Track length: 4.261 m
Attendance: 10.000
Entries accepted: 20 (Div. 1); 41 (Div. 2)
Starters: 15 (Div. 1); 29 (Div. 2)
Finishers: 13 (Div. 1); 20 (Div. 2)
Pole position: Ludwig in 1.31,77 (Div. 1); Ertl n 1.34,85 (Div. 2)
Fastest lap: Ludwig in 1.31,77 (Div. 1); Ertl n 1.34,85 (Div. 2)
Distance: 24 laps
Average speed: 139,51 kmh (Div. 1); 135,55 kmh (Div. 2)
Weather: Rain
Ruleset: Group 2-4 and 5

Lista zgłoszeń.

Nr.54.Klaus Ludwig, nr.51.Bob Wollek, nr.66.Rolf Stommelen – Porsche 935.

( Rallye Racing 5/1979)

The 1979 season kicked off in Belgium at the now traditional “Bergischer Löwe”. And the field had changed a lot since the 1978 final. For group 2 and 4 cars there was a separate “Rennsporttrophäe” championship, so full fields were guaranteed.
Division 1
Max Moritz had pulled the plug on Group 5, so Schurti was left out of a drive, but landed at Loos’ team, together with Fitzpatrick and Wollek who had been lured away from Kremer. Loos had new cars, with the gearbox now upside down and the car lowered 2,5 centimeters. Fellow Cologne team Kremer had thought of something else: the “K3”, with a new body style with refined aerodynamics and place for an air/air intercooler. It was driven by Ludwig who signed a 2-year deal, and Ludwig delivered with a pole, over one second faster than Wollek. The Liqui Moly Joest team had two cars here, for Stommelen and Merl, with Stommelen qualifying fourth, behind Fitzpatrick.
Race division 1
Loos had ordered special Goodyear rain tires from the USA in fear of Dunlop’s strength in the wet and both Wollek and Schurti had radios in the cockpit, so the Chief could give his orders in private. Times set in the warmup were encouraging, but at the start the rain had stopped though the track was still very wet. Ludwig set off in the lead, followed by Wollek, Stommelen and Fitz. The last two met and the chicane, with Stommelen forcing his way past - and a little later Wollek had to give in too. The Loos cars dropped back, were passed by Merl, Bourgoignie, Plankenhorn and Fitzpatrick was even beaten by Schornstein. The tires were not the right ones after all. Ludwig was unmoved by all this, 14 seconds adrift, though his rev limiter hampered proceedings: on a dry track, Stommelen would have won, Ludwig told afterwards.
Division 2
Ertl had exchanged Schnitzer for the Zakspeed team, with Heyer in the Mampe car and Nussbaumer in a Turbo Escort as number 3 while Winkelhock filled the vacant seat at Schnitzer; his old mount was driven now by team owner Hohmann. Grohs had a seat at the Austrian Oppitzhauser team, but for only two races while Ketterer continued in the Pirelli-shod Turbo Escort. GS had four cars here, all atmospheric, team leader Höttinger in a six-speed (replaced by a five-speed in practice) right-hand drive car destined to receive a works turbo engine later in the season. Bürger had won the second seat at GS in he BASF car, with Krankenberg and Schimpf paying service customers. Franz Albert bought two cars, a 2002 turbo for himself and a 320 turbo (one of Ertl’s cars from last year) for Jochen Dauer. Last but not least Isert brought a Turbo Alfetta, which had al sorts of problems like breaking half shafts or ripping the complete rear suspension from under the car - he was a non-starter.
In practice, Ertl enjoyed a trouble free run to pole, ahead of Winkelhock with Heyer only fourth after gearbox and engine problems. The new 885 kg limit for turbo cars did not really change anything; to win, you still had to have a turbo.
Race-division 2
Despite the rain, it became clear that the Capris were in a class of their own. Ertl and Heyer finished 1-2, Heyer initially the fastest but he fell back with ignition troubles. Winkelhock was soon left behind and spun, so Höttinger could pass and get the last place on the podium despite an attack by Winkelhock at the end - but the Schnitzer car left the track and was lucky to save fourth in the end.
Rennsporttrophäe
In division 1, only four 934 Porsches raced, with Dören winning; but a bunch of BMW M1s would enter the frame later in the season. In division 2, a single Escort beat all the BMW’s; Boller had cleverly selected a 2-liter group 4 Escort, which was over 50 HP more powerful than any

Pre-race sessions:
2 qualifying sessions held for a total of 90 minutes on 10/3
pre-race warm-up held
Winners:
Division I:    54    Porsche 935 K3    Klaus Ludwig
Division II:    1    Ford Capri Turbo    Harald Ertl
Leaders:
laps 101-110:        Ford Capri Turbo    Ertl
laps 111-123:        Ford Capri Turbo    Heyer
laps 124:        Ford Capri Turbo    Ertl
laps 1-24:        Porsche 935 Turbo    Ludwig
Fastest Laps:
Division I    54    Porsche 935 K3    Klaus Ludwig (D)    1:47.730    142.360 km/h   
Division II    1    Ford Capri Turbo    Harald Ertl (A)    1:51.660    137.345 km/h   
Pole Positions:
Division I    54    Porsche 935 K3    Klaus Ludwig (D)    1:31.770    167.110 km/h
Division II    1    Ford Capri Turbo    Harald Ertl (A)    1:34.850    161.680 km/h
Notes of interest:
Top makes by numbers:    BMW (22), Porsche (14), Ford (5)
Top engines by numbers:    BMW (22), Porsche (14), Ford (5)
Top car types by numbers:    BMW 320i (16), Porsche 935 (10), BMW 2002 (5)
Driver nationalities:    D (32), A (4), CH (2)
Team nationalities:    D (34), A (4)
Engine positions:    front-engined (65%), rear-engined (35%)
Oldest known drivers:    Edgar Dören (38), Hans Heyer (36), Jürgen Lässig (36)
Youngest known drivers:    Wolfgang Boller (21), Markus Höttinger (23), Manfred Winkelhock (27)

Wyniki.