Erich Zakowski (1933-2023)

[erwin greven]

Of Polish descent, Erich was born in East Prussia, but had to flee his homeland when the after-effects of World War Two made living there impossible. His family moved to Hamburg and then Dortmund, before settling in Niederzissen. Zakowski worked as an apprentice mechanic before setting up his own workshop. He founded Zakspeed Racing in 1968, essentially as a company to tune and prepare Ford Escorts but later developed this to move into sports car racing. In 1985, he entered his own Formula 1 car, complete with chassis and engine, but it was not a success. Erich retired in 1989 and handed over Zakspeed to his son Peter, who also raced in lower formulae.

He passed away on November 4th 2023. Just before his birthday on November 25th.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Thats very sad news.... back in the day may of his cars have been favourites of mine, the Zakspeed Capris right up there. His Group 5 cars were unique and their sound never disappointed. I wish his F1 project had been successful..

RIP Erich Zakowski

[Vassago]

Oh yes, Zakowski is very much a Polish name - Polish version would be Żakowski from the word "żak", a medieval term for a "student". East Prussia is where the Teutonic Order was based until the XVI century. Not to get into centuries old Polish/German homeland dispute - still a sad news for one of the last all-around privateers who made it into Formula 1.

[MonteCristo]

RIP.

[Michael Ferner]

Oh yeah, Zak was one of a kind. Sad to see him go, but at almost ninety... Great man!

[Nononsensecapeesh]

Don't forget, the Zakspeed team had an even worse season in 1989 with Yamaha engines, 2 DNFs and 30 DNPQs.

Rest in Peace Erich Zakowski.

[PTRACER]

My knowledge of Zakspeed is rather limited to their failed F1 efforts. Were they pretty successful in other forms of racing?

[Michkov]

Their other claim to fame were the turbo Capris they ran in the DRM during the 80s.

[Vassago]

Klaus Ludwig won his second DRM title in the Zakspeed Ford Capri in 1981. Here's an original clip from DRM round held at the somewhat forgotten Betonschleife version of Nurburgring. And this was when DRM already stepped away from the sports car kits yet the "touring cars" looked like Batmobiles!

[Michael Ferner]

Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft was always nominally for Touring cars since its inception in 1972, only from 1982 onwards bonafide Sports cars were accepted. Though, Group 5 'silhouette' Touring cars (since 1976) were Sports cars in all but name.

[Vassago]

Yeah, the series was still run in classes and it was more IMSA-like than actual touring cars. The 1970s were always the wacky period for what a saloon car was supposed to look like