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Klaus Ludwig
Klaus Ludwig (3664589379) (cropped).jpg
Klaus Ludwig in 2009
Nationality Germany German
Born (1949-10-05) 5 October 1949 (age 75)
Bonn, West Germany
Related to Luca Ludwig (son)
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
Years active 2000
Former teams HWA 2
Starts 16
Wins 2
Podiums 7
Poles 2
Fastest laps 0
Best finish 3rd in 2000
FIA GT Championship
Years active 1997–1998
Former teams AMG Mercedes
Kremer Racing
Starts 19
Championships 1 (1998)
Wins 9
Podiums 14
Poles 6
Fastest laps 5
International Touring Car Championship
Years active 1995–1996
Former teams Zakspeed Opel
Opel Team Rosberg
Starts 33
Wins 4
Podiums 8
Poles 4
Fastest laps 0
Best finish 7th in 1996
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
Years active 1985–1995
Former teams Opel Team Rosberg
AMG-Mercedes
Ford-Grab Motorsport
ABR Ringhausen Rennsport
Starts 173
Championships 3 (1988, 1992, 1994)
Wins 32
Podiums 67
Poles 23
Fastest laps 16
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years 1978–1979, 1982–1986, 1988, 1998
Teams AMG-Mercedes
Porsche AG
Joest Racing
Zakspeed
Porsche Kremer Racing
Weisberg Gelo Team
Best finish 1st (1979, 1984, 1985)
Class wins 3 (1979, 1984, 1985)

Klaus Karl Ludwig (born 5 October 1949) is a German racing driver.

Biography

He also known as König Ludwig ("King Ludwig") for his success in touring cars and in sports car racing.

Kl81-01
Klaus Ludwig's 1981 Group 5 Zakspeed Ford Capri at the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim, Germany
Roushmustang
Ludwig drove the Roush-Zakspeed Ford Mustang Turbo during the 1981 and 1982 Camel GT race seasons.

In the 1970s, Ludwig drove for Ford in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft, winning in 1979 with a Kremer Racing-Porsche 935. With this car, based on the then 15-year-old Porsche 911 road car design, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in the wet, an unprecedented win against the faster pure sports car racing prototypes (though it was subsequently matched in 1995 when a McLaren F1 GTR won the race at its first attempt).

In 1984 and 1985, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Joest Racing in their #7 Porsche 956. Considering Le Mans and sports cars too dangerous after the deaths of Manfred Winkelhock and Stefan Bellof, he was recruited for the 1987 World Touring Car Championship for Ford only to finish runner-up by a single point to BMW driver Roberto Ravaglia after a post-season disqualification (after Ludwig claimed the pole, he and fellow West German Klaus Niedzwiedz had finished second behind teammates Steve Soper and Pierre Dieudonné at the Bathurst 1000 in Australia, but both cars were disqualified due to illegal wheel arch size on their Ford Sierra RS500s). He then moved to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM), and became champion in 1988 in a Ford Sierra RS500. Ludwig also represented IMSA in the 1986 International Race of Champions, finishing 8th.

He repeated the success at Mercedes-Benz in 1992 and 1994, before moving back to sports cars racing for them in 1997 to become the 1998 FIA GT Champion. He retired when the series did not continue in the 1999 season.

He soon returned in June 1999, to win the 24 Hours Nürburgring on the Nordschleife for the third time driving a Zakspeed Viper.

When the DTM resumed as Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in 2000, he returned to the series, winning at the age of 50 years at the Sachsenring circuit, only to retire once again.

Ludwig returned as a "hobby pilot" to the Nürburgring Nordschleife when given the opportunity to drive a high power vehicle. The years 2004 and 2005 saw him enter the 24 Hours Nürburgring with Uwe Alzen on the Jürgen Alzen Porsche 996 GT2 Bi-Turbo. With a normally aspirated Porsche 997 GT3 of the Alzen brothers, Ludwig and Christian Abt managed to beat the old distance record in the 2006 edition of the 24h, yet finished only second, 1 lap behind the winners.

Ludwig has also worked as a TV commentator on DTM races.

Racing record

Achievements

  • Winner 24 Hours of Le Mans: 1979, 1984, 1985
  • Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft champion 1979, 1981
  • Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft champion 1988, 1992, 1994
  • FIA GT World Champion 1998

Complete European Formula Two 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 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Pts
1976 Willi Kauhsen Racing Team March 762 Hart HOC
Ret
THR VAL
13
SAL PAU
7
HOC
9
ROU MUG
9
PER EST NOG
6
HOC
10
12th 4
1977 Willi Kauhsen Racing Team Jabouille 2J Renault SIL
Ret
THR
Ret
HOC
Ret
NÜR
8
VAL
DSQ
PAU
7
MUG ROU NOG PER MIS EST NC 0
KWS Autotechnik Chevron B40 Ford DON
Ret
Sources:

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1978 West Germany Weisberg Gelo Team United Kingdom John Fitzpatrick
Netherlands Toine Hezemans
Porsche 935/77 Gr.5
+2.0
19 DNF DNF
1979 West Germany Porsche Kremer Racing United States Don Whittington
United States Bill Whittington
Porsche 935 K3 Gr.5
+2.0
307 1st 1st
1982 West Germany Ford Germany
West Germany Zakspeed
Switzerland Marc Surer
West Germany Manfred Winkelhock
Ford C100 C 67 DNF DNF
1983 West Germany Sorga S.A. Joest Racing Sweden Stefan Johansson
France Bob Wollek
Porsche 956 C 354 6th 6th
1984 West Germany New-Man Joest Racing France Henri Pescarolo Porsche 956B C1 360 1st 1st
1985 West Germany New-Man Joest Racing Italy Paolo Barilla
West Germany Louis Krages
Porsche 956B C1 374 1st 1st
1986 West Germany Joest Racing Italy Paolo Barilla
West Germany Louis Krages
Porsche 956B C1 196 DNF DNF
1988 West Germany Porsche AG West Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck
United Kingdom Derek Bell
Porsche 962C C1 394 2nd 2nd
1998 West Germany AMG-Mercedes West Germany Bernd Schneider
Australia Mark Webber
Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM GT1 19 DNF DNF
Sources:

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
1987 Switzerland Eggenberger Motorsport Ford Sierra RS Cosworth MNZ
DSQ
JAR
ovr:4
cls:1
DIJ
ovr:4
cls:4
NÜR
ovr:1
cls:1
SPA
Ret
2nd 268
Ford Sierra RS500 BRN
ovr:1
cls:1
SIL
ovr:6
cls:1
BAT
DSQ
CLD
ovr:12
cls:8
WEL
ovr:1
cls:1
FUJ
ovr:1
cls:1
Sources:

* Overall positions shown. WTCC points paying positions may be different

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft/Masters results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos. Pts
1985 ABR Ringhausen Rennsport Ford Sierra XR4 TI ZOL WUN AVU MFA ERD ERD DIE
12
DIE
1
ZOL
1
SIE
1
NÜR
1
11th 73.5
1986 ABR Ringhausen Rennsport Ford Sierra XR4 TI ZOL
Ret
HOC
5
NÜR AVU MFA WUN NÜR
Ret
ZOL NÜR 25th 14
1987 Ford-Grab Motorsport GmbH Ford Sierra XR4 TI HOC ZOL NÜR AVU MFA NOR NÜR
1
WUN DIE SAL NC 0
1988 Team Hein Gericke Ford Grab Motorsport Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth ZOL
1
1
ZOL
2

1
HOC
1

10
HOC
2

8
NÜR
1

2
NÜR
2

5
BRN
1
2
BRN
2
2
AVU
1
Ret
AVU
2
12
MFA
1

Ret
MFA
2
9
NÜR
1

5
NÜR
2

4
NOR
1

23
NOR
2

1
WUN
1

1
WUN
2

1
SAL
1
C
SAL
2
C
HUN
1

Ret
HUN
2

Ret
HOC
1

9
HOC
2

5
1st 258
1989 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 ZOL
1
Ret
ZOL
2
DNS
HOC
1

1
HOC
2

20
NÜR
1

3
NÜR
2

Ret
11th 155
Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo MFA
1
Ret
MFA
2
DNS
AVU
1
3
AVU
2

10
NÜR
1

DNS
NÜR
2

DNS
NOR
1
NOR
2
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

DNS
DIE
1
1
DIE
2

1
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

1
HOC
1

5
HOC
2

Ret
1990 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo ZOL
1
4
ZOL
2
2
HOC
1

1
HOC
2

Ret
NÜR
1

4
NÜR
2

3
AVU
1
9
AVU
2
Ret
MFA
1

2
MFA
2
6
WUN
1
22
WUN
2
11
5th 140
Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

15
NOR
1
4
NOR
2
4
DIE
1
7
DIE
2
6
NÜR
1

7
NÜR
2

7
HOC
1

5
HOC
2

7
1991 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 ZOL
1
2
ZOL
2
14
HOC
1

7
HOC
2

7
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

1
AVU
1
7
AVU
2
Ret
WUN
1
3
WUN
2
3
NOR
1
Ret
NOR
2
7
DIE
1
8
DIE
2

3
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

1
ALE
1
9
ALE
2
Ret
HOC
1

6
HOC
2

5
BRN
1

1
BRN
2

Ret
DON
1

4
DON
2

4
2nd 166
1992 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 ZOL
1

2
ZOL
2

11
NÜR
1

7
NÜR
2

5
WUN
1
2
WUN
2
3
AVU
1
4
AVU
2
7
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

2
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

1
NOR
1
8
NOR
2
12
BRN
1
Ret
BRN
2
4
DIE
1

1
DIE
2

1
ALE
1
Ret
ALE
2
4
NÜR
1

4
NÜR
2

1
HOC
1

3
HOC
2

Ret
1st 228
1993 AMG-Mercedes Berlin 2000 Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 93 ZOL
1
4
ZOL
2
7
HOC
1

Ret
NÜR
1

3
WUN
1
5
WUN
2
3
NÜR
1

2
NÜR
2

3
NOR
1
Ret
NOR
2
5
DON
1

6
DON
2

Ret
DIE
1
3
DIE
2
2
ALE
1
5
ALE
2
Ret
AVU
1
2
AVU
2
22
HOC
1

5
HOC
2

Ret
4th 171
Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 HOC
2

3
NÜR
2

1
1994 AMG Mercedes D2 Privat Team Mercedes C-Class V6 ZOL
1
8
ZOL
2
5
HOC
1

5
HOC
2

8
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

3
MUG
1
8
MUG
2
17
NÜR
1

2
NÜR
2

1
NOR
1
3
NOR
2
5
DON
1

20
DON
2

DNS
DIE
1
1
DIE
2

2
NÜR
1

2
NÜR
2

2
AVU
1
4
AVU
2
8
ALE
1
Ret
ALE
2
4
HOC
1

2
HOC
2

4
1st 222
1995 Opel Team Rosberg Opel Calibra V6 4x4 HOC
1

5
HOC
2

3
AVU
1
Ret
AVU
2
DNS
NOR
1
2
NOR
2
Ret
DIE
1
Ret
DIE
2
Ret
NÜR
1

7
NÜR
2

10
ALE
1
Ret
ALE
2
DNS
HOC
1

1
HOC
2

1
3rd 80
2000 HWA 2 AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM HOC
1

9
HOC
2

9
OSC
1
8
OSC
2
11
NOR
1
2
NOR
2
3
SAC
1

1
SAC
2

1
NÜR
1

2
NÜR
2

2
LAU
1
C
LAU
2
C
OSC
1
6
OSC
2
3
NÜR
1

12
NÜR
2

Ret
HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

11
3rd 122
Sources:

Complete International Touring Car Championship results

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

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pos. Pts
1995 Opel Team Rosberg Opel Calibra V6 4x4 MUG
1
8
MUG
2
Ret
HEL
1
15
HEL
2
Ret
DON
1

8
DON
2

Ret
EST
1
17
EST
2
8
MAG
1
3
MAG
2
Ret
14th 21
1996 Zakspeed Opel Opel Calibra V6 4x4 HOC
1

Ret
HOC
2

DNS
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

Ret
EST
1
3
EST
2
11
HEL
1
3
HEL
2
Ret
NOR
1
1
NOR
2

1
DIE
1
Ret
DIE
2
Ret
SIL
1

1
SIL
2

Ret
NÜR
1

Ret
NÜR
2

11
MAG
1
9
MAG
2
5
MUG
1
MUG
2
HOC
1

1
HOC
2

2
INT
1

Ret
INT
2

18†
SUZ
1

Ret
SUZ
2

10
7th 130
Sources:
  • † — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Klaus Ludwig para niños

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Klaus Ludwig Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.