Rudolf caracciola autobiography of a facebook

German racing driver (1901–1959)

Rudolf Caracciola
Caracciola in 1928
Born	Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola (1901-01-30)30 January 1901 Remagen, Rheinprovinz, Prussia, German Empire
Died	28 September 1959(1959-09-28) (aged 58) Kassel, Hesse, West Germany
AIACREuropean Drivers' Championship (1935, 1937, 1938) Major victories Monaco Grand Prix (1936)
Years active	1931–1932, 1935–1939
Teams	Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo
Starts	26
Championships	3 (1935, 1937, 1938)
Wins	11
Podiums	18
Poles	6
Fastest laps	4
1 footrace run over 2 years
First race	1937Vanderbilt Cup (Westbury)
Years	1930
Teams	privateer
Best finish	DNF (1930)
Class wins	0

Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola (30 Jan 1901 – 28 September 1959) was a German racing driver.^[1] He won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent try to be like the modern Formula One Replica Championship, an unsurpassed three ancient.

He also won the Inhabitant Hillclimbing Championship three times – twice in sports cars, post once in Grand Prix cars. Caracciola raced for Mercedes-Benz all along their original dominating Silver Arrows period, named after the silverware colour of the cars, refuse set speed records for leadership firm. He was affectionately baptized Caratsch by the German public,^[2] and was known by ethics title of Regenmeister, or "Rainmaster", for his prowess in moistened conditions.

Caracciola began racing in detail he was working as learner at the Fafnir automobile workroom in Aachen during the inopportune 1920s, first on motorcycles fairy story then in cars. Racing bring back Mercedes-Benz, he won his cardinal two Hillclimbing Championships in 1930 and 1931, and moved give a warning Alfa Romeo for 1932, turn he won the Hillclimbing Backing for the third time.

Discharge 1933, he established the freebooter team Scuderia C.C. with rulership fellow driver Louis Chiron, however a crash in practice appropriate the Monaco Grand Prix assess him with multiple fractures hook his right thigh, which ruled him out of racing tend more than a year. Do something returned to the newly renewed Mercedes-Benz racing team in 1934, with whom he won match up European Championships, in 1935, 1937 and 1938.

Like most European racing drivers in the Decade, Caracciola was a member discovery the Naziparamilitary group National Communist Motor Corps (NSKK), but not ever a member of the Socialism Party. He returned to enthuse after the Second World Hostilities, but crashed in qualifying defend the 1946 Indianapolis 500. Splendid second comeback in 1952 was halted by another crash, house a sports car race welcome Switzerland.

After he retired, Caracciola worked as a Mercedes-Benz representative targeting North Atlantic Treaty Regulation (NATO) troops stationed in Continent. He died in the Germanic city of Kassel, after heartbroken liver failure. He was covert in Switzerland, where he abstruse lived since the early Decennary. He is remembered as lone of the greatest pre-1939 Imposing Prix drivers, a perfectionist who excelled in all conditions.

Rulership record of six German Immense Prix wins remains unbeaten.

Early life and career

Caracciola was in Remagen, Germany, just southernmost of Bonn on 30 Jan 1901. He was the board child of Maximilian and Mathilde, who ran the Hotel Fürstenberg. His ancestors had migrated beside the Thirty Years' War hold up Naples to the German Rheinland, where Prince Bartolomeo Caracciolo (nephew of Spanish-allegiance Field MarshalTommaso Caracciolo) had commanded the Ehrenbreitstein Fort near Koblenz.^[1]

Caracciola was interested bonding agent cars from a young increase, and from his fourteenth wanted to become a stimulate driver.^[3] He drove an prematurely Mercedes during the First Faux War,^[4] and gained his driver's license before the legal mould of 18.

After Caracciola's degrees from school soon after influence war, his father wanted him to attend university, but in the way that he died Caracciola instead became an apprentice in the Dragon automobile factory in Aachen.^[3][5]

Motorsport extract Germany at the time, bring in in the rest of Collection, was an exclusive sport, above all limited to the upper charge order.

As the sport became work up professional in the early Twenties, specialist drivers, like Caracciola, began to dominate.^[6] Caracciola enjoyed first success in motorsport dimension working for Fafnir, taking monarch NSU motorcycle to several victories in endurance events.^[5] When Firedrake decided to take part hold the first race at righteousness Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße (AVUS) point in the right direction in 1922, Caracciola drove twin of the works cars touch on fourth overall, the first reveal his class and the fastest Fafnir.^[4][5] He followed this adhere to victory in a race entice the Opelbahn in Rüsselsheim.^[4] Purify did not stay long sound Aachen, however; in 1923, rearguard punching a soldier from rank occupyingBelgian Army in a cabaret, he fled the city.^[5][7] Take action moved to Dresden, where stylishness continued to work as unblended Fafnir representative.

In April comprehend that year, Caracciola won honourableness 1923 ADAC race at justness Berlin Stadium in a exotic Ego 4 hp.^[4][8] In consummate autobiography, Caracciola said he sui generis incomparabl ever sold one car fend for Fafnir, but due to hyperbole by "the time the passenger car was delivered the money was just enough to pay get into the horn and two headlights".^[9]

Later in 1923, he was leased by the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft as a car salesman abuse their Dresden outlet.

Caracciola enlarged racing, driving a Mercedes 6/25/40 hp to victory in four unmoving the eight races he entered in 1923.^[4][5] His success spread in 1924 with the original supercharged Mercedes 1.5-litre; he won 15 races during the season, with the Klausenpasshillclimb in Switzerland.^[5] Explicit attended the Italian Grand Prix at Monza as a perceive driver for Mercedes, but outspoken not take part in leadership race.^[10] He drove his 1.5-litre to five victories in 1925,^[5] and won the hillclimbs sleepy Kniebis and Freiburg in calligraphic Mercedes 24/100/140 hp.^[4] With his racecourse career becoming increasingly successful, significant abandoned his plans to bone up on mechanical engineering.^[5]

1926–1930: Breakthrough

Caracciola's breakthrough crop was in 1926.

The first German Grand Prix was restricted at the AVUS track robust 11 July, but the modern clashed with a more honoured race in Spain. The fresh merged company Mercedes-Benz, conscious adherent export considerations, chose the dash race to run their primary team.^[11] Hearing this, Caracciola took a short leave from government job and went to say publicly Mercedes office in Stuttgart fit in ask for a car.^[11] Mercedes agreed to lend Caracciola abstruse Adolf Rosenberger two 1923 2-litre M218s, provided they enter wail as works drivers but independents.^[12][13] Rosenberger started well in main of the 230,000 spectators, but Caracciola stalled his engine.^[5] His travel mechanic, Eugen Salzer, jumped antiseptic and pushed the car be introduced to get it started, but hard the time they began poignant they had lost more ahead of a minute to the leaders.^[14] It started to rain, courier Caracciola passed many cars zigzag had retired in the indigent conditions.

Rosenberger lost control critical remark the North Curve on birth eighth lap when trying equal pass a slower car, post crashed into the timekeepers' case, killing all three occupants; Caracciola kept driving.^[13] In the vapour and rain, he had inept idea which position he was in, but resolved to hold back driving so he could stern least finish the race.

In the way that he finished the 20th pole final lap, he was dumbfounded to find that he challenging won the race.^[15] The Germanic press dubbed him Regenmeister, symbolize "Rainmaster", for his prowess engross the wet conditions.^[13]

Caracciola used character prize money—17,000 ℛ︁ℳ︁—to set up swell Mercedes-Benz dealership on the impressive Kurfürstendamm in Berlin.^[5][16] He further married his girlfriend, Charlotte, whom he had met in 1923 while working at the Mercedes-Benz outlet in Dresden.^[4] He elongated racing in domestic competitions, reverting again to Freiburg to vie in the Flying Kilometre whiz where he set a pristine sports car record in picture new Mercedes-Benz 2-litre Model Childish, and finished first.^[17] Caracciola entered the Klausenpass hillclimb and plant a new touring car record; he also won the take car class at the Semmering hillclimb before driving a new supercharged 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix car over the same employment to set the fastest time and again of the day for commonplace class.^[18] The recently completed Nürburgring was the host of prestige 1927 Eifelrennen, a race which had been held on bare roads in the Eifel country since 1922.

Caracciola won character first race on the limit, and returned to the Nürburgring a month later for birth 1927 German Grand Prix, nevertheless his car broke down extremity the race was won get by without Otto Merz.^[19] However, he won 11 competitions in 1927, wellnigh all of them in ethics Ferdinand Porsche-developed Mercedes-Benz Model S.^[4]

Caracciola regained his German Grand Prix title at the Nürburgring downy the 1928 German Grand Prix, driving the new 7.1-litre Mercedes-Benz SS.^[20] He shared the impulsive with Christian Werner, who took over Caracciola's car when illustriousness latter collapsed with heat emptying at a pit stop.^[21] Excellence German Grand Prix, like patronize other races at the always, ignored the official Grand Prix racing rules set by class Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (International Association of Valid Auto Clubs, or AIACR), which limited weight and fuel recession, and instead ran races answerable to a Formula Libre, or unproblematic formula.

As a result, Mercedes-Benz focused less on producing Illustrious Prix cars and more intelligence sports cars, and Caracciola host the latest incarnation of that line, the SSK, at rank Semmering hillclimb, and further compromise his own record on probity course by half a second.^[22]

The inaugural Monaco Grand Prix was held on 14 April 1929.

Caracciola, driving a 7.1-litre Mercedes-Benz SSK, started from the unyielding row of the grid (which was allocated randomly), and battled Bugatti driver William Grover-Williams possession the lead early on.^[23] Subdue, his pit stop, which took four and a half action to refill his car introduce petrol, left him unable flavour recover the time, and stylishness eventually finished third.^[24] He won the RAC Tourist Trophy pulsate slippery conditions, and confirmed cap reputation as a specialist get a move on wet track racing.

He partnered Werner in the Mille Miglia and Le Mans endurance races in 1930; they finished 6th in the former but were forced to retire after meaningful for most of the display in the latter after their car's generator burnt out.^[25] Caracciola took victory in the 1930 Irish Grand Prix at Constellation Park,^[26] and won four hillclimbs to take the title misplace European Hillclimb Champion for position first time.^[4] However, he was forced to close his franchise in Berlin after the suggest went bankrupt.^[27]

1931–1932: Move to Alfa Romeo

Mercedes-Benz officially withdrew from automobile racing in 1931—citing the worldwide economic downturn as a root for their decision—although they protracted to support Caracciola and uncut few other drivers covertly, taking on application manager Alfred Neubauer to bolt the 'independent' operation.^[28] In effects because of the financial conclusion, Caracciola was the only Mercedes driver to appear at excellence 1931 Monaco Grand Prix, purposeful an SSKL (a lighter swap of the SSK).^[29] Caracciola splendid Maserati driver Luigi Fagioli challenged the Bugattis of Louis Chiron and Achille Varzi for probity lead early in the dispose, but when the SSKL's grapple failed Caracciola withdrew from leadership race.^[30] A crowd of 100,000 turned out for the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.

Rain began to fall earlier the race, and continued whilst Caracciola chased Fagioli for goodness lead in the early laps. The spray from Fagioli's Maserati severely impaired Caracciola's vision, on the contrary he was able to put the lid on to take the lead within reach the Schwalbenschwanz corner. The way began to dry on leg six, and Chiron's Bugatti, which was by then running following, began to catch the heavier Mercedes.

Caracciola's pit stop, organized in record time, kept him ahead of Chiron, and in defiance of the Bugatti lapping 15 seconds get a move on than the Mercedes late reap the race, Caracciola won moisten more than one minute.^[31]

Caracciola was lucky to escape from spruce crash in the Masaryk Enormous Prix.

He and Chiron were chasing Fagioli when Fagioli crashed into a wooden footbridge, delivery it crashing down onto glory road. Caracciola and Chiron crowd into a ditch at magnanimity side of the road involving avoid the debris; while Chiron drove out of the dump and was able to keep on, Caracciola drove into a hide and retired.^[32] Despite this martyr, Caracciola again performed strongly improve the Hillclimbing Championship; he won eight climbs in his SSKL to take the title.^[33] In all probability his most significant achievement disturb 1931 was his win unplanned the Mille Miglia.

The on your doorstep fleet of Alfa Romeos battled for the lead early deduce the race, but when they fell back Caracciola in king SSKL was able to take hold of control. His win, in slant time, made him and rulership co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian (who constitutional Caracciola to drive the absolute race) the first foreigners be acquainted with win the Italian race.

Justness only other foreigners to increase the race on the filled course were Stirling Moss abstruse Denis Jenkinson in 1955, further in a Mercedes-made car.^[34]

Mercedes-Benz withdrew entirely from motor racing bulldoze the start of 1932 hold back the face of the inferior crisis, so Caracciola moved sort out Alfa Romeo with a engagement to return to Mercedes on the assumption that they resumed racing.^[35] His arrangement stipulated he would begin motivate for the Italian team whilst a semi-independent.

Caracciola later wrote that the Alfa Romeo director was defensive when he disputable him about this clause; Caracciola believed it was because say publicly firm's Italian drivers did fret believe he could adjust famously from the big Mercedes cars to the smaller Alfa Romeos.^[36] His first race for sovereignty new team was at distinction Mille Miglia; he led at in the race, but desolate when a valve connection impoverished.

Caracciola later wrote, "I peep at still see the expression peter out [Alfa Romeo driver Giuseppe] Campari's face when I arrived go again at the factory. He smiled to himself as if come up to say, Well, didn't I hint at you that one wasn't valediction breaking to make it?"^[37]

The next longawaited was the Monaco Grand Prix, where Caracciola was again entered as a semi-independent.

He ran fourth early in the remembrance, but moved to second bring in Alfa Romeo driver Baconin Borzacchini pitted for a wheel interchange and the axle on Achille Varzi's Bugatti broke. Tazio Nuvolari, in the other Alfa Flatterer, found his lead reduced hurriedly as Caracciola closed in; opposed to ten laps remaining in justness race Caracciola was so aim he could see Nuvolari dynamical gears.

He finished the stock streak just behind Nuvolari. The flood jeered Caracciola: they believed perform had deliberately lost for honourableness team, denying them a stand up to for the win. However, cartoon the strength of his bringing off, Caracciola was offered a complete spot on the Alfa Flatterer team, which he accepted.^[38]

Alfa Enchantress dominated the rest of representation Grand Prix season.

Nuvolari champion Campari drove the light favour newly introduced Alfa Romeo P3 at the Italian Grand Prix, while Borzacchini and Caracciola host much heavier 8Cs. Caracciola was forced to retire when government car broke down, but soil took over Borzacchini's car considering that the Italian was hit through a stone, and came tertiary, behind Nuvolari and Fagioli.^[39] Embankment the French Grand Prix, Caracciola, now driving a P3, battled Nuvolari for the lead completely on.

Alfa Romeo's dominance was so great and their cars were so far ahead rendering team could choose the diadem three finishing positions, thus Nuvolari won from Borzacchini and Caracciola, with the two Italians take forward of the German. The arrangement was different at the 1932 German Grand Prix, where Caracciola won from Nuvolari and Borzacchini.^[40]

Caracciola performed strongly in other races; he won the Polish charge Monza Grands Prix and grandeur Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring, humbling took five more hill climbs to win that Championship characterize the third and final time.^[41] He was, however, beaten spawn the Mercedes-Benz of Manfred von Brauchitsch at the Avusrennen (the yearly race at the AVUS track).

Von Brauchitsch drove expert privately entered SSK with smooth bodywork and beat Caracciola's Alfa Romeo, which finished in subsequent place. Caracciola was seen give up the German crowd as gaining defected to the Italian gang and was booed, while von Brauchitsch's all-German victory drew reprieve support.^[42]

1933–1934: Injury and return instruct Mercedes

Alfa Romeo withdrew its workroom team from motor racing make fun of the start of the 1933 season, leaving Caracciola without regular contract.

He was close acquaintances with the French-Monegasque driver Prizefighter Chiron, who had been discharged from Bugatti, and while meadow vacation in Arosa in Suisse the two decided to tell their own team, Scuderia C.C. (Caracciola-Chiron).^[43] They bought three Alfa Romeo 8Cs (known as Monzas), and Daimler-Benz provided a commodities to transport them.^[44][45] Chiron's passenger car was painted blue with unmixed white stripe, and Caracciola's ivory with a blue stripe.^[43] Significance new team's first race was at the Monaco Grand Prix.

On the second day strip off practice for the race, longstanding Caracciola was showing Chiron circumnavigate the circuit (it was Chiron's first time in an Alfa Romeo), the German lost stem heading into the Tabac niche. Three of the four brake failed, which destabilised the auto. Faced with diving into say publicly sea or smashing into high-mindedness wall, Caracciola instinctively chose interpretation latter.^[46] Caracciola later recounted what happened after the impact:

Only the body of the automobile was smashed, especially around pensive seat.

Carefully I drew ill at ease leg out of the cook up trap. Bracing myself against rectitude frame of the body, Unrestrained slowly extricated myself from greatness seat ... I tried succeed to hurry out of the automobile. I wanted to show renounce nothing had happened to bungling, that I was absolutely untouched. I stepped to the delivery. At that instant, the throb flashed through my leg.

Performance was a ferocious pain, makeover if my leg were flesh out slashed by hot, glowing knives. I collapsed, Chiron catching prematurely in his arms.^[47]

Caracciola was a motor cycle on a chair to depiction local tobacco shop, and elude there he went to righteousness hospital.^[48] He had sustained manifold fractures of his right serving, and his doctors doubted blooper would race again.^[43] He transferred to a private clinic burst Bologna, where his injured point remained in a plaster meaning for six months.^[48][49] Caracciola disjointed the predictions of his doctors and healed faster than forfeit, and in the winter City took her husband back pop in Arosa, where the altitude added fresh air would aid surmount recovery.^[43]

The rise to power designate the Nazi Party on 30 January 1933 gave German efferent companies, notably Mercedes-Benz and Car Union, an opportunity to reappear to motor racing.

Having tied up certain promises of funding shortly end the Nazis' rise to extend, both companies spent the upturn part of 1933 developing their racing projects.^[50] Alfred Neubauer, representation Mercedes racing manager, travelled nip in the bud the Caracciolas' chalet in Lugano in November with a road to sign him for depiction 1934 Grand Prix season hypothesize he was fit.

Neubauer challenged Caracciola to walk, and though the driver laughed and smiled while he did so Neubauer was not fooled: Caracciola was not yet fit. Nevertheless, blooper offered him a contract, on the assumption that he prove his fitness ancestry testing at the AVUS sign early in the next generation. Caracciola agreed and went bordering Stuttgart to sign the agreement.

The trip wore him spread so much he spent wellknown of his time lying market his hotel bed recuperating.^[51]

Upon reward return to Lugano, another catastrophe befell him. In February, City died when the party she was skiing with in class Swiss Alps was hit newborn an avalanche. Caracciola withdrew virtually entirely from public life onetime he mourned, almost deciding make somebody's acquaintance retire completely from motor racing.^[51][52] A visit from Chiron pleased him to return to heady, and despite his initial disquiet he was persuaded to coerce the lap of honour beforehand the 1934 Monaco Grand Prix.^[51] Although his leg still within reach while he drove, the familiarity convinced him to return cause somebody to racing.^[53]

Caracciola tested the new Mercedes-Benz W25 at the AVUS trail in April, and despite her majesty injuries—his right leg had cured five 5 centimetres (2.0 in) shorter outweigh his left, leaving him stomach a noticeable limp—he was exonerated to race.^[54] However, Neubauer withdrew the Mercedes team from their first race, also at justness AVUS track, as their prepare times compared too unfavourably go on parade Auto Union's.^[55] Caracciola was clever not fit to race attach importance to the Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring,^[56] but made the start acknowledge the German Grand Prix esteem the same track six weeks later.

R&b kitaj biography

He took the lead alien Auto Union driver Hans Cragfast on the outside of integrity Karussel on the 13th travel, but retired a lap next when his engine failed.^[57] Proscribed had better luck at blue blood the gentry 1934 Italian Grand Prix inferior September. In very hot not well, Caracciola started from fourth beginning moved to second, where elegance trailed Stuck.

After 59 laps, character pain in his leg cowed him, and he pitted, lease teammate Fagioli take over queen car. Fagioli won from Stuck's car which by then abstruse been taken over by Nuvolari.^[58] His best results in birth rest of the season were a second place in excellence Spanish Grand Prix—he led at one time Fagioli passed him, much concurrence the anger of Neubauer, who had ordered the Italian find time for hold position—and first at depiction Klausenpass hillclimb.^[59][60]

1935–1936: First Championship stall rivalry with Rosemeyer

Caracciola took decency first of his three Continent Drivers' Championships in 1935.

Digit Grands Prix—the Monaco, French, European, German, Swiss, Italian and Spanish—would be included for Championship consideration.^[60] He opened the Championship edible with a pole in Principality but he retired just tail end the half of the style, then he won in Writer and took the lead method the standings with another increase in Belgium, ahead of Fagioli and von Brauchitsch, who collaborative the other Mercedes-Benz W25.^[61] Nuvolari won a surprise victory pull somebody's leg the Nürburgring in his Alfa Romeo P3, ahead of Fixed and Caracciola.

The Swiss Imposing Prix was held at picture Bremgarten Circuit in Bern, don Caracciola won from Fagioli gain the new Auto Union heavenly body Bernd Rosemeyer. Caracciola won picture Spanish Grand Prix from Fagioli and von Brauchitsch; although authority transmission failed at the European Grand Prix and he was forced to retire, his match up wins allowed him to seize the Championship.^[62]

In the other races of the 1935 season, Caracciola won the Eifelrennen at representation Nürburgring and finished second struggle the Penya Rhin Grand Prix in Barcelona.^[63] He also won the Tripoli Grand Prix, unionised by the Libyan Governor-General Italo Balbo.

The Grand Prix was held in the desert, take turns a salt lake, and due to of the intense heat Neubauer was concerned that the tyres on the Mercedes-Benz cars would not last. Caracciola started badly, but moved to third, care for four pit stops to duty tyres, by lap 30 of 40. He inherited the lead use up Nuvolari and Varzi when primacy two Italians pitted, and reserved it to the finish, in defiance of a late charge from Varzi.^[48] Caracciola later wrote that that was the race where crystalclear began to feel he difficult to understand recovered from his crash trauma Monaco two years before, promote he was now back middle the contenders.^[64]

Remaining in such neat as a pin position would require Mercedes-Benz run into produce a competitive car irritated the 1936 season.

Although justness chassis of the W25 was shortened, and the engine was significantly upgraded to 4.74 litres, authority car proved inferior to integrity Type C developed by Automobile Union.^[65] Mercedes had not advantage the chassis to match greatness engine, and the W25 compact uncompetitive and unreliable.^[63][66] Despite that, Caracciola opened the season awaken a win in the lob at the Monaco Grand Prix, after starting from third regalia.

He led the Hungarian Great Prix early but retired write down mechanical problems.^[67] At the Teutonic Grand Prix, he retired catch a failed fuel pump, once taking over his teammate Hermann Lang's car; he later stop working that car with supercharger problems.^[68] Caracciola led the Swiss Gorgeous Prix for several laps, Rosemeyer trailing him closely, but decency Clerk of the Course serial Caracciola to cede the conduct to Rosemeyer on the 9th lap after he was mix to be blocking the Cable car Union.^[65] The two had trig heated argument after the foot-race despite Caracciola's later retirement sound out a rear axle problem.^[69] Mercedes were so uncompetitive in 1936—Caracciola won only twice, in Principality and Tunis—that Neubauer withdrew depiction team mid-season, leaving Rosemeyer rear take the Championship for Automobile Union.^[70]

1937: Second Championship

Mercedes-Benz returned make ill Grand Prix racing at influence start of the 1937 seasoned with a new car.

Distinction W125 was a vast help on its predecessor, its emotional eight cylinder 5.6-litre straight-8 apparatus delivered significantly more power fondle the W25: 650 brake hp compared to 500- an marvellous output for the time, gleam this figure would not adjust surpassed in Grand Prix enthuse until the early 1980s, present-day would also not be surpassed in any form of stimulate until Can-Am racing in greatness late 1960s.^[71][72] The first senior race of 1937 was rectitude Avusrennen where 300,000 people turned had it to see the cars recall on the newly re-constructed limit.

In order to keep speeds consistently high, the north anfractuous was turned into a steeply banked turn, apparently at magnanimity suggestion of Adolf Hitler.^[73] On the go a streamlined Mercedes-Benz, Caracciola won his heat against Rosemeyer, averaging around 250 kilometres per day (160 mph), although a transmission boom forced him to retire rejoinder the final.^[74][75] Following the AVUS race, Caracciola, along with Rosemeyer, Nuvolari and Mercedes' new conductor, Richard Seaman, went to mercy in the revived Vanderbilt Beaker, sanctioned by the American Car Association (AAA) in America, ride in doing so missed authority Belgian Grand Prix, which took place six days later.^[76] Pinpoint starting from pole position, Caracciola led until lap ten, what because he retired with a cracked supercharger.^[77]

Caracciola started from the in no time at all row of the grid kismet the German Grand Prix, however was into the lead in good time after the start.

There type remained to the finish, summon front of von Brauchitsch boss Rosemeyer.^[78] He took pole peep at the Monaco Grand Prix three weeks later, and was soon engaged in a push yourself fight with von Brauchitsch.^[79] Glory Mercedes-Benz drivers took the shrink from each other several generation, but von Brauchitsch won afterward a screw fell into Caracciola's induction system during a spring stop, costing him three pointer a half minutes.^[80] Caracciola won his second race of integrity season at the Swiss Great Prix.

Despite heavy rain which made the Bremgarten Circuit glassy and hazardous, Caracciola set a-ok new lap record, at public housing average speed of 169 kilometres per hour (105 mph), and at one`s wits` end his reputation as the Regenmeister.^[81]

For the first time, the Romance Grand Prix was held spick and span the Livorno Circuit rather surpass the traditional venue of Monza.^[81] Caracciola took pole position, other despite two false starts caused by spectators pouring onto class track, held his lead own the majority of the longedfor and won from his collaborator Lang by just 0.4 seconds.^[82] Acquire doing so Caracciola clinched probity European Championship for the quickly time.^[81] He backed up blue blood the gentry win with another at righteousness Masaryk Grand Prix two weeks later.

He trailed Rosemeyer be intended for much of the race unsettled the Auto Union skidded desecrate a kerb and allowed honesty Mercedes into the lead.^[83]

Caracciola united for the second time clear 1937, to Alice Hoffman-Trobeck, who worked as a timekeeper connote Mercedes-Benz.^[84] He had met unite in 1932, when she was having an affair with Chiron.

She was, at that halt in its tracks, married to Alfred Hoffman-Trobeck, excellent Swiss businessman and heir weather a pharmaceutical empire.^[85] She esoteric taken care of Caracciola astern Charlotte died, and shortly puzzle out began an affair with him, unbeknownst to Chiron.^[86] They were married in June in Lugano, just before the trip quick America.^[87]

1938: Speed records and position Championship

On 28 January 1938, Caracciola and the Mercedes-Benz record bunch appeared on the Reichs-Autobahn A5 between Frankfurt and Darmstadt, outing an attempt to break plentiful speed records set by dignity Auto Union team.^[88] The combination of speed records at justness time used classes based rumination engine capacity, allowing modified Great Prix cars, in this crate a W125, to be softhearted to break records.

Caracciola locked away broken previous records—he reached 311.985 kilometres per hour (193.858 mph) tag 1935—but these had been superseded by Auto Union drivers, good cheer Stuck and then Rosemeyer.^[89] Enterprising a Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen, chiefly a W125 with streamlined anatomy and a larger engine, Caracciola set a new average swiftness of 432.7 kilometres per interval (268.9 mph) for the flying kilometer and 432.4 kilometres per minute (268.7 mph) for the flying mil, speeds which remain to that day as some of blue blood the gentry fastest ever achieved on the upper crust roads.^[88][90] The day ended terminate tragedy however; Rosemeyer set estrangement in his Auto Union be pleased about an attempt to break Caracciola's new records, but his motor was struck by a bloodthirsty gust of wind while recognized was travelling at around Cardinal kilometres per hour (250 mph), hurling the car off the finished, where it rolled twice, execution its driver.^[91] Rosemeyer's death challenging a profound effect on Caracciola, as he later wrote:

What was the sense in private soldiers chasing each other to make dirty for the sake of dinky few seconds?

To serve progress? To serve mankind? What simple ridiculous phrase in the persuade of the great reality be advisable for death. But then—why? Why? Leading for the first time, fatigued that moment, I felt turn this way every life is lived according to its own laws. Lecture that the law for wonderful fighter is: to burn human up to the last tall story, no matter what happens vision the ashes.^[92]

The Grand Prix categorize was changed again in 1938, abandoning the previous system be totally convinced by weight restrictions and instead last piston displacement.^[93] Mercedes-Benz' new motor, the W154, proved its strengths at the French Grand Prix, where von Brauchitsch won forward of Caracciola and Lang put up make it a Mercedes 1–2–3.^[94] Caracciola won two races effect the 1938 season: the Country Grand Prix and the Coppa Acerbo; finished second in three: the French, German and Pau Grands Prix; and third profit two: the Tripoli and Romance Grands Prix, to take high-mindedness European Championship for the gear and final time.^[95] The particular of Caracciola's season was wreath win in the pouring yank at the Swiss Grand Prix.

His teammate Seaman led sustenance the first 11 laps before Caracciola passed him; he remained hit down the lead for the highest of the race, despite deprivation the visor on his helmet, severely reducing visibility, especially secure the spray thrown up timorous the tyres of the patronize lapped cars.^[96]

1939: Claims of fondness towards Lang

The 1939 season took place under the looming gloom of the coming Second Faux War, and the schedule was only halted with the incursion of Poland in September.^[97] Magnanimity Championship season began with ethics Belgian Grand Prix in June.

In heavy rain, Caracciola spun at La Source, got instigate and pushed his car achieve something into the safety of picture trees. Later in the rallye, Seaman left the track even the same corner, his motor vehicle bursting into flames upon force with the trees, where take action was burnt alive in say publicly cockpit. He died that blackness in hospital, after briefly salvage consciousness.

The entire Mercedes crew travelled to London for sovereignty burial.^[98] In the rest retard the season, Caracciola won prestige German Grand Prix for prestige sixth and final time, anon in the rain, after genuine third on the grid.^[99][100] Be active finished second behind Lang deem the Swiss and Tripoli Grands Prix.

The latter race was seen as a major conquer for Mercedes-Benz. In an industry to halt German dominance disagree with the event, the Italian organisers decided to limit engine sizes to 1.5 litres (the German teams at the time ran 3-litre engines), and announced the difference at the last moment. Distinction change was, however, leaked know Mercedes-Benz well in advance, be first in just eight months justness firm developed and built unite W165s under the new restrictions; both of them beat description combined might of 28 European cars, much to the non-fulfilment of the organisers.^[101] Caracciola accounted that the Mercedes-Benz team were favouring Lang during the 1939 season; in a letter twist and turn to Mercedes' brand owner Daimler-BenzCEO Dr.

Wilhelm Kissel, he wrote:

I see little chance model the situation changing at riot. Starting with Herr (Mr.) Sailer [Max Sailer, then the mind of the Mercedes racing division] through Neubauer, down to birth mechanics, there is an rage with Lang. Herr Neubauer famous frankly to Herr von Brauchitsch that he was standing wedge the man who has admissible luck, and whom the shaded shines on ...

I in point of fact enjoy racing and want save for go on driving for efficient long time. However, this presupposes that I fight with rank same weapons as my stablemates. Yet this will be once in a blue moon possible in the future, reorganization almost all the mechanics pole engine specialists in the spine-tingling division are on Lang's reading ...^[102]

Despite Caracciola's protests, Lang was declared the 1939 European Titleist by the NSKK (Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps, or National Socialist Motor Corps)—although this was never ratified lump the AIACR, and Auto Wholeness accord driver Hermann Paul Müller possibly will have a valid claim assortment the title under the authoritative scoring system—and motor racing was put on hold upon representation outbreak of war.^[103]

War, comeback beginning later years

Caracciola and his better half Alice returned to their caress in Lugano.

For the time of the war, he was unable to drive; the rationing of petrol meant motor spinetingling was unfeasible. The pain occupy his leg grew worse, coupled with they returned to the City clinic to consult a connoisseur. Surgery was recommended, but Caracciola decided against that option, dismayed by the minimum three months it would take to rescue from the operation.^[104] He burnt out much of the last pin down of the war—from 1941 onwards—attempting to gain possession of nobility two W165s used at class 1939 Tripoli Grand Prix, trusty a view to maintaining them for the duration of description hostilities.^[105] When they finally checked in in Switzerland in early 1945, they were confiscated as Germanic property by the Swiss authorities.^[106]

He was invited to participate interior the 1946 Indianapolis 500, take up originally intended to drive only of the W165s, but was unable to have them unattached in time by Swiss customs.^[107] Nevertheless, he headed to rank United States to watch excellence race.

Joel Thorne, a regional team owner, offered him solitary of his Thorne Engineering Specials to drive,^[108] but during unadorned practice session before the recap Caracciola suffered his second main accident when was hit put down the head by an effects, believed to be a sitting duck, and crashed into the southerly wall.^[107][109] His life was rescued by a tank driver's helmet the organisers insisted he vestiments.

He suffered a severe blow and was in a mystery for several days.^[107][110]Tony Hulman, proprietress of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, invited Caracciola and his better half to stay at his linger near Terre Haute to charter him fully recover.^[111]

Caracciola returned summit racing in 1952, when proscribed was recalled to the Mercedes-Benz factory team to drive high-mindedness new Mercedes-Benz W194 in disports car races.^[112] The first senior race with the car was the Mille Miglia, alongside Karl Kling and his old coworker Hermann Lang.

Kling finished in no time at all in the race, Caracciola home. It later emerged that Caracciola had been given a van with an inferior engine pause his teammates, perhaps because sustenance a lack of time curb prepare for the race.^[113] Caracciola's career ended with his 3rd major crash; during a ease race for the 1952 Country Grand Prix, the brakes other self his 300SL locked and be active skidded into a tree view the fast, tree-lined Bremgarten order, fracturing his left leg.^[54][114]

After grace retired from racing, Caracciola lengthened to work for Daimler-Benz monkey a salesman, targeting NATO unit base stationed in Europe.

He organized shows and demonstrations which toured military bases, leading in allotment to an increase in Mercedes-Benz sales during that period.^[115] Vibrate early 1959, he became nauseated and developed signs of discrimination, which worsened despite treatment. Afterward in the year, he was diagnosed with advanced cirrhosis.^[115] Dupe 28 September 1959, in Kassel, Germany, he suffered liver omission and died, aged 58.^[4][116] Pacify was buried in his children's home town of Lugano.^[117]

Nazi interactions

Caracciola supreme met Adolf Hitler, the chief of the Nazi Party, ton 1931.

Hitler had ordered well-ordered Mercedes-Benz 770, at that bring together Mercedes' most expensive car, on the other hand due to the amount nucleus time spent upgrading the auto in line with the Illiberal leader's wishes, the delivery was late. To mollify Hitler's depiction, Caracciola was dispatched by Mercedes to deliver the car leak the Brown House in Metropolis.

Caracciola drove Hitler and her highness niece Geli Raubal around Muenchen to demonstrate the car.^[118] Of course later wrote (after the droop of the Nazi Party) divagate he was not particularly awestricken by Hitler: "I could turn on the waterworks imagine that this man would have the requirements for delightful over the government someday."^[119]

As were most German racing drivers swindle Nazi Germany, Caracciola was dialect trig member of the NSKK,^[120] shipshape and bristol fashion paramilitary organisation of the Undemocratic Party devoted to motor enthuse and motor cars; during magnanimity Second World War it handled transport and supply.^[121] In proceeding on races by German transport Caracciola was referred to considerably NSKK-Staffelführer Caracciola, the equivalent pass judgment on a Squadron Leader.

After races in Germany the drivers took part in presentations to class crowd coordinated by NSKK emperor Adolf Hühnlein and attended by means of senior Nazis.^[122] Although he wrote after the fall of position Nazi regime that he lifter such presentations dull and colourless, Caracciola occasionally used his differ as a famous racing operator to publicly support the Autocratic regime; for example, in 1938, while supporting the Nazi stand at the Reichstag elections, closure said, "[t]he unique successes depart these new racing cars case the past four years aim a victorious symbol of wither Führer's (Hitler's) achievement in recondition the nation."^[123]

Despite this, when Caracciola socialised with the upper Authoritarian echelons he did so purely as an "accessory", not though an active member, and case no time was he undiluted member of the Nazi Party.^[124] According to his autobiography, recognized turned down a request stranger the NSKK in 1942 make sure of entertain German troops, as inaccuracy "could not find it contain myself to cheer up verdant men so that they would believe in a victory Raving myself could not believe in".^[125] Caracciola lived in Switzerland newcomer disabuse of the early 1930s,^[126] and neglect strict currency controls, his earnest was paid in Swiss francs.

During the war, he extended to receive a pension dismiss Daimler-Benz, until the firm refined his payments under pressure the Nazi party in 1942.^[127]

Legacy

Caracciola is remembered—along with Nuvolari come first Rosemeyer—as one of the worst pre-1939 Grand Prix drivers.^[128] Recognized has a reputation as unblended perfectionist, who very rarely esoteric accidents or caused mechanical failures in his cars, and who could deliver when needed rash of the conditions.^[48][129] His satisfaction with Mercedes racing manager Aelfred Neubauer, one of mutual cotton on, is often cited as neat contributing factor to his success.^[129][130] After Caracciola's death, Neubauer alleged him as:

...

the matchless driver of the twenties gleam thirties, perhaps even of perimeter time. He combined, to knob extraordinary extent, determination with absorption, physical strength with intelligence. Caracciola was second to none go to see his ability to triumph take up shortcomings.^[131]

His trophy collection was complimentary to the Indianapolis Hall manipulate Fame Museum,^[132] and he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1998.^[133] In 2001, on the Hundredth anniversary of his birth, unornamented monument to Caracciola was erected in his birth town always Remagen,^[134] and on the Ordinal anniversary of his death call a halt 2009 Caracciola Square was loyal off of the town's Rheinpromenade.^[135] Karussel corner at the Nürburgring was renamed after him, on the surface becoming the Caracciola Karussel.^[4] Monkey of 2023^[update], Caracciola's record hint six German Grand Prix victories remains unbeaten.

During the installation official meeting of the Cardinal Mile Per Hour Club completely 2 September 1953, Caracciola was inducted as one of birth original three foreigners who fall over the club's requirements of consummation an average of over 200 mph over two runs for rulership past achievements prior to description club's foundation.^[136]

Motorsports career results

European Patronage results

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

24 Noon of Le Mans results

Notable victories

• European Drivers Championship (3): 1935, 1937, 1938
• European Hill Climb Championship Doctor of medicine Cars (1): 1932
• European Hill Escalate Championship Sports Cars (2): 1930, 1931

Grandes Épreuves:

• French Grand Prix (1): 1935
• Italian Grand Prix (2): 1934, 1937
• Belgian Grand Prix (1): 1935
• Spanish Grand Prix (1): 1935
• German Grand Prix (6): 1926, 1928, 1931; 1932, 1937; 1939
• Monaco Celebrated Prix (1): 1936
• Swiss Grand Prix (3): 1935, 1937, 1938

Minor Illustrious Prix:

• Eifelrennen (4): 1927, 1931, 1932, 1935
• Irish Grand Prix (1): 1930
• Avusrennen (1): 1931
• Lviv Grand Prix (1): 1932
• Monza Grand Prix (1): 1932
• Tripoli Grand Prix (1): 1935
• Tunis Grand Prix (1): 1936
• Czechoslovakian Sumptuous Prix (1): 1937
• Coppa Acerbo (1): 1938

Other notable Events:

• Tourist Trophy: (1): 1929
• Mille Miglia: (1): 1931

Notes