There’s nice disappointment following the loss of life of Herbert Schnitzer. The final of the 4 Schnitzer brothers, who owned the legendary BMW racing outfit, handed away peacefully at residence in Freilassing on Friday – on his eighty fifth birthday – surrounded by his household.
“Now all three are collectively, Dieter and Charly, gone from us far too quickly,” writes former racing driver Christian Menzel, who shared a photograph of Herbert Schnitzer together with his two half-brothers Charly and Dieter Lamm on Instagram. “To me, Schnitzer was BMW; they lived the model’s values and communicated them authentically to all followers. Some of the profitable motorsport groups ever and an unreachable staff spirit – position fashions.”
The identify Schnitzer has formed BMW’s motorsport historical past like no different. For over half a century, Schnitzer Motorsport and BMW traveled the world’s race tracks collectively, celebrating grand successes throughout a variety of classes.
Herbert Schnitzer: How the success story started
All of it started within the Nineteen Fifties in Freilassing: Like his brother Josef, who was two years older, Herbert Schnitzer was educated as a automobile mechanic by his stepfather, Karl Lamm. In 1963, he and Josef Schnitzer bought an accident-damaged Fiat, which they repaired themselves and entered into races.
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This marked the start of the Schnitzer household’s motorsports actions. Whereas Josef pursued his racing profession, his brother Herbert centered on gross sales: in 1964, Schnitzer turned a seller for brand new and used BMW autos. He ensured that the staff, and the dealership ran easily.
Two years later, Josef Schnitzer turns into German Touring Automobile Champion in a BMW 2000ti he tuned himself, bringing the primary title to Freilassing. After that, the staff is unstoppable, and the success story takes its course.
Charly Lamm joins, drama surrounding brother Josef
In 1971, Charly Lamm – Herbert Schnitzer’s half-brother – joined the staff. Initially, the then 16-year-old supported the outfit with menial duties, however he finally turned the staff supervisor and first decision-maker. Lamm’s twin brother Dieter additionally performed a significant position: till his loss of life in 2014, he was accountable for technical processes and logistics.
The Schnitzer staff’s BMW race vehicles are fielded by Schnitzer Basic
Picture: Schnitzer Basic
The staff even constructed Toyota engines for rally outings and helped Jacques Laffite win the 1975 Formulation 2 European Championship with a devoted Schnitzer engine based mostly on a BMW energy unit. Nevertheless, in 1978, tragedy struck the household: Herbert’s brother Josef died in a street accident, by means of no fault of his personal, whereas touring to Zolder.
Within the Eighties, Schnitzer turned the European Touring Automobile Champion 3 times. This period additionally marked the start of a streak of 9 complete victories in touring automobile races on the “Guia Circuit” in Macau.
General victory at Le Mans as absolutely the spotlight
Between 1989 and 2010, Schnitzer triumphed 5 occasions on the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, taking part in a serious position in BMW remaining the document winner of this endurance traditional to this present day. The identical applies to the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, which Schnitzer additionally received 5 occasions beginning in 1985.
Added to this had been titles with Italian Roberto Ravaglia within the 1987 World Touring Automobile Championship and the 1989 DTM, in addition to with German Joachim Winkelhock in 1995 and Venezuelan Johnny Cecotto in 1998 within the German Tremendous Touring Automobile Championship (STW).
Among the many biggest highlights of the partnership was the general victory on the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans with the legendary BMW V12 LMR. With this prototype designed by Williams, Schnitzer additionally received the 12 Hours of Sebring in the identical yr.
DTM title, then the withdrawal by BMW
In 2001, the staff secured the GT title within the American Le Mans Sequence (ALMS). From 2005 to 2009, Schnitzer competed as a BMW works staff within the World Touring Automobile Championship (WTCC), celebrating a sensational 25 victories and a complete of 57 podium finishes.
In 2012, Schnitzer returned to the DTM as a works staff with BMW. Collectively, they celebrated a triumphant comeback yr, profitable the drivers’ title with Bruno Spengler, the groups’ title for Schnitzer, and the producers’ title for BMW. Schnitzer remained lively within the DTM till 2016, boasting a profitable document of 25 wins and 88 podiums, earlier than being withdrawn from the collection by then BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
Dying of Charly Lamm and dissolution
Following this setback, Schnitzer continued its actions in GT racing, competing in collection such because the Worldwide GT Problem (IGTC). The victory with Augusto Farfus in November 2018 on the GT World Cup in Macau stays unforgettable. It was Charly Lamm’s last race as staff principal earlier than handing over the reins to Herbert Schnitzer Junior. A number of weeks later, Lamm handed away unexpectedly.
Ensures of success: Bruno Spengler, Charly Lamm, and Herbert Schnitzer
Picture: BMW
In 2020, beneath new management, Schnitzer returned to the rostrum on the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, taking third place with the BMW M6 GT3. A number of months later got here the bombshell: as BMW realigned its motorsport technique, the partnership with Schnitzer wouldn’t be continued. Regardless of intensive efforts to search out an investor, the staff was dissolved – a transfer that precipitated outrage amongst followers worldwide.
However, the legendary staff lives on, not simply in reminiscence but in addition within the traditional racing scene. Crew Schnitzer Basic, owned by Stefan and his son Yannik Trautwein – who acquired massive elements of the stock after the staff’s closure – continues to run the historic racing vehicles, one thing that deeply moved Herbert Schnitzer.
“You really liked telling tales and sharing gems”
“Whenever you and Herbert Jr. visited our workshop for the primary time and noticed all of the autos and trophies, tears flowed. On either side,” the Schwarzwald-based staff from Germany wrote on Instagram.
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“You really liked telling tales and sharing gems out of your wealthy life – and the way a lot we cherished listening to you. Each anecdote, each reminiscence of the wild years was a present.” Simply final yr, they spent a “fantastic night” in Freilassing with Schnitzer’s common group, a reminiscence they are saying they’ll now carry of their hearts ceaselessly.
“The massive image of you, Josef, Charly, and Dieter hangs centrally in our workshop – and it will likely be there ceaselessly,” writes the staff, which intends to maintain the engines roaring in Herbert Schnitzer’s honor.
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