The Unbreakable Bond Between Marc Surer and Manfred Winkelhock
When we think of sports, we often focus on the results and achievements of the athletes. But sometimes, the most important aspect of sports is the relationships that are formed between teammates. For Marc Surer, his friendship with Manfred Winkelhock was far more valuable than any race win or championship title.
The two German drivers first met in 1977 when they joined the BMW Junior Team together with Eddie Cheever. Despite being teammates in European Formula Two and rivals in Formula 1, their congenial relationship never wavered. In fact, Surer considers Winkelhock to be his favorite teammate of all time.
They shared a love for endurance racing, competing together in BMW, Ford, and Porsche machinery. In 1985, they even beat the factory teams with their privateer Kremer-run Porsche 956 at the shortened Monza World Endurance Championship round. But it wasn’t just on the track where their bond was evident.
Surer recalls, “We went out in the evenings together, so we spent time privately and also at the track sometimes we had dinner when we didn’t have an engagement with sponsors. We became friends very quickly and had a lot in common. We had a lot of fun.”
Despite their different driving styles, Surer and Winkelhock complemented each other well. Surer was more sensitive to the set-up of the car, while Winkelhock was able to drive around any issues. This made them a formidable duo in touring cars, where they were able to live with the same set-up and never had any problems with each other’s driving style.
Surer (left) was never team-mates with Winkelhock in F1, but the two were great friends from racing together in F2, touring cars and Group C
Photo by: Motorsport Images
One of their most memorable moments together was at the 1982 Brands Hatch 1000km race. The two were driving for the Ford C100 program in the World Endurance Championship and were instructed by their team to try and come back as 1st and 2nd in the first lap for the live TV broadcast. Surer and Winkelhock came up with a plan to drive side-by-side, making it impossible for anyone to overtake them. And it worked, until they made slight contact and Winkelhock was forced into the barriers.
Surer and Winkelhock drove side-by-side in their Ford C100s for the early laps of the 1982 Brands Hatch 1000km before making contact
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Despite the disappointment of not being able to finish the race, Surer still looks back on that moment with fondness. “It was a great experience and we had a lot of fun,” he says.
A Friendship That Transcends Racing
Tragically, Winkelhock passed away in a racing accident in 1985. But his memory lives on through the stories and memories shared by his friends and former teammates, like Surer.
For Surer, the bond he shared with Winkelhock was unbreakable, both on and off the track. They may have been competitors in Formula 1, but their friendship was always the most important thing to them. And that is something that will never be forgotten.
Summary:
Marc Surer and Manfred Winkelhock were more than just teammates, they were great friends. Their bond was formed through their love for racing and their similar driving styles. They competed together in endurance racing, touring cars, and even Formula 1. But it was their friendship that stood the test of time. Despite Winkelhock’s tragic passing, Surer will always remember him as his favorite teammate and a dear friend. Their story is a reminder that sometimes, the most important aspect of sports is the relationships that are formed between teammates.
The Legendary Partnership of Surer and Winkelhock: A Tale of Trust and Triumph
It was a partnership that was destined to make waves in the world of motorsports. Two talented drivers, Marc Surer and Manfred Winkelhock, joined forces in the 1984 World Endurance Championship (WEC) and proved to be a formidable duo on the track. But their story goes back even further, to their days as Formula 1 teammates in the early 1980s.
At the 1984 Brands Hatch 1000km race, Surer and Winkelhock were driving for the same team, the iconic Ford C100. The race was a wet and treacherous one, with the Fords battling it out for the lead against the Sauber-BMW of Hans Stuck. As Autosport’s Quentin Spurring wrote, “Stuck’s progress continued, and by the fifth lap, he was up with the Fords, which came out of Surtees side by side again and set off that way towards Pilgrims Drop.”
But it was during this intense battle that Surer and Winkelhock’s trust and teamwork truly shone. In the kink just a short way down the straight, Surer’s car got out of shape and he ended up on the grass, heading straight for the barrier. Without hesitation, Winkelhock came to his aid and helped him get back on track.
As the race continued, the rain worsened and the guardrail was damaged, leading to the race being stopped after nine laps. But the partnership of Surer and Winkelhock was far from over. In fact, it was just getting started.
For the restart on a drying track, Winkelhock transferred to Surer’s car, but it was never the same competitive proposition as before. Despite this setback, the two drivers remained united and continued to support each other throughout the race. Surer eventually finished fifth, but it was a testament to their teamwork and trust that they were able to overcome such challenges.
The Unbreakable Bond of Surer and Winkelhock
Their partnership continued informally in F1, specifically during qualifying for the 1984 South African Grand Prix. Surer, driving for ATS, approached Winkelhock for a tow in qualifying. And to everyone’s surprise, Winkelhock agreed.
“He said, ‘you go out one lap after I do my fast lap, and when I have finished my fast lap, I do one extra lap and give you a tow,’” recalls Surer. And it worked. Surer was the fastest of the four drivers with the normally-aspirated cars, thanks to the tow from Winkelhock.
But their partnership didn’t end there. In 1985, Surer and Winkelhock joined forces once again, this time in a Kremer Racing 956 for the WEC. And it was a partnership that would go down in history.
At the Mugello opener, they finished second, but it was their win at Monza that truly cemented their legacy. The race was halted 34 laps from the end due to a fallen tree and a blocked track, but Surer and Winkelhock emerged as the winners. It was the first Group C win for Kremer, and it was a testament to the trust and teamwork of Surer and Winkelhock.
A Partnership for the Ages
Despite their success on the track, Surer and Winkelhock’s partnership was cut short when Surer was left without an F1 drive in 1985. But their bond remained unbreakable, and they continued to support each other in their respective racing careers.
Looking back on their time together, Surer reflects, “We touched because of aquaplaning. It was really difficult to put the power down in these conditions and so it happened. But there was no blaming each other.”
The partnership of Surer and Winkelhock may have been short-lived, but it left a lasting impression on the world of motorsports. Their trust, teamwork, and unbreakable bond will always be remembered as a shining example of what can be achieved when two talented drivers come together as one.
Summary:
The partnership of Marc Surer and Manfred Winkelhock in the 1984 World Endurance Championship (WEC) and their time as Formula 1 teammates was a legendary one. Their trust, teamwork, and unbreakable bond were put to the test during the Brands Hatch 1000km race, where they battled it out against the Sauber-BMW of Hans Stuck. Despite challenges and setbacks, their partnership continued to thrive, and they went on to achieve success in the WEC. Their story serves as a reminder of the power of trust and teamwork in the world of motorsports.
The Tragic Friendship of Winkelhock and Surer in Motorsport
It was a bond that went beyond the racetrack. Two drivers, both talented and competitive, but also close friends. Manfred Winkelhock and Marc Surer were a formidable duo in the world of motorsport, but their story ended in tragedy.
Back in 1984, the two drivers were teammates at Kremer Racing, competing in the World Endurance Championship. They had a strong start to the season, with a podium finish at the 1000km of Monza. But it was their performance at the South African Grand Prix that truly showcased their friendship.
Winkelhock, who was driving for RAM Racing at the time, agreed to give Surer a tow in qualifying, helping him to top the DFV brigade. It was a selfless act that showed the depth of their friendship, and it paid off as Surer went on to secure pole position.
But their success was short-lived. A few months later, tragedy struck. Winkelhock was involved in a fatal accident at the Mosport International Raceway in Canada. Surer, who was also competing in the race, accompanied his co-driver to the hospital, but unfortunately, nothing could be done to save him.
“Even now when I think about it, it’s horrible,” Surer recalls. But he also has fond memories of their time together, describing their friendship as “unique”.
“Maybe there were some other drivers having that,” he adds, “but it was very unusual. Even fighting each other, it was always with no problem because you can trust the other one.”
A Bittersweet Victory at Monza
Despite the tragedy, Surer continued to race, and in 1985, he and Winkelhock’s replacement, Hans-Joachim Stuck, secured a victory at Monza in their Kremer Porsche. It was a bittersweet moment for Surer, as he stood on the podium without his dear friend by his side.
But their friendship and bond extended beyond the racetrack. Surer remembers how they could always agree on the setup of their car, saying, “We could live always with the same set-up, we never had a problem to say ‘I cannot drive the way he wants it set-up’. We were very similar.”
It was this understanding and trust that made their friendship so special, and it is a testament to the kind of person Winkelhock was.
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, the memory of Winkelhock and Surer’s friendship lives on in the world of motorsport. Their story serves as a reminder of the dangers of the sport, but also the strong bonds that can be formed between competitors.
As for Surer, he continues to race and is now a commentator for Formula One. But he will never forget his dear friend and teammate, Manfred Winkelhock, and the special bond they shared both on and off the track.
Summary:
The tragic friendship of Manfred Winkelhock and Marc Surer in the world of motorsport is a story that will never be forgotten. Their bond went beyond the racetrack, and their selfless acts of friendship and trust continue to inspire others. Despite the tragedy that ended their time together, their legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew them and in the world of motorsport.
