The announcement that Hans-Joachim Stuck is moving from BMW to the Volkswagen Group as their Motorsport Representative has sparked some speculation that this is preparatory to VW/Audi entering F1. The connection is, of course, that Stuck raced in F1 in the 1970s.
Auto Union versus Mercedes
Never mind the Schumacher brothers, if Germany has a GP racing family, it has to be the Stucks. Hans-Joachim's father, Hans Stuck, became famous in the 1930s driving the fierce and over-powered Auto Union Grand Prix cars, winning several races in the process. It was no mean achievement; although the Ferdinand Porsche-designed cars pointed the way to the mid-engined layout of the future, the suspension arrangements were primitive by today's standards and the Auto Union gained a reputation as extremely difficult to drive quickly. Only the great drivers of the day, such as Bernd Rosemeyer, Tazio Nuvolari and Stuck himself, could handle the beast and their struggles against the W125 Mercedes became legendary.
So it is fitting that Hansie's son should eventually find his way back to his father's old firm, Volkswagen having bought the Auto Union Group, including the Audi name, in the sixties. Memories are revived, hopes rekindled - surely this is significant. Perhaps Bernie is going to have his dream come true and see Audi enter F1.
Unfortunately, these connections omit the fact that Hans-Joachim raced in many other types of car apart from his 81 Grands Prix. If anything, he was more of a touring and sports car driver than an F1 star; certainly, he had plenty of success in other types of racing, whereas his time in F1 was spent largely in the wrong teams at the wrong times. He was good enough in the wet to earn the nickname "der Rainmeister", however.
There is no reason to suppose that Stuck's appointment is a fore-runner to VW/Audi's entrance to F1, therefore. Their expertise in modern times has been centered on sports and touring car racing and Hans-Joachim's credentials fit well enough with that. It remains unlikely that the firm will return to GP racing.
Even so, we can still dream. With the other two large German manufacturers already heavily involved in F1, the addition of VAG would be the icing on the cake, a promise of a repeat of the mighty struggles of the 1930s. It is no wonder that Stuck's move is being seen as significant - we want it to be so!
Auto Union versus Mercedes
Never mind the Schumacher brothers, if Germany has a GP racing family, it has to be the Stucks. Hans-Joachim's father, Hans Stuck, became famous in the 1930s driving the fierce and over-powered Auto Union Grand Prix cars, winning several races in the process. It was no mean achievement; although the Ferdinand Porsche-designed cars pointed the way to the mid-engined layout of the future, the suspension arrangements were primitive by today's standards and the Auto Union gained a reputation as extremely difficult to drive quickly. Only the great drivers of the day, such as Bernd Rosemeyer, Tazio Nuvolari and Stuck himself, could handle the beast and their struggles against the W125 Mercedes became legendary.
So it is fitting that Hansie's son should eventually find his way back to his father's old firm, Volkswagen having bought the Auto Union Group, including the Audi name, in the sixties. Memories are revived, hopes rekindled - surely this is significant. Perhaps Bernie is going to have his dream come true and see Audi enter F1.
Unfortunately, these connections omit the fact that Hans-Joachim raced in many other types of car apart from his 81 Grands Prix. If anything, he was more of a touring and sports car driver than an F1 star; certainly, he had plenty of success in other types of racing, whereas his time in F1 was spent largely in the wrong teams at the wrong times. He was good enough in the wet to earn the nickname "der Rainmeister", however.
There is no reason to suppose that Stuck's appointment is a fore-runner to VW/Audi's entrance to F1, therefore. Their expertise in modern times has been centered on sports and touring car racing and Hans-Joachim's credentials fit well enough with that. It remains unlikely that the firm will return to GP racing.
Even so, we can still dream. With the other two large German manufacturers already heavily involved in F1, the addition of VAG would be the icing on the cake, a promise of a repeat of the mighty struggles of the 1930s. It is no wonder that Stuck's move is being seen as significant - we want it to be so!