Motorsports Mondial
Salzburgring. Rock Me Amadeus.
There are two major Rings in Austria. The original Österreichring is today called Red Bull Ring. The other is Salzburgring, located, as the name would suggest, near the birthplace of Mozart.
The sound of motorsports music has been echoing around the nearby hills since September,1969. Salzburgring has been hosting international competition both on two and four wheels since then. The 2.64-mile long track features 12 turns, equally divided between right and left; six each.
The excellent book, “Legend Salzburgring. Tradition meets Innovation” by Florian T. Mrazek is a great trip down memory lane with history and images of action at this wonderful track.
Karl Wendlinger Sr. won the first touring car race in a FIAT Abarth 1000. His son would later race as teammate to Michael Schumacher at Sauber-Mercedes sports car team, and then raced in Formula 1.
Dr. Helmut Marko competed in Class 2 driving a BMW Alpina.
Jochen Rindt, Austria’s first World Champion, won his final race – an F2 event – at the Salzburgring only days before the tragedy at Monza in 1970.
Motorcycle legend Mike Hailwood was victorious in the Formula 5000 races same year.
Much loved and missed Niki Lauda is seen in action in Formula Vee. The gas station, recipient of his numerous Grand Prix winning trophies, is located only a few miles from the track.
Michael Schumacher, the 7-time World Champion is seen hustling through the field in a 1988 Formula Ford 1600 race. Hard to believe this was only three years before Spa 1991.
American riders were very successful in Austrian Motor Cycle Grand Prix races here; Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Kevin Schwantz scored three wins each in the 500 cc class. Freddie Spencer was victorious in 1985.
The Italian Ace, Giacomo Agostini, also recorded triple wins in 500 cc.
If the sound of motorsports is not your beat, Salzburgring would like to welcome you in July to The Electric Love Festival, which attracts over 180,000 music aficionados to the track.
My sincere thanks to Ernst Penninger for a wunderbar time, and for the amazing lap of the Salzburgring.
– – Nasir Hameed.
You Tube. On board with Sebastian Vettel at Salzburgring: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wvGZedw1vk4