began in 1982, two Maurer MM82 one. Regular driver was Frank Jelinski, whose best result was a fourth place at the race in Pau. There he came before the Maurer - unit carriage to the team. Shepherd's second car was driven mostly by Pierre Chauvet; occasionally went in his place Mike Thackwell or Wolfgang Klein at the start.

1983

In the 1983 season Maurer met again with Stefan Bellof as a top driver in Formula 2. However, Willy Mason's attention had reduced his team against; his main focus this year was on the goal of enabling Bellof use in Formula 1.

Maurer announced for the 1983 season the MM83, an evolution of the previous car, which differed primarily by a carbon fiber monocoque and a modified suspension from MM82. After Gustav Brunner was already changed in the course of 1982, Alfa Romeos to Formula 1 team, the MM83 by Paul Brown had been designed.

Maurer Motorsport continued this year factory four vehicles a, Bertram Schäfer Racing brought two more Maurer at the start.

Maurer's regular driver Bellof was reported for ten races, but was only seven at the start, as he drove the factory sports car race for Porsche in the same year and there were repeated scheduling conflicts. Bellof 1983 came only three times to the finish; his best result was a second place finish in Madrid. Three times he fell out due to technical defects in Pau, he was - like his teammate Acheson - disqualified for being underweight the car. Bellof finished the season in ninth place.

The second car drove Pierre Petit, who finished five times, but scored no championship points. Alain Ferté in the third car was the International Eifel Race at the Nürburgring and in Madrid fifth. The fourth Maurer was reported for Kenny Acheson. He came regularly to the finish and was in Pau second. At the last race of the team in Limbourg went in his place Frank Jelinski.

Bertram Schäder Racing began in the season of 1983, a two private Maurer MM82. Regular driver was the Swede Tomas Kaiser, the second car drove alternately Frank Jelinski, Bartl Stadler and Henning Hagen Bauer. Jelinski reached sixth place in Pau the best result of the private teams.

For the last race of the year at Mugello Maurer Motorsport entered not more. The team was disbanded. After Bellof had received a Formula 1 cockpit with Tyrrell in 1984, Willy Mason concentrated in the following one and a half years on the management Bellofs. A rise of his own team in Formula 1, had been thinking repeatedly about the masons and Gustav Brunner in early 1982, was not realized.