Ring-Masters

The Nürburgring Nordschleife is an icon – not only in Germany, but worldwide. It`s length of over twenty something Kilometers and its layout in the challenging Eifel mountains with its unpredictable weather made it to what Sir Jackie Stewart called “the green hell”. Built in 1927 it has remained (more or less) in its original configuration to this day. Lap times in the beginning were over 17 minutes. But with the introduction of the 750Kg Formula in 1934, the 10 Minutes barrier became an attainable goal. It was achieved in 1937 by the young German hero Bernd Rosemeyer in one of the mighty Auto-Unions, also called the Silver Arrows. Lap times came down with time, and it became a custom to look for the next “Minutes barrier” to fall. 9 Minutes in 1961, 8 Minutes in 1969 and 7 Minutes finally in 1975. But after the infamous Lauda accident in 1976, Formula One did not show up anymore in competition on the legendary circuit, and it became uncertain, if another barrier would ever fall.

But Sports- and Touring Cars continued their hunt and it was again a young German who set a benchmark, supposed to last forever: in 1983, Stefan Bellof did a 6.11.13 Minutes in his Porsche 956 in 1983. And when Porsche gave their Le Mans Challenger 919 unlimited power and various other gimmicks, works driver Timo Bernhard even did an unbelievable 5.19.55 in 2018.

These outstanding performances ignited my “Ring-Masters” series. I will do a painting for each of the heroes which teared down a “Minutes-barrier”, beginning with Rosemeyer in 1937. Currently available are the two Porsches outlined above with more to come during 2024.

Again, I did not only paint the car, but illustrated also the lap-time, the name of car and driver in the painting. To indicate that these paintings belong to a series, I realized them in the same style and technique. 
The question is: Will there be another painting?

Stefan Bellof, Porsche 956

Bellof burst into the motorsport scene like a hurricane. He did his first international appearance in early 1982 in a Formula two race in Silverstone – which he won. When he also succeedein his second one a fortnight late in Hockenheim, people recognized there was an exceptional talent rising. His successes came with such an ease that Porsche recruited him for their group C program for 1983. It was again in Silverstone in his first qualifying in Sportscar racing, that he shook up the establishment by taking pole position by a mean two seconds and winning the race!

Three weeks later Bellof set what would be a record for eternity, when he rounded the Nordscheife in 6 minutes 11 point 13 seconds – this time 5,5 seconds quicker than teammate Jochen Mass.