Klaus Ludwig facts for kids
Klaus Karl Ludwig (born on October 5, 1949) is a famous German racing driver. He is often called König Ludwig, which means "King Ludwig." This nickname shows how successful he was in different types of car races, especially in touring cars and sports car racing.
Quick facts for kids Klaus Ludwig |
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Klaus Ludwig in 2009
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| Nationality |  German |
| Born | 5 October 1949 Bonn, West Germany |
| Related to | Luca Ludwig (son) |
| Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters | |
| Years active | 2000 |
| Former teams | HWA 2 |
| Starts | 16 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Podiums | 7 |
| Poles | 2 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 3rd in 2000 |
| FIA GT Championship | |
| Years active | 1997–1998 |
| Former teams | AMG Mercedes Kremer Racing |
| Starts | 19 |
| Championships | 1 (1998) |
| Wins | 9 |
| Podiums | 14 |
| Poles | 6 |
| Fastest laps | 5 |
| International Touring Car Championship | |
| Years active | 1995–1996 |
| Former teams | Zakspeed Opel Opel Team Rosberg |
| Starts | 33 |
| Wins | 4 |
| Podiums | 8 |
| Poles | 4 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 7th in 1996 |
| Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | |
| Years active | 1985–1995 |
| Former teams | Opel Team Rosberg AMG-Mercedes Ford-Grab Motorsport ABR Ringhausen Rennsport |
| Starts | 173 |
| Championships | 3 (1988, 1992, 1994) |
| Wins | 32 |
| Podiums | 67 |
| Poles | 23 |
| Fastest laps | 16 |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1978–1979, 1982–1986, 1988, 1998 |
| Teams | AMG-Mercedes Porsche AG Joest Racing Zakspeed Porsche Kremer Racing Weisberg Gelo Team |
| Best finish | 1st (1979, 1984, 1985) |
| Class wins | 3 (1979, 1984, 1985) |
Contents
Early Career and First Wins
Klaus Ludwig started his racing journey in the 1970s. He drove for Ford in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft, a German racing series. In 1979, he won this championship.
Winning at Le Mans
One of his biggest achievements was winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1979. He drove a Porsche 935 car. This was a huge win because his car was not as fast as some of the other special sports cars. He won again at Le Mans in 1984 and 1985, driving a Porsche 956 for Joest Racing. Winning Le Mans three times shows how skilled he was.
Success in Touring Cars
After his Le Mans wins, Klaus Ludwig focused on touring cars. He joined the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) series. He became champion in 1988 with a Ford Sierra RS500.
He then moved to Mercedes-Benz and won the DTM championship two more times. He was champion in 1992 and again in 1994. These wins cemented his reputation as "King Ludwig."
Later Career and Return to Racing
In 1997, Klaus Ludwig went back to sports car racing with Mercedes-Benz. He became the FIA GT Champion in 1998. He retired from racing when the series ended in 1999.
However, he soon returned to racing. In June 1999, he won the 24 Hours Nürburgring race for the third time. He drove a Zakspeed Viper in this tough race.
When the DTM series started again in 2000 as Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Ludwig returned. He even won a race at the Sachsenring circuit at 50 years old! After that, he retired again.
Hobby Racing and Commentating
Later, Klaus Ludwig sometimes raced for fun, especially at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. He drove powerful cars in the 24 Hours Nürburgring race in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In 2006, he finished second and even broke the old distance record.
Besides racing, Ludwig has also worked as a TV commentator. He helped explain DTM races to viewers.
Major Achievements
- Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: 1979, 1984, 1985
- Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft champion: 1979, 1981
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft champion: 1988, 1992, 1994
- FIA GT World Champion: 1998
Images for kids
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Klaus Ludwig's 1981 Group 5 Zakspeed Ford Capri
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Ludwig drove the Roush-Zakspeed Ford Mustang Turbo during the 1981 and 1982 Camel GT race seasons.
See also
In Spanish: Klaus Ludwig para niños
