Mercedes legend Bernd Schneider will retire at Hockenheim; the final race of 2008 DTM

[EJ25RUN]

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news/dtm08102101.jpg
Bernd Schnider is the greatest DTM driver of all time and will retire from the sport to become Ambassader for Mercedes Benz.
He was an F1 talent in the late 80's and early 90's as well as being a factory driver for the Mercedes Le Mans effort.

His F1 days with Zakspeed.

http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/44212/2002794266194243110_rs.jpg

Autosport.com:

Bernd Schneider will retire from racing after this weekend's DTM season finale at Hockenheim.

The 44-year-old Mercedes stalwart has won five DTM championships with the marque as well as one International Touring Car and one FIA GT crown. He also started nine grands prix between 1988 and 1990 for Zakspeed and Footwork.

His retirement at the end of the season has been rumoured since half way through the year when he won the race at the Nurburgring in July, but Mercedes finally confirmed today that he will no return to racing in 2009. Although he will stay on with the manufacturer as an ambassador.

"I've been active as a racing driver for more than 30 years and my aim has always been to continue racing for as long as I enjoy the sport and am still able to remain competitive," said Schneider. "The time to leave has now come and it gives rise to conflicting emotions.

"On one hand I'm sorry to be saying goodbye to the many friends I have made in motorsport, above all in the AMG, HWA and Mercedes-Benz teams. But on the other hand I'm looking forward to facing my exciting new challenges."

Schneider will work as a brand ambassador, instructor and test driver for Mercedes at the AMG Driving Academy.

"I see my decision to work for AMG following my career as an active racing driver as absolutely logical," said Schneider. "I was able to celebrate most of my victories in the AMG Mercedes team and now I'm looking forward to the new challenge."

Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug added: "Bernd and Mercedes were partners on the track for 17 years - one of the longest and most successful partnerships between a driver and a brand in the motor racing world. Mercedes-Benz has much to thank Bernd for and he has put his stamp on the DTM like no other driver.

"He is also an example to many young drivers but for me he is also a friend, and one I will miss behind the wheel when there are races to be won."

The Championships.
DTM -1995, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006
FIA GT- 1997

His Career.
1976 Deutsche Kart-Junioren-Meisterschaft: 3. Platz
1977 Deutsche Kart-Junioren-Meisterschaft: 2. Platz
1978 Deutsche Kart-Junioren-Meisterschaft: 2. Platz
1979 Kart-Junioren-Weltmeisterschaft: 5. Platz
1980 Kart-Junioren-Weltmeisterschaft
Deutsche Kart-Meisterschaft: Meister
1981 Deutsche Kart-Meisterschaft, Klasse A: 3.Platz
1982 Kart-Europameister mit der Nationalmannschaft
1983 Afrikanische Kart-Meisterschaft: Meister
1984 Deutsche Formel-Ford-1600-Meisterschaft: 2.Platz
1985 Deutsche Formel-Ford-2000-Meisterschaft: 4. Platz
Formel-Ford-2000-Europameisterschaft: 5.Platz
1986 Deutsche Formel-3-Meisterschaft: 3.Platz
1987 Deutsche Formel-3-Meisterschaft: Meister
1988 Formel-1-Weltmeisterschaft mit Zakspeed
1989 Formel-1-Weltmeisterschaft mit Zakspeed
1990 Sportprototypen-Weltmeisterschaft mit Kremer-Porsche,
Porsche-Cup-Gewinner
1991 IMSA-Serie mit Joest-Porsche,
vier Rennen im ITR-Cup mit Zakspeed-Mercedes
1992 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft mit AMG Mercedes: 3. Platz
1993 DTM mit AMG Mercedes: 3 Platz
1994 DTM mit AMG Mercedes: 10.Platz
1995 DTM mit AMG Mercedes: Meister;
Internationale Tourenwagen-Serie (ITC) mit AMG Mercedes: Sieger
1996 ITC mit AMG Mercedes: Vizemeister
1997 FIA-GT-Meisterschaft mit dem Team AMG Mercedes
im Mercedes CLK-GTR: Meister, 6 Siege 1998 FIA-GT-Meisterschaft mit dem Team AMG-Mercedes
im Mercedes CLK-GTR und im CLK-LM: Vizemeister/5 Siege
1999 Sportprototypen mit dem Team AMG-Mercedes im Mercedes CLK
2000 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters mit dem Team D2 AMG Mercedes im Mercedes-Benz CLK: Meister/6 Siege
2001 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters mit dem Team D2 AMG Mercedes im Mercedes-Benz CLK: Meister/3 Siege
2002 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters mit dem Team Mercedes-AMG/Vodafone im Mercedes-Benz CLK: Vizemeister/2 Siege
2003 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters mit dem Team Mercedes-AMG/Vodafone im Mercedes-Benz CLK: Meister/2 Siege
2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters mit Vodafone AMG-Mercedes
im Mercedes-Benz CLK: 6. Platz/1 Sieg
2005 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters mit Vodafone AMG-Mercedes
im Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse: 4. Platz/1 Sieg
2006 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters mit Vodafone AMG-Mercedes
im Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse: Meister / 2 Siege
2007 Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters mit AMG-Mercedes
im Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse: Platz 6

2000
http://www.berndschneider.com/images/gallery/bilder2000/bsgal200028.jpg

1995
http://www.gdtm.ru/pokazuxa/DTMW202.jpg

1998
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq16/EJ25RUN/Mercedes-Benz-CLK-GTR-fa-1920x1440.jpg?t=1224880120
2006
http://www.berndschneider.com/images/downloads/2006/02.jpg

[Elbow]

Wow, lots of great drivers retiring this year.

[EJ25RUN]

Wow, lots of great drivers retiring this year.

Yup. And i just read that Aussie V8supercar great Mark Skaife is likely to retire as well after the poor Bathurst drive.

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2845

[SampaGuy]

I was there :goodjob:

http://www.importatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?p=37289632#post37289632

[EJ25RUN]

I was there :goodjob:

http://www.importatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?p=37289632#post37289632

How was it. All details.

[EJ25RUN]

I do have one beef with the DTM. After OPEL pulled out, all that's left is the Mercedes and Audi squads. I feel that BMW with their M3 4 door is THE perfect candidate to return to the series. And a foreign manufacteur won't look too strange as the series does visit 4 countries outside of Germany.
Alfa Romeo has a great history as well but i don't think they have a car for the series.

They have thought about it though back in 2000.
http://www.finecars.cc/typo3temp/GB/4882952ead.jpg

[SampaGuy]

How was it. All details.

Well I dont think I have to say it was awesome! I was sitting right in front of turn 1. Scheider started third and on the first turn he passed both Ekstrom and Paul Di Resta. They were almost tied in championship points before the race. After that Scheider pretty much stayed in the lead the whole time, except right after pitstops and what not, and won the race/championship.

The Seat Leon race was the most exciting to watch by far. We could see them setting up on turn 1 and making the pass on turn 2, and this happened almost every lap. Very competitive series.

The Formula 3 race seemed like it was going to be good, but one dude drove straight into the wall on turn 1 at full speed. I was watching and it gave me chills. Ambulances came and shit, and the race was red flagged. The Carrera Cup race was kinda boring... didnt see a single pass.

Unlike the Le mans cars, the Audi DTM cars did not sound that great. The Mercedes sound was beautiful though.

One thing that I didnt like about Hockenheim though, is that I bought my ticket in the stands in front of turn 1. It was good, and I also had the big screen TV right across the track from me. But that was the only place I could go, it is not like Road Atlanta where you can roam around and basically see the whole track. Interlagos also has this problem but it is not as bad. Tickets were only 20 euros though!

[SampaGuy]

Oh and one of the best parts of the weekend is that I rented a car! First time I drove since I left the US (not couting go karts). Felt great. I ride my bike and take the subway around here in Munich. It was a VW Polo TDI. Found out it had a limiter at 190km/h on the autobahn :) which is probably good since it had winter tires.

[EJ25RUN]

good stuff :goodjob: