# Klaus Niedzwiedz

Klaus Niedzwiedz (born February 24, 1951, in Dortmund, West Germany) is a former professional race driver and motoring journalist.

## Driver

His greatest success came in the 1980s as a driver for Ford.
Niedzwiedz rose to prominence when driving a Ford Capri for Zakspeed in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft. The turbocharged 1.4 L engine from the Zakspeed Ford Capri was later enlarged for the 1.7 L "Super Capri". With this 500+ hp car, Niedzwiedz established in 1982 the "eternal lap record" for Group 5 touring car racing at the old 22.8 km Nürburgring with 7:08.59, just 10 seconds slower than the F1 record of 6:58.60 set by Niki Lauda in 1975 (see: Nürburgring lap times).
During the 1982 season, Niedzwiedz also drove in the World Endurance Championship for Zakspeed, in a Ford C100. The Zakspeed-prepared Group C machine was run by the works Ford Germany team with Klaus Ludwig, Manfred Winkelhock and Marc Surer at the wheel, but the car was a midfielder at best, although Jonathan Palmer and Desiré Wilson scored a 4th place overall the 1,000 km of Brands Hatch in 1982. Ford Germany retracted their support and one car was sold to privateers, while the other chassis was evolved by Zakspeed into the C1/4 and the C1/8, making few appearances in international racing, but becoming a front-runner in the German Interserie, where it won the European championship in 1984 with Klaus Niedzwiedz.
In 1982 and 1987, he was the winner at the 24 Hours Nürburgring, in both events with Klaus Ludwig. Driving an Eggenberger Motorsport Ford Sierra he was runner-up in the World Touring Car Championship of 1987 and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft of 1989.
Between 1987 and 1996, Niedzwiedz drove six times in the Bathurst 1000. After driving for Eggenberger Motorsport in 1987, he drove Eggenberger built Sierra RS500s for Allan Moffat Racing in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992. He returned in 1996 to drive a Ford Falcon EB.
Niedzwiedz also drove for Allan Moffat Racing at the 1989 Fuji 500 and 1990 Sandown 500.
In 1998, he won the privateer title in the ADAC German Supertouring car championship (Super Tourenwagen Cup) with an Opel Vectra.
In 2003, he won a VLN race with Porsche 911 GT3 at the Nürburgring
Other events:
* 1981 24 Hours of Le Mans
* 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans
* 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans

## Journalist

Since 1984, Niedzwiedz has worked as a journalist and television host in Germany, starting with moderation of Sat.1 magazine Treibstoff. Since 1997, he moderates n-tv Motor.

## Tamiya Model

A 1/24 scale model of the 1979 Ford Capri Zakspeed (model 24014) is represented as the D&W Klaus Niedzwiedz car, and is complete with Niedzwiedz in team uniform.

## Racing record
### Career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 1977 | Challenge de Formule Renault Europe | | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 0 | NC |
| 1978 | FIA European Formula 3 Championship | Team Eufra Europe Formel Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1979 | Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft | Zakspeed | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 23rd |
| 1979 | European Touring Car Championship | Zakspeed | 12 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 65 | 12th |
| 1979 | World Sportscar Championship | Zakspeed | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1980 | Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft | Zakspeed | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 129 | 5th |
| 1981 | Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft | Zakspeed | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 88 | 9th |
| 1981 | World Sportscar Championship | Liqui Moly Zakspeed | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1981 | World Sportscar Championship | Joest Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1982 | Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft | Zakspeed | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 106 | 3rd |
| 1982 | World Sportscar Championship | Ford Motor Company | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1982 | Interserie | Zakspeed | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 16th |
| 1983 | Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft | Zakspeed | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 3rd |
| 1983 | World Sportscar Championship | Jägermeister Ford Zakspeed Team | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1983 | Interserie | Zakspeed | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | NC |
| 1984 | Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft | | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 21 | 12th |
| 1984 | World Sportscar Championship | GWB Ford Zakspeed Team | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1984 | Interserie | GWB Ford Zakspeed Team | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 95 | 1st |
| 1985 | Deutschen Produktionswagen Meisterschaft | Ford Rennsport HWRT | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 18th |
| 1985 | World Sportscar Championship | John Fitzpatrick Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1985 | World Sportscar Championship | Porsche Kremer Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1985 | British Saloon Car Championship | Radiopaging | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 26th |
| 1986 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | Ford Rennsport HWRT | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 83 | 6th |
| 1986 | World Sportscar Championship | Porsche Kremer Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 17th |
| 1986 | World Sportscar Championship | Richard Lloyd Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 17th |
| 1987 | World Touring Car Championship | Eggenberger Motorsport | 10 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 268 | 2nd |
| 1987 | European Touring Car Championship | Eggenberger Motorsport | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | NC |
| 1987 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | Wolf Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1988 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | Ringshausen ABR Motorsport | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 115 | 17th |
| 1988 | European Touring Car Championship | Eggenberger Motorsport | 9 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 204 | 8th |
| 1988 | Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship | Allan Moffat Enterprises | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1988 | Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship | Trampio Object-T | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | NC |
| 1989 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | Ford Motorsport Eggenberger | 22 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 274 | 2nd |
| 1990 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | Opel Team Irmscher | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 22nd |
| 1990 | Japanese Touring Car Championship | Allan Moffat Enterprises | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 40th |
| 1990 | Australian Endurance Championship | Allan Moffat Enterprises | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 41st |
| 1991 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | Opel Team Eggenberger | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1993 | ADAC GT Cup | Wolf Racing | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12th |
| 1994 | ADAC GT Cup | Mamerow | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 90 | 3rd |
| 1995 | Super Tourenwagen Cup | Honda Team Linder | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 145 | 13th |
| 1995 | FIA Touring Car World Cup | Honda Team Linder | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 7th |
| 1996 | Super Tourenwagen Cup | Honda Team Linder | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 269 | 8th |
| 1997 | Super Tourenwagen Cup | AUGROS MIG Austria | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 103 | 21st |
| 1998 | Super Tourenwagen Cup | Auto Dienst Bemani Team | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 17th |
| 2002 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - N3 | | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 2005 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - A6 | Sport Auto | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 2006 | SEAT León Supercopa | VIP SEAT Deutschland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 2006 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP6 | Sport Auto | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | N/A | 7th |
| 2008 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP Cup | Daniela Schmid | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | ? |
| 2009 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - AT | Volkswagen Motorsport | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 2010 | Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup | N/A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
| 2010 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - AT | Volkswagen Motorsport | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 2011 | Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup | N/A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
| 2011 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - AT | Volkswagen Motorsport | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | 1 | N/A | 1st |
| 2012 | Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup | N/A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
| 2013 | Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup | N/A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
| 2014 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP3T | mathilda racing - Team pistenkids | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 2016 | 24 Hours of Nürburgring - TCR | mathilda racing - Team pistenkids | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| Source: ||||||||||
† As Niedzwiedz was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

#### Footnotes

* ↑ No drivers' Championship.

### Complete World Sportscar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1979 | Zakspeed Racing | Gr.5 | Ford Capri Turbo | Ford 1.4 L4t | DAY | MUG | DIJ | SIL | NÜR Ret | PER | GLN | BRH | VAL | | | | | | | | |
| 1981 | Liqui Moly Zakspeed | Gr.5 | Ford Capri Turbo | Ford 1.7 L4t | DAY | SEB | MUG | MNZ | RSD | SIL | NÜR DNS | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1981 | Joest Racing | S +2.0 | Porsche 908/80 | Porsche 911/78 2.1 F6t | | | | | | | | LMS Ret | PER | DAY | GLN | SPA | MOS | ROA | BRH | NC | 0 |
| 1982 | Ford Motor Company | C | Ford C100 | Cosworth DFL 4.0 V8 | MNZ | SIL | NÜR | LMS Ret | SPA 18 | MUG | FUJ | BRH Ret | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1983 | Jägermeister Ford Zakspeed Team | C | Zakspeed C1 | Ford 1.8 L4t | MNZ | SIL | NÜR | LMS | SPA Ret | FUJ | KYA | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1984 | GWB Ford Zakspeed Team | C1 | Zakspeed C1 | Cosworth DFL 3.3 V8 | MNZ | SIL | LMS | NÜR Ret | BRH | MOS | SPA | IMO | FUJ | KYA | SAN | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1985 | John Fitzpatrick Racing | C1 | Porsche 956 | Porsche Type 935/76 2.6 F6t | MUG | MNZ 11 | SIL | LMS | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1985 | Porsche Kremer Racing | C1 | Porsche 956 | Porsche Type 935/76 2.6 F6t | | | | | HOC Ret | MOS | SPA | BRH | FUJ | SHA | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1986 | Porsche Kremer Racing | C1 | Porsche 962C | Porsche Type 935/76 2.6 F6t | MNZ 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 28 |
| 1986 | Richard Lloyd Racing | C1 | Porsche 956 GTi | Porsche Type 935/76 2.6 F6t | | SIL 4 | LMS | NOR | BRH | JER | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 28 |
| 1986 | Richard Lloyd Racing | C1 | Porsche 956 GTi | Porsche Type 935/79 2.8 F6t | | | | | | | NÜR 2 | SPA | FUJ Ret | | | | | | | 17th | 28 |
| 1988 | Team Sauber Mercedes | C1 | Sauber C9 | Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0 V8t | JER | JAR | MNZ | SIL | LMS DNS | BRN | BRH | NÜR | SPA | FUJ | SAN | | | | | NC | 0 |

#### Footnotes

* ↑ No drivers' Championship.

### Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1981 | Joest Racing | Reinhold Joest Dale Whittington | Porsche 908/80 | S +2.0 | 80 | DNF | DNF |
| 1982 | Ford Germany | Manfred Winkelhock | Ford C100 | C | 71 | DNF | DNF |
| 1988 | Team Sauber Mercedes | Kenny Acheson | Sauber C9-Mercedes | C1 | - | DNS | DNS |
| Source: ||||||||

### Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft 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 | Ford Rennsport HWRT | Ford Sierra XR4 TI | ZOL | WUN | AVU 1 | MFA Ret | ERD 2 | ERD Ret | DIE | DIE | ZOL | SIE | NÜR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 29 |
| 1986 | Ford Rennsport HWRT | Ford Sierra XR4 TI | ZOL 6 | HOC 3 | NÜR 4 | AVU Ret | MFA 1 | WUN Ret | NÜR 10 | ZOL 9 | NÜR Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6th | 83 |
| 1987 | Wolf Racing | Ford Sierra XR4 TI | HOC | ZOL | NÜR | AVU | MFA | NOR | NÜR Ret | WUN | DIE | SAL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1988 | Ringshausen ABR Motorsport | Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth | ZOL 1 11 | ZOL 2 2 | HOC 1 6 | HOC 2 6 | NÜR 1 Ret | NÜR 2 Ret | BRN 1 11 | BRN 2 7 | AVU 1 | AVU 2 | MFA 1 | MFA 2 | NÜR 1 Ret | NÜR 2 DNS | NOR 1 | NOR 2 | WUN 1 | WUN 2 | SAL 1 C | SAL 2 C | HUN 1 3 | HUN 2 2 | HOC 1 10 | HOC 2 Ret | 17th | 115 |
| 1989 | Ford Motorsport Eggenberger | Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth | ZOL 1 6 | ZOL 2 3 | HOC 1 11 | HOC 2 3 | NÜR 1 9 | NÜR 2 5 | MFA 1 7 | MFA 2 5 | AVU 1 23 | AVU 2 1 | NÜR 1 7 | NÜR 2 4 | NOR 1 2 | NOR 2 2 | HOC 1 3 | HOC 2 1 | DIE 1 9 | DIE 2 16 | NÜR 1 10 | NÜR 2 9 | HOC 1 1 | HOC 2 1 | | | 2nd | 274 |
| 1990 | Opel Team Irmscher | Opel Omega 3000 24v | ZOL 1 WD | ZOL 2 WD | HOC 1 | HOC 2 | NÜR 1 | NÜR 2 | AVU 1 25 | AVU 2 Ret | MFA 1 Ret | MFA 2 Ret | WUN 1 21 | WUN 2 12 | NÜR 1 9 | NÜR 2 5 | NOR 1 Ret | NOR 2 Ret | DIE 1 Ret | DIE 2 DNS | NÜR 1 18 | NÜR 2 16 | HOC 1 28 | HOC 2 DNS | | | 22nd | 10 |
| 1991 | Opel Team Eggenberger | Opel Omega 3000 Evo 500 | ZOL 1 Ret | ZOL 2 DNS | HOC 1 24 | HOC 2 19 | NÜR 1 Ret | NÜR 2 21 | AVU 1 28 | AVU 2 17 | WUN 1 Ret | WUN 2 Ret | NOR 1 Ret | NOR 2 DNS | DIE 1 25 | DIE 2 20 | NÜR 1 Ret | NÜR 2 DNS | ALE 1 Ret | ALE 2 DNS | HOC 1 17 | HOC 2 24 | BRN 1 Ret | BRN 2 DNS | DON 1 17 | DON 2 Ret | NC | 0 |

### Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | DC | Pts | Class |
| 1985 | Industrial Control Services Ltd. | Ford Sierra XR4Ti | A | SIL | OUL | THR | DON | THR | SIL | DON | SIL ovr:3 cls:3 | SNE | BRH | BRH | SIL | 26th | 4 | 10th |

### 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 | Eggenberger Motorsport | Ford Sierra RS Cosworth | MNZ DSQ | JAR 5 | DIJ 3 | NÜR 1 | SPA Ret | | | | | | | 2nd | 268 |
| 1987 | Eggenberger Motorsport | Ford Sierra RS500 | | | | | | BRN 1 | SIL 6 | BAT DSQ | CLD 12 | WEL 1 | FUJ 1 | 2nd | 268 |

### Complete Bathurst 1000 results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1987 | Eggenberger Motorsport | Klaus Ludwig | Ford Sierra RS500 | 1 | 159 | DSQ | DSQ |
| 1987 | Eggenberger Motorsport | Klaus Ludwig | Ford Sierra RS500 | 1 | - | DNS | DNS |
| 1988 | Allan Moffat Enterprises | Allan Moffat Gregg Hansford | Ford Sierra RS500 | A | 129 | DNF | DNF |
| 1989 | Allan Moffat Enterprises | Frank Biela | Ford Sierra RS500 | A | 161 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 1990 | Allan Moffat Enterprises | Frank Biela Pierre Dieudonné | Ford Sierra RS500 | 1 | 151 | 10th | 10th |
| 1990 | Allan Moffat Enterprises | Gregg Hansford Pierre Dieudonné | Ford Sierra RS500 | 1 | 138 | DNF | DNF |
| 1992 | Allan Moffat Enterprises | Gregg Hansford | Ford Sierra RS500 | A | 128 | 19th | 17th |
| 1996 | Allan Moffat Enterprises | Ken Douglas | Ford EB Falcon | | 157 | 10th | 10th |

### Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup 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 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1995 | Honda Team Linder | Honda Accord | ZOL 1 24† | ZOL 2 20† | SPA 1 DSQ | SPA 2 10 | ÖST 1 3 | ÖST 2 18† | HOC 1 Ret | HOC 2 13 | NÜR 1 9 | NÜR 2 10 | SAL 1 8 | SAL 2 4 | AVU 1 Ret | AVU 2 Ret | NÜR 1 22 | NÜR 2 Ret | | | | | 13th | 145 |
| 1996 | Honda Team Linder | Honda Accord | ZOL 1 9 | ZOL 2 5 | ASS 1 10 | ASS 2 6 | HOC 1 Ret | HOC 2 DNS | SAC 1 | SAC 2 | WUN 1 8 | WUN 2 12 | ZWE 1 15 | ZWE 2 9 | SAL 1 5 | SAL 2 5 | AVU 1 2 | AVU 2 4 | NÜR 1 4 | NÜR 2 Ret | | | 8th | 269 |
| 1997 | AUGROS MIG Austria | Audi A4 Quattro | HOC 1 24 | HOC 2 20 | ZOL 1 20 | ZOL 2 20 | NÜR 1 18 | NÜR 2 DNS | SAC 1 Ret | SAC 2 12 | NOR 1 14 | NOR 2 9 | WUN 1 12 | WUN 2 Ret | ZWE 1 12 | ZWE 2 8 | SAL 1 22 | SAL 2 20 | REG 1 Ret | REG 2 14 | NÜR 1 21 | NÜR 2 15 | 21st | 103 |
| 1998 | Auto Dienst Bemani Team | Opel Vectra | HOC 1 17 | HOC 2 14 | NÜR 1 16 | NÜR 2 15 | SAC 1 18 | SAC 2 15 | NOR 1 11 | NOR 2 Ret | REG 1 15 | REG 2 12 | WUN 1 13 | WUN 2 13 | ZWE 1 16 | ZWE 2 16 | SAL 1 18 | SAL 2 14 | OSC 1 21 | OSC 2 16 | NÜR 1 15 | NÜR 2 Ret | 17th | 156 |