Paul Pietsch

Paul Pietsch (20 June 1911 – 31 May 2012) was a racing driver, journalist and publisher from Germany, who founded the magazine Das Auto.[1] He was the first German ever to take part in a Formula One Grand Prix.

Paul Pietsch
Pietsch at 1938 Targa Florio in Maserati 4CM
Born(1911-06-20)20 June 1911
Freiburg im Breisgau, German Empire
Died31 May 2012(2012-05-31) (aged 100)
Titisee-Neustadt, Germany
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality German
Active years1950–1952
TeamsAlfa Romeo, non-works Maserati and Veritas
Entries3
First entry1950 Italian Grand Prix
Last entry1952 German Grand Prix

Biography

Born in Freiburg,[2] Pietsch began his racing career in 1932 with a private Bugatti and Alfa Romeo.

Racing with an Alfa Romeo, he won the 1933 III Svenska Isloppet GP ice race in Hemfjärden, and the 1934 I Vallentunaloppet ice race in Vellentunasjön, both in Sweden.

In the 1935 German Grand Prix he raced for Auto Union, and he finished third in the 1935 Italian Grand Prix before leaving the team with its hard-to-drive rear engines. From 1937 onwards he entered a private Maserati. His greatest hours came in the 1939 German Grand Prix which he led from lap two until the ignition failed, making him drop down to third, which was still an excellent result for a privateer against the dominant force of the Silver Arrows.

After the war, he participated in three World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on September 3, 1950. His drive in a factory Alfa Romeo in the 1951 German Grand Prix ended with an accident. He scored no championship points.

At that time, Pietsch was already a successful editor and publisher of motorcycle and automobile magazines. His company, Motor Presse Stuttgart, is the largest in the European market for technology and special interest magazines.

From the death of his countryman Karl Kling in 2003 until his own death, Pietsch was the oldest surviving Formula One driver,[1] at age 100[3] and the last surviving driver of pre-war grand prix era. His son Peter-Paul Pietsch races often at the Nürburgring with fellow journalists.

On 31 May 2012, Pietsch died from pneumonia[4] at the age of 100 years, 11 months and 11 days.[2] Pietsch was also the first Grand Prix driver to reach the age of 100.[2]

Racing record

Complete European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EDC Pts
1932 Pilesi Racing Team Bugatti T35B Bugatti 2.3 L8 ITA FRA GER
Ret		 22nd 23
1935 Auto Union AG Auto Union B Auto Union 5.0 V16 MON FRA BEL GER
9		 SUI
111		 ITA
3		 ESP
DNS		 15th 47
1937 P. Pietsch Maserati 6C-34 Maserati 3.7 L6 BEL GER
Ret		 MON
DNS		 SUI
10		 ITA 17th 35
1938 P. Pietsch Maserati 6CM Maserati 1.5 L6 FRA GER
6		 SUI ITA 14th 28
1939 Officine A. Maserati Maserati 8CTF Maserati 3.0 L8 BEL FRA GER
3		 14th 26
P. Pietsch Maserati 4CL Maserati 1.5 L4 SUI
Ret
Source:[5]
Notes
  • ^1 – As a co-driver Pietsch was ineligible for championship points

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WDC Pts
1950 Paul Pietsch Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA
Ret		 NC 0
1951 Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo 159 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER
Ret		 ITA ESP NC 0
1952 Motor Presse Verlag Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER
Ret		 NED ITA NC 0
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See also

References
  1. Glückwunsch zum 100. Geburtstag - ADAC Motorwelt 6/2012 p12
  2. Jenkins, Richard. "The World Championship drivers - Where are they now?". OldRacingCars.com. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
  3. Vorano, Neil (2011-06-25). "German rally marks 100th birthday of racing great Paul Pietsch". The National. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  4. "Zum Tode von Paul Pietsch. Der Grand-Prix-Pilot und Gründer von Auto Motor und Sport starb wenige Tage vor seinem 101. Geburtstag". Auto Motor u. Sport. 14 2012: Seite 14.2012/11. 14 June 2012.
  5. "THE GOLDEN ERA – OF GRAND PRIX RACING". kolumbus.fi. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
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