From now on, we will do a review of a photo from our archives every Thursday. Today we're starting with a BMW 320 Gr. 5
In 1977, the traditional 300 km race at the Nürburgring another race to German Racing Championship. The championship, contested under the international Group 5 regulations, attracted not only top German drivers but also regularly featured renowned international racers.
Visible here is the then Formula 1 driver Ronnie Peterson, who died a year later after his serious accident at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Peterson started for HAT (Hohmann Auto Technik) with a BMW 320 Group 5 in the Division II up to 2 liters displacement.
The round 300 to 320 hp The Swede, in his powerful BMW, drove in an impressive manner. He already set the fastest time of Division II in practice, once again underscoring his exceptional driving skills. However, his race ended after only the third lap: A Oil pressure problem forced him to surrender.
The photo was taken in the section Plant garden on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.