The Inauguration of the Nürburgring GP in 1984 with the Race of Champions

After the serious accident in 1976, in which Niki Lauda nearly lost his life, the Nürburgring Nordschleife was considered too dangerous for racing, and the German Grand Prix of Formula 1 was moved elsewhere. The race returned to the Nürburgring in 1984, on a newly built 4,556-meter circuit featuring wide run-off areas and maximum safety. To mark the inauguration, a one-make race was organized that remains unforgettable: the “Race of Champions”.

The “Race of Champions” in 1984 coincided with the inauguration of the Nürburgring GP-Strecke.

The event, held in collaboration with Mercedes, brought together an extraordinary number of Formula 1 champions. Among them were Jack Brabham, Phil Hill, John Surtees, Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Stirling Moss, and Alain Prost. They all drove the same car: the brand-new Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16. These identical cars had modifications for track driving, including a roll bar, stiffer suspension, a racing exhaust, and racing seats with six-point harnesses to ensure both performance and safety. The race was 12 laps long, with Alain Prost on pole position, but he soon had to make way for a young Brazilian named Ayrton Senna, an up-and-coming driver with remarkable talent.

Mercedes-Benz gathered the greatest Formula 1 champions behind the wheel of identical 190 E 2.3-16 cars for a legendary one-make race.

Senna, showing no respect for Prost, was only concerned about fending off attacks from Niki Lauda, who had made the most of the wet track in the early laps, battling head-to-head with the young Brazilian. The two drivers put on a spectacular show, exchanging the lead multiple times. In the end, Senna crossed the finish line first, taking a remarkable victory.

Ayrton Senna and Niki Lauda delivered a thrilling battle, with the Brazilian proving his mastery on a damp track.

Those surprised by the victory of this “unknown” driver did not have to wait long for an answer. On June 3rd, in Monaco, that same young Brazilian masterfully drove his modest Toleman-Hart in torrential rain. Overtaking one car after another, by lap 31, he was right behind Prost, who was leading with his McLaren. But in a controversial decision, race director and former driver Jackie Ickx waved the red flag for safety reasons, cutting short what could have been an unforgettable win for Senna. One might wonder if Ickx had been in the stands at the Nürburgring that day and remembered how easily Senna had outclassed Prost on a wet track.

Ayrton Senna celebrates on the podium, unaware that many more Formula 1 victories would follow in the years ahead.