Our colum is dedicated today to a great figure of motorsport. Jürgen Barth won of course the 1977 Le Mans 24 Hours, with Hurley Haywood and later in the race with Jacky Ickx ; among other successes, but he has worked too and he is still working for the development of motorsport.
We will not mention all his victories. He is obviously linked to Porsche, of which he is inseparable. All his successes on circuit were won with the German manufacturer. We had to make a choice and we will mention 1971 Paris-Montlhéry Grand Prix with a Porsche 911 ST, 1974 Nürburgring 1000 kms (with John Fitzpatrick and a Porsche 911 RSR), the 1977 Le Mans 24 Hours, of course, the 1980 Monza 1000 kms and Dijon 900 Kms (with Henri Pescarolo and a Porsche 935), the 1993 GT win at Le Mans (Porsche 911 RSR, with Dominique Dupuy and Joël Gouhier -below).
He is still racing successfully in Historic events, such as Classic Endurance Racing (2014 Champion) or Le Mans Classic (Grid 6 winner in 2004) and many others…
He has kindly agreed to answer a few questions
Your father, Edgar, has been too a driver -Formula 1, Le Mans, three times Hillclimb Euroeapean Champion, Targa Florio winner- . What was his impact on your passion for motorsport ?
“Yes he was East German Motorcycle and Car Racing Champion with BMW Moto and BMW Cars. He fled from East Germany to West Germany in 1957 and then was working for Porsche in Press Sports Departement and was 3 Times Hill Climb Champion and raced7 Times at Le Mans and was Targa Florio Winner in 1959. The same blood and the same passion runs in my venes. When we fled from East Germany I was 10 Years old. At this time my Father was also giving Driving Scools at the Nürburgring so here I drove already Porsche Carreras myself when I was ten !”
You have started out as a Porsche engineer. How did you become a racer ? Had you been thinking about it for a long time ?
“I started at Porsche in 1963 as an Mechanic’s apprentice for thee years and a half. After that Iwas again for two years Busines Apprentices and int the end I have been engineer and I started directly at the Porsche Press Sports Departement under Huschke von Hahanstein, doing the same work that my Father did before and I was also looking after Customers. My Job has been also the administrative Racing Organisation of Porsche at the same time.”
Your father has raced seven times at Le Mans, always behind the wheel of a Porsche, as you did ; How could you define your relationship with the German manufacturer ?
We are to some extent part of the Family.
You are part of the Le Mans history, being part of the first ever three drivers line-up winning at Le Mans, partnering with Hurley Haywood and, later in the race, with Jacky Ickx. How did the things happen ? Were Hurley and yourself pleased with the situation ?
Yes, it is always good to have Jacky racing with us.
our 936 Porsche had been delayed in the early stages of the 1977 Le Mans race -injection pump problems, I believe-. You had lost nine laps to change the pump. Did you think that the race -at least for a strong result- was over at this point ?
“No never, I never give up for winning a race. As long as wheels turn, it is possible to win.”
When did you begin to have some hopes again?
“In the night, when all Renaults broke down”
You have been racing six times at Le Mans before 1977. What are the feelings of a Le Mans winner on the podium ?
“It is just great. There are no words to say to describe it. You just believe it some days later”
Have you some special Le Mans anecdotes?
“Yes, a lot there have been good and also bad times. The good ones were the Partys at the Martini Ross Pavilion on Thursday evening after Qualifying and the Moet & Chandon Parties at Maurice Genissel’s restaurant (currently Auberge des Hunaudières on the Mulsanne straight). The bad ones are the lost of Joe Bonnier and others.”
You have driven GTs and prototypes at Le Mans . What did you prefer ?
I like all cars and I enjoy them all.
Which one of your Le Mans races do you prefer ? Have you had some regrets at Le Mans ?
“Of course, it is the 1977 win. I have no regrets at Le Mans.”
Could you say some words about your last 1977 Le Mans stint. I believe that the engine of your 936 was no more a Flat 6 but rather a Flat 5. How did the team succeed to solve somewhat the problem and can you explain how you managed your stintt before the chequered flag?
“After 22 Hours in the race we were in the lead. Then the Management decided to have Haywood to drive again because he had not driven anymore since 10.30 p.m. after one lap the engine had a Cylinder and Piston seal broken (pictures kindly sent by Jürgen Barth himself).
“We had the posibility to stay in the pit for 45 minutes. We should have been still in the lead but for the finish the car had to be running and doing a last lap ; Then I had do start the real last lap before 4 pm and I had to do thIS last lap in an time not slower as 3 times our qualifying time according to the regulation (Jürgen Barth’s quaifying time with the #4 Porsche was 3’40”, so he had to drive this last lap in less than 11 minutes).So I drove 2 laps with a 5 Cylinder engine and for me , as a mechanic, it was no problem.”
Can you say some words about some of your teammates : Reinhold Jöst, Jacky Ickx and Bob Wollek ?
“Jacky Ickx a real long distance driver with a strong mind ; Reinhold Jöst is first of all a good friend and a steady fast driver ; Bob Wolleck also a realy good friend with a realy strong mind.”
Aside from Le Mans, what were your favourite races?
“Monte Carlo Rally and of course the Nürburgring and the Targa Florio”
Which have been your favourite cars?
“Porsche 908/03 Turbo”
You were one of the founders of the BPR (B for Barth) with Patrick Peter and Stéphane Ratel. What do you think about the current GT series? What is your own vision of GT racing?
“For me the problem is it gets too much expensive all the time. So after GT 3, it is now GT 4.”
You are the Vice-President of the Club des Pilotes des 24 Heures du Mans. What development do you hope for the Club?
“We must be more active in the club to get more members so we are better founded and more action should be done.”
Will you be racing in 2017 ? Will you be at Le Mans Classic next year ?
“Yes, I hace been doing already the Monte Carlo Historic and next weekend I will race in Classic Endurance Racing with a Porsche RSR (below) and I will do all the CER Events, and yes I will be racing at Le Mans Classic next year too.”
We warmly thank Jürgen Barth for his kindness and we thank too Christian Vignon and Noël Le Clainche for their pictures.
All pictures are here
