Erwin von Waldeck

**Erwin Wolrad Hermann von und zu Waldeck und Pyrmont** is a retired German racing driver and since 1983 the head of the House of Waldeck-Pyrmont. He won the 1979 IMSA GT Championship in the GTX Class and the 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Challenge. He is a six-time runner-up of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, holding the record for most runner-up finishes without a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

## Early Life

Erwin was born as the only son to the in-decline Waldeck-Pyrmont noble House, having three older sisters. Not much is known about his early life, however he performed below average in school and was unable to achieve Abitur. Having few prospects in life due to his family's funds being focused on his sisters' careers, Erwin went into an apprenticeship to become a car mechanic in 1957.

## Early Racing Career

After finishing his apprenticeship in 1959, Erwin von Waldeck moved to the United Kingdom, starting employment as a mechanic for Sir Richard Fitzwilliam of Fitzwilliam Racing, knowing Fitzwilliam through familiar ties. In mid-1959, he was offered to test a Lola Mk2 Formula Three car after reportedly winning a bet with Sir Fitzwilliam. Impressing during the test, he was offered to drive the first two rounds of the German Formula Three championship in 1960 if he was able to pay the entry fee for both races. With the prospect of 'bringing prestige to the Waldeck-Pyrmont family name', as Erwin himself called it, his parents granted him the funding to run the three races.

### 1960 German Formula Three Season

Impressing in the early season with a fifth place at Trier and a seventh place at Wallberg, Erwin was given the seat for the remainder of the season. Despite the Lola Mk2's age in 1960, he was able to compete in the upper midfield at most races, being able to eventually finish 6th in the championship with 26 points.

### 1961 German Formula Three Season

Due to Fitzwilliam Racing having dissolved, Erwin decided to buy his own car and enter as a private entrant, using his own knowledge as a car mechanic to service his own vehicle. He once again depended on his own parents' money to buy a Ford-engined Lotus 18, struggling to adapt to a mid-engined car, he retired from the first two races of the season due to concerns of his own safety and lack of control. His big break came at the third round at the Ratisbona hillclimb, where only five cars were entered. Coming to grips with the mid-engined Lotus, he was able to beat the Cooper T52 of Kurt Ahrens Jr. with a 2:40.5, beating him by about six tenths to achieve the first win of his career. However, due to the low entry count for Formula Junior cars at Ratisbona, the round was not counted towards the championship. Erwin did well in the remainder of the season, eventually finishing 3rd in the championship on 22 points. During this time, he also attempted to start in several Grands Prix, failing to qualify for all of them.

### 1962 Formula One Season

His attempts to enter Formula One continued in 1962, a season dominated by Rémy Sauvageon and Ferrari, however failed to materialize properly. He entered the Dutch, Monegasque and Belgian Grands Prix, failing to qualify for any of them. Furthermore, he was denied entry to the British and Italian Grand Prix on "safety grounds" by the FIA; He had been judged to be a on-track hazard in the previous events, and had been barred from entering further FIA-sanctioned Formula One events in 1962. With this, he decided to end his attempts at racing in Formula One and turn to Sportscar racing.