West German Formula One Car to Make Debut Today

“Our goal is just to qualify. We will set ourselves up somewhere in the back rows, since 1985 is primarily a year of testing under competitive conditions.”

The man speaking is Erich Zakowski, owner and technical head of West Germany’s only Formula One race car, the “Zakspeed,” officially designated the “Zak 84-101.”

Zakowski’s creation, still sheltered in this village in the Eifel hills 30 miles south of Bonn, West Germany, will make its debut on the world racing stage today in the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril.

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: to build under his own direction a complete Formula One racing car.

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.

The Zak 84-101’s four-cylinder turbo-charged aluminium engine can generate between 750 and 850 horsepower.

Hired to drive the new car is an Englishman, Jonathan Palmer. A 28-year-old pediatrician, Palmer was Europe’s Formula Two race car champion in 1983 and is considered an outstanding test driver.

“Jonathan is not only a fast driver, but he’s also a personality who fits in with us,” said Zakowski. “His feeling for the car and his experience will take us further.”

Zakowski’s project leader, Helmut Barth, warns that the premiere in Portugal will be a tough event for the new car.

“The first race will be hell. But with our experience and our sponsor, we will not be going barefoot through hell,” said Barth.