Photos and info Peter Levay

When Roland Ratzenberger tried to enter the world of motorsport he first started as a mechanic at the WALTER LECHNER RACING SCHOOL and then in 1982 he moved to Germany to become a drivers instructor for ISA-Racing. One of his students was the 1996 ITC-Champion Manuel Reuter.
Being the best student that year he was offered a drive for the whole Formula Ford championship in 1983 and Roland became his team mate. They both had the same car and the same engine but Reuter was often quicker than his team Ratzenberger. So Roland then complained about his engine and wanted to swap it with Manuel to proof that success was directly linked to the engine. Unfortunately Reuter still was faster and therefore won the 1983 championship after he was given a contract with Ford Motorsport to drive the DTM with a Ford Sierra the subsequent year.

1982
1982

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1983 Wiesbadener Renntag F Ford. Photo Christian Sandler
1983 am Hockenheimring Jim Clark Revival F Ford. Photo Christian Sandler
1985 F Ford Zolder. Photo Willem J. Staat
1985 Brands Hatch FF1600
1986 Brands Hatch Formula Ford festival 1986 – the winner. Photo JI Croft
1986 Brands Hatch Formula Ford festival 1986 – the winner. Photo JI Croft
1988 Roland when I was part of Jeff Wilson’s Team Racing a Tiga TS85 in the BRDC sportscar championship which shared a few rounds with The BTCC in 1988. Photo Rick Buurman www.rickautosportpictures.com
1989 Japan August Suzuka Circuit Test Day. Photo Tatsumi Mizutani
1989 Japan August Suzuka Circuit Test Day. Photo Tatsumi Mizutani
1989 Japan August Suzuka Circuit Test Day. Photo Tatsumi Mizutani
1990 Le Mans DNF
1990 August Suzuka 1000 km free practice. Photo and info Tatsumi Mizutani
1991 – Roland Ratzenberger also tested a CART single-seater, having tried a Dick Simon Lola in 1991. According to our guru Spotter Steve Turner, Roland was basically hired to be a driver coach for Brayton on the road courses. Photo and info from FB
Japan time. Photo via Peter Levay

about Roland Ratzenberger

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