Erich Zakowski, founder and long-time leader of the Zakspeed race team passed away on Wednesday at 89 years old.
After founding his own garage in Niederzissen, the Zakspeed team was founded under the name “Zakowski Niederzissen tuning” in 1968, initially campaigning a Ford Escort in racing at the Nürburgring.
Growing in ambition and stature, the later renamed Zakspeed team engaged in high level competition across multiple disciplines including DRM, and late DTM, with in-house built Group 2 and group 5 versions of the Ford Escort and Capri respectively.
The link and racing success with Ford saw Zakspeed entrusted with the running of the factory Ford C100 Group C campaign in 1982, the effort fell short of the standards expected, but seeing success later in the team’s own ownership, developed as a successful sprint version in the German Interseries.
The in-house built engine would form the core of the biggest of Zaksped’s adventures, into Formula One from 1985 but the powerful turbo motor proved to be an achilles heel in a formidably competitive era.
A final season in 1989 saw the effort parked, the team retreating to DTM and endurance GT racing with day-to-day operation handed over to Erich’s son Peter, who would lead the team to success (with the Chrysler Viper) at the 24 hours of Nurburgring.
