25th, Rosemeyer's Magical Drive Through the Fog at Nürburgring
It had been 12 months since Rudi Caracciola wagged a finger, the established ace considering his young rival to be in over his head: but for a missed shift entering the home straight, Bernd Rosemeyer would have won the 1935 Eifelrennen, too...
1936 Eifelrennen
June 14, Nürburgring
Caracciola was correct in that Rosemeyer’s maiden season would prove to be a curate’s egg. Despite topping it off with a victory at Brno in Czechoslovakia, Bernd had much to learn. Where Caracciola erred – and how possibly could he have known? – was that Rosemeyer was a genius: a natural, ideal for an ‘unnatural’ car. This he demonstrated at a Nürburgring wrapped in an unsafe blanket of fog.
Caracciola and Tazio Nuvolari, the era’s two finest, led the early wet stages of this 10-lapper, with Rosemeyer, who had endured a difficult start to the season, keeping a watching brief: Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo, Auto Union.
Caracciola soon retired and Nuvolari took the lead. The Alfa had 60bhp less than the chasing Auto Union but handled better – and was driven by the superstar who had pulled off a sensational victory in the previous season’s German GP at the same circuit.
All the more astonishing, therefore, that Rosemeyer, apparently unconcerned by the diminishing visibility – down to 20 metres in places – should sweep ahead and boom into the gloom. He lapped half a minute faster than his rival from thereon to win by more than two minutes. The 300,000 crowd could scarcely believe its eyes. Rosemeyer trusted his implicitly. PF
1st Bernd Rosemeyer (Auto Union)
2nd Tazio Nuvolari (Alfa Romeo)
3rd Antonio Brivio (Alfa Romeo)
Winner’s time & speed 1hr 56min 41.2sec, 72.879mph
Pole position Nuvolari, grid decided by ballot