Condor Articles

From the driver’s seat, Hans-Joachim Stuck helped build, and, in some cases, rebuild, some of the most iconic brands and racing teams in motorsport history. His career spans more than four decades, from motorsport’s golden age well into the new millennium, encompassing an era of technological evolution so profound that it is difficult to imagine ever seeing anything like it again.

Yet beyond the races, championships, and legendary machinery, Stuck’s legacy is defined equally by his character. His talent, personality, humor, and fearlessness made him one of motorsport’s most distinctive figures, a true legend whose career helped define an era of racing.

Discover the remarkable career of Hans-Joachim Stuck, one of motorsport’s most versatile and charismatic racing drivers. From his early days racing the Nürburgring Nordschleife to victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours, Formula 1, IMSA, and the legendary BMW M1 Procar Series, Stuck built a reputation for speed, courage, and versatility. This first part of his story explores his rise as a BMW factory driver, his relationship with Jochen Neerpasch, and the defining races that established Hans-Joachim Stuck as a true icon of international motorsport.

Underneath its understated styling, the E12 featured sophisticated multi-link front suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a curb weight of roughly 3,200 pounds. In six-cylinder form, it was powered by BMW’s robust M30 inline-six engine, capable of producing up to 180 horsepower. The combination of balance, durability, and straight-line performance quickly caught the attention of touring car teams across Europe.

In some of his more famous photos, Joachim Winkelhock could be perceived as a party animal from a time when racing drivers’ personalities were at their most flamboyant. And while he was undoubtedly great company off the track, his true demeanor was calm, tactful, and calculating. His chain-smoking habit and playful racer persona often overshadowed his immense driving talent and hard-working racing spirit, which is precisely why we chose him to launch our series celebrating BMW’s most legendary racing drivers.

As a follow-up to our recent merch release and Group A E30 M3 write-up, we recently had the pleasure of interviewing Phillipp Kennewell, who is the current owner of the Team Kalaschek Group A/DTM E30 M3. Philipp is a great, down-to-earth guy who simply loves racing and has an awesome approach, similar to the vehicle’s original owner, Hans Kalischek. His recollections of the car’s history and restoration process offer amazing insight into what it’s like to achieve the lifelong dream of owning such an iconic piece of automotive history.

At its peak in popularity, it’s hard to overstate just how important touring car racing was to motorsport enthusiasts. In the 1980’s and 90’s, series like the DTM, BTCC, ITCC and ETCC held a place in racing fans’ hearts rivaling even Formula 1. Manufacturers such as Mercedes, Volvo, Alfa Romeo, Audi and Ford all fielded factory teams in that time period, battling for supremacy against perhaps the most iconic touring car brand of all time, BMW.

After their two LeMans victories with the S10/2 V12 engine, BMW teamed up with the Williams Formula 1 team during the peak of the V10 era, creating some of the most iconic racing engines in history. This partnership laid the groundwork for their takover of the Sauber F1 team in 2005, makring BMW's full factory return to F1 since the 1960's. 

In addition to being one of the most iconic global automotive brands, BMW has historically built engines for an intriguing and diverse roster of customers. From Formula cars to top-secret supercar projects, BMW was a popular and unique choice for those seeking well-engineered and highly sophisticated power units. Their reputation for this, however, often goes overlooked, perhaps overshadowed by the many great cars they have built on their own.

Amid a true modern renaissance for global sportscar racing, BMW of North America celebrated its 50th birthday earlier this year. In honor of this Golden Anniversary, I wanted to reflect on this iconic partnership formed in a time of chaos and uncertainty within the automotive industry.