West German Formula One Car Qualifies in Portugal

Erich Zakowski, owner and technical head of West Germany’s only Formula One race car, the “Zakspeed,” said his only goal was to qualify for the today’s Portuguese Grand Prix.

“We will set ourselves up somewhere in the back rows, since 1985 is primarily a year of testing under competitive conditions,” Zakowski said.

That’s just what happened Saturday as the Zakspeed, officially designated the Zak 84-101, qualified 23rd at 1:28.11 . Driver Jonathan Palmer, a 28-year-old pediatrician, was Europe’s Formula Two race car champion in 1983 and is considered an outstanding test driver.

Ayrton Senna of Brazil was the top qualifier in a Lotus with a 1:21.007 (120.124 m.p.h.); Alain Prost of France was second in a McLaren at 1:21.420, and Keke Rosberg of Finland was third in a Williams at 1:21.904.

Zakowski’s creation, was sheltered in Niederzissen, West Germany, a village in the Eifel hills 30 miles south of Bonn, before Saturday’s qualifying.

The first West German Formula One race car since an eight-cylinder Porsche raced back in 1962, the Zak 84-101 is financially secure this season, said Zakowski, owning to a sponsorship agreement with the cigarette manufacturer Reemstma International.

Neither Zakowski nor the company’s vice president, Uwe Falck, would specify the size of Reemstma’s financial engagement. But Zakowski said it was enough to enable the Zak 84-101 to enter 11 races this year and to finance further research and development.

Zakowski is trying to do what only Ferrari, with support from Fiat, and the French state car company Renault have done before him: build a complete Formula One racing car under his own direction.

That means that only one constructor is responsible for the engine, frame and chassis, and gear box. By contrast, most other cars such as McLaren (Tag-Porsche), Lotus (Renault), Brabham (BMW), and Williams (Honda), get at least one major component from another manufacturer.

The entire Zak 84-101, including engine and gear box, was designed and built in Niederzissen.