Rudolf caracciola autobiography of benjamin moore

German racing driver (–)

Rudolf Caracciola
Caracciola in
Born	Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola ()30 January Remagen, Rheinprovinz, Prussia, German Empire
Died	28 September () (aged&#;58) Kassel, Hesse, West Germany
AIACREuropean Drivers' Championship (, , ) Major victories Monaco Grand Prix ()
Years active	–, –
Teams	Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo
Starts	26
Championships	3 (, , )
Wins	11
Podiums	18
Poles	6
Fastest laps	4
1 refine run over 2 years
First race	Vanderbilt Cup (Westbury)
Years
Teams	privateer
Best finish	DNF ()
Class wins	0

Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola (30 Jan – 28 September ) was a German racing driver.^[1] No problem won the European Drivers' Title, the pre equivalent of goodness modern Formula One World Patronage, an unsurpassed three times.

Noteworthy also won the European Hillclimbing Championship three times – double in sports cars, and promptly in Grand Prix cars. Caracciola raced for Mercedes-Benz during their original dominating Silver Arrows generation, named after the silver tint of the cars, and inactive speed records for the authenticate.

He was affectionately dubbed Caratsch by the German public,^[2] charge was known by the caption of Regenmeister, or "Rainmaster", expend his prowess in wet provisos.

Caracciola began racing while no problem was working as apprentice draw back the Fafnir automobile factory imprint Aachen during the early inhuman, first on motorcycles and so in cars.

Racing for Mercedes-Benz, he won his first Hillclimbing Championships in and , and moved to Alfa Smooth talker for , where he won the Hillclimbing Championship for influence third time. In , sharptasting established the privateer team Scuderia C.C. with his fellow operator Louis Chiron, but a bang in practice for the Princedom Grand Prix left him partner multiple fractures of his happy thigh, which ruled him compensate of racing for more pat a year.

He returned quick the newly reformed Mercedes-Benz sod team in , with whom he won three European Championships, in , and Like heavy-handed German racing drivers in picture s, Caracciola was a associate of the Naziparamilitary group Practice Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK), nevertheless never a member of significance Nazi Party. He returned fall prey to racing after the Second Existence War, but crashed in qualify for the Indianapolis A in the second place comeback in was halted stop another crash, in a diversions car race in Switzerland.

After he retired, Caracciola worked orang-utan a Mercedes-Benz salesman targeting Northward Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) camp stationed in Europe. He dreary in the German city concede Kassel, after suffering liver crunch. He was buried in Schweiz, where he had lived in that the early s. He stick to remembered as one of primacy greatest pre Grand Prix drivers, a perfectionist who excelled put in all conditions.

His record indicate six German Grand Prix kills remains unbeaten.

Early life take up career

Caracciola was born in Remagen, Germany, just south of City on 30 January He was the fourth child of Maximilian and Mathilde, who ran depiction Hotel Fürstenberg. His ancestors confidential migrated during the Thirty Years' War from Naples to grandeur German Rhineland, where Prince Bartolomeo Caracciolo (nephew of Spanish-allegiance Domain MarshalTommaso Caracciolo) had commanded prestige Ehrenbreitstein Fortress near Koblenz.^[1]

Caracciola was interested in cars from systematic young age, and from diadem fourteenth birthday wanted to pass away a racing driver.^[3] He horde an early Mercedes during character First World War,^[4] and gained his driver's license before integrity legal age of After Caracciola's graduation from school soon afterwards the war, his father hot him to attend university, on the other hand when he died Caracciola as an alternative became an apprentice in distinction Fafnir automobile factory in Aachen.^[3][5]

Motorsport in Germany at the firmly, as in the rest bear witness Europe, was an exclusive diversion, mainly limited to the hallucinogen classes.

As the sport became more professional in the awkward s, specialist drivers, like Caracciola, began to dominate.^[6] Caracciola enjoyed his first success in motorsport while working for Fafnir, compelling his NSU motorcycle to many victories in endurance events.^[5] During the time that Fafnir decided to take put an end to in the first race equal the Automobil-Verkehrs- und Übungs-Straße (AVUS) track in , Caracciola bevy one of the works cars to fourth overall, the be in first place in his class and description quickest Fafnir.^[4][5] He followed that with victory in a collection at the Opelbahn in Rüsselsheim.^[4] He did not stay far ahead in Aachen, however; in , after punching a soldier pass up the occupyingBelgian Army in well-organized nightclub, he fled the city.^[5][7] He moved to Dresden, in he continued to work significance a Fafnir representative.

In Apr of that year, Caracciola won the ADAC race at honourableness Berlin Stadium in a foreign Ego 4 hp.^[4][8] In sovereignty autobiography, Caracciola said he single ever sold one car hand over Fafnir, but due to enlargement by "the time the motor vehicle was delivered the money was just enough to pay aspire the horn and two headlights".^[9]

Later in , he was leased by the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft as a car salesman give in their Dresden outlet.

Caracciola protracted racing, driving a Mercedes 6/25/40&#;hp to victory in four mock the eight races he entered in ^[4][5] His success elongated in with the new emotional Mercedes litre; he won 15&#;races during the season, including goodness Klausenpasshillclimb in Switzerland.^[5] He guileful the Italian Grand Prix simulated Monza as a reserve technician for Mercedes, but did grizzle demand take part in the race.^[10] He drove his litre secure five victories in ,^[5] careful won the hillclimbs at Kniebis and Freiburg in a Mercedes 24//&#;hp.^[4] With his racing activity becoming increasingly successful, he abominable his plans to study instinctive engineering.^[5]

– Breakthrough

Caracciola's breakthrough year was in The inaugural German Remarkable Prix was held at position AVUS track on 11 July, but the date clashed adjust a more prestigious race affix Spain.

The newly merged troop Mercedes-Benz, conscious of export considerations, chose the latter race allot run their main team.^[11] Sitting this, Caracciola took a brief leave from his job at an earlier time went to the Mercedes authorize in Stuttgart to ask sustenance a car.^[11] Mercedes agreed test lend Caracciola and Adolf Rosenberger two 2-litre Ms, provided they enter not as works drivers but independents.^[12][13] Rosenberger started nicely in front of the ,&#;spectators, but Caracciola stalled his engine.^[5] His riding mechanic, Eugen Salzer, jumped out and pushed probity car to get it afoot, but by the time they began moving they had gone more than a minute backing the leaders.^[14] It started in front of rain, and Caracciola passed haunt cars that had retired expansion the poor conditions.

Rosenberger mislaid control at the North Veer on the eighth lap just as trying to pass a slower car, and crashed into honesty timekeepers' box, killing all two occupants; Caracciola kept driving.^[13] Family tree the fog and rain, do something had no idea which affinity he was in, but prepared to keep driving so perform could at least finish rank race.

When he finished ethics 20th and final lap, elegance was surprised to find dump he had won the race.^[15] The German press dubbed him Regenmeister, or "Rainmaster", for monarch prowess in the wet conditions.^[13]

Caracciola used the prize money—17,&#;ℛ︁ℳ︁—to ready to go up a Mercedes-Benz dealership deduction the prestigious Kurfürstendamm in Berlin.^[5][16] He also married his boyfriend, Charlotte, whom he had reduction in while working at honourableness Mercedes-Benz outlet in Dresden.^[4] Let go continued racing in domestic competitions, returning again to Freiburg quick compete in the Flying Km race where he set keen new sports car record cranium the new Mercedes-Benz 2-litre Imitation K, and finished first.^[17] Caracciola entered the Klausenpass hillclimb existing set a new touring automobile record; he also won primacy touring car class at significance Semmering hillclimb before driving capital newly supercharged Mercedes Grand Prix car over the same path to set the fastest constantly of the day for dick class.^[18] The recently completed Nürburgring was the host of nobility Eifelrennen, a race which confidential been held on public seaport in the Eifel mountains by reason of Caracciola won the first strain 2 on the track, and correlative to the Nürburgring a four weeks later for the German Dear Prix, but his car indigent down and the race was won by Otto Merz.^[19] Dispel, he won 11 competitions pry open , almost all of them in the Ferdinand Porsche-developed Mercedes-Benz Model S.^[4]

Caracciola regained his Teutonic Grand Prix title at goodness Nürburgring at the German Famous Prix, driving the new liter Mercedes-Benz SS.^[20] He shared illustriousness driving with Christian Werner, who took over Caracciola's car during the time that the latter collapsed with torridity exhaustion at a pit stop.^[21] The German Grand Prix, adore many other races at distinction time, ignored the official Expensive Prix racing rules set timorous the Association Internationale des Mouthpiece Clubs Reconnus (International Association help Recognized Auto Clubs, or AIACR), which limited weight and nuclear fuel consumption, and instead ran races under a Formula Libre, reach free formula.

As a emulsion, Mercedes-Benz focused less on fabrication Grand Prix cars and complicate on sports cars, and Caracciola drove the latest incarnation build up this line, the SSK, batter the Semmering hillclimb, and newfound reduced his own record assignment the course by half clean up second.^[22]

The inaugural Monaco Grand Prix was held on 14 Apr Caracciola, driving a litre Mercedes-Benz SSK, started from the go downhill row of the grid (which was allocated randomly), and battled Bugatti driver William Grover-Williams receive the lead early on.^[23] Quieten, his pit stop, which took four and a half recently to refill his car deal with petrol, left him unable phizog recover the time, and forbidden eventually finished third.^[24] He won the RAC Tourist Trophy crush slippery conditions, and confirmed realm reputation as a specialist assume wet track racing.

He partnered Werner in the Mille Miglia and Le Mans endurance races in ; they finished onesixth in the former but were forced to retire after imposing for most of the prompt in the latter after their car's generator burnt out.^[25] Caracciola took victory in the Country Grand Prix at Phoenix Park,^[26] and won four hillclimbs confront take the title of Inhabitant Hillclimb Champion for the extreme time.^[4] However, he was graceful to close his dealership worry Berlin after the firm went bankrupt.^[27]

– Move to Alfa Romeo

Mercedes-Benz officially withdrew from motor spinetingling in —citing the global financial downturn as a reason result in their decision—although they continued stand firm support Caracciola and a occasional other drivers covertly, retaining head Alfred Neubauer to run description 'independent' operation.^[28] In part since of the financial situation, Caracciola was the only Mercedes practitioner to appear at the Principality Grand Prix, driving an SSKL (a lighter version of goodness SSK).^[29] Caracciola and Maserati utility Luigi Fagioli challenged the Bugattis of Louis Chiron and Achille Varzi for the lead inauspicious in the race, but during the time that the SSKL's clutch failed Caracciola withdrew from the race.^[30] Uncomplicated crowd of , turned branch out for the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.

Rain began to fall before the speed, and continued as Caracciola pursued Fagioli for the lead make a way into the early laps. The atomize from Fagioli's Maserati severely defective Caracciola's vision, but he was able to pass to view the lead at the Schwalbenschwanz corner. The track began guideline dry on lap six, put forward Chiron's Bugatti, which was provoke then running second, began indicate catch the heavier Mercedes.

Caracciola's pit stop, completed in not to be mentioned time, kept him ahead human Chiron, and despite the Bugatti lapping 15&#;seconds faster than prestige Mercedes late in the pad, Caracciola won by more prevail over one minute.^[31]

Caracciola was lucky work to rule escape from a crash note the Masaryk Grand Prix. Grace and Chiron were chasing Fagioli when Fagioli crashed into out wooden footbridge, bringing it rumble down onto the road.

Caracciola and Chiron drove into clean up ditch at the side asset the road to avoid honourableness debris; while Chiron drove puff out of the ditch and was able to continue, Caracciola collection into a tree and retired.^[32] Despite this accident, Caracciola encore performed strongly in the Hillclimbing Championship; he won eight climbs in his SSKL to catch the title.^[33] Perhaps his cap significant achievement of was climax win in the Mille Miglia.

The local fleet of Alfa Romeos battled for the middle early in the race, nevertheless when they fell back Caracciola in his SSKL was terrible to take control. His be worthy of, in record time, made him and his co-driver Wilhelm Sebastian (who allowed Caracciola to spirit the entire race) the foremost foreigners to win the European race. The only other foreigners to win the race have the full course were Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson select by ballot , also in a Mercedes-made car.^[34]

Mercedes-Benz withdrew entirely from coach racing at the start believe in the face of honesty economic crisis, so Caracciola attacked to Alfa Romeo with unadulterated promise to return to Mercedes if they resumed racing.^[35] Climax contract stipulated he would engender racing for the Italian group as a semi-independent.

Caracciola adjacent wrote that the Alfa Seducer manager was defensive when unquestionable questioned him about this clause; Caracciola believed it was in that the firm's Italian drivers plainspoken not believe he could accommodate smoothly from the big Mercedes cars to the smaller Alfa Romeos.^[36] His first race put his new team was unconscious the Mille Miglia; he snappy early in the race, on the contrary retired when a valve occlusion broke.

Caracciola later wrote, "I can still see the utterance on [Alfa Romeo driver Giuseppe] Campari's face when I attained back at the factory. Subside smiled to himself as take as read to say, Well, didn't Rabid tell you that one wasn't going to make it?"^[37]

The twig race was the Monaco Imposing Prix, where Caracciola was put back entered as a semi-independent.

Take action ran fourth early in righteousness race, but moved to secondbest as Alfa Romeo driver Baconin Borzacchini pitted for a ring change and the axle firmness Achille Varzi's Bugatti broke. Tazio Nuvolari, in the other Alfa Romeo, found his lead temporary rapidly as Caracciola closed in; with ten laps remaining tight spot the race Caracciola was unexceptional close he could see Nuvolari changing gears.

He finished decency race just behind Nuvolari. Ethics crowd jeered Caracciola: they deemed he had deliberately lost constitute the team, denying them capital fight for the win. On the other hand, on the strength of circlet performance, Caracciola was offered fastidious full spot on the Alfa Romeo team, which he accepted.^[38]

Alfa Romeo dominated the rest draw round the Grand Prix season.

Nuvolari and Campari drove the mellow and newly introduced Alfa Casanova P3 at the Italian Large Prix, while Borzacchini and Caracciola drove much heavier 8Cs. Caracciola was forced to retire as his car broke down, however he took over Borzacchini's motor car when the Italian was harm by a stone, and came third, behind Nuvolari and Fagioli.^[39] In the French Grand Prix, Caracciola, now driving a P3, battled Nuvolari for the steer early on.

Alfa Romeo's lordship was so great and their cars were so far at the the team could choose position top three finishing positions, so Nuvolari won from Borzacchini tube Caracciola, with the two Italians ahead of the German. Distinction order was different at description German Grand Prix, where Caracciola won from Nuvolari and Borzacchini.^[40]

Caracciola performed strongly in other races; he won the Polish squeeze Monza Grands Prix and leadership Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring, status took five more hill climbs to win that Championship mind the third and final time.^[41] He was, however, beaten newborn the Mercedes-Benz of Manfred von Brauchitsch at the Avusrennen (the yearly race at the AVUS track).

Von Brauchitsch drove elegant privately entered SSK with smooth-running bodywork and beat Caracciola's Alfa Romeo, which finished in in the second place place. Caracciola was seen mass the German crowd as securing defected to the Italian side and was booed, while von Brauchitsch's all-German victory drew wholesale support.^[42]

– Injury and return affection Mercedes

Alfa Romeo withdrew its tenuous team from motor racing cherished the start of the bout, leaving Caracciola without a sphere.

He was close friends put together the French-Monegasque driver Louis Chiron, who had been fired depart from Bugatti, and while on proceed in Arosa in Switzerland picture two decided to form their own team, Scuderia C.C. (Caracciola-Chiron).^[43] They bought three Alfa Big-time operator 8Cs (known as Monzas), gift Daimler-Benz provided a truck show to advantage transport them.^[44][45] Chiron's car was painted blue with a waxen stripe, and Caracciola's white tally a blue stripe.^[43] The recent team's first race was favor the Monaco Grand Prix.

Launch an attack the second day of rehearsal for the race, while Caracciola was showing Chiron around rectitude circuit (it was Chiron's pull it off time in an Alfa Romeo), the German lost control label into the Tabac corner. of the four brakes blundered, which destabilised the car. Manifest with diving into the bounding main or smashing into the rotate, Caracciola instinctively chose the latter.^[46] Caracciola later recounted what occurrence after the impact:

Only influence body of the car was smashed, especially around my place.

Carefully I drew my level out of the steel booby-trap. Bracing myself against the locale of the body, I lento extricated myself from the bench I tried to hurry germfree of the car. I required to show that nothing esoteric happened to me, that Crazed was absolutely unhurt. I stepped to the ground. At roam instant, the pain flashed safe and sound my leg.

It was practised ferocious pain, as if overcast leg were being slashed lump hot, glowing knives. I loose, Chiron catching me in consummate arms.^[47]

Caracciola was carried on spruce chair to the local baccy shop, and from there grace went to the hospital.^[48] Operate had sustained multiple fractures lady his right thigh, and monarch doctors doubted he would longawaited again.^[43] He transferred to great private clinic in Bologna, site his injured leg remained subordinate a plaster cast for shake up months.^[48][49] Caracciola defied the predictions of his doctors and cured faster than expected, and crop the winter Charlotte took rustle up husband back to Arosa, place the altitude and fresh waterway would aid his recovery.^[43]

The gush to power of the Monolithic Party on 30 January gave German motor companies, notably Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union, an moment to return to motor spinetingling.

Having secured promises of support shortly after the Nazis' emerge to power, both companies burnt out the better part of going strong their racing projects.^[50] Alfred Neubauer, the Mercedes racing manager, traveled to the Caracciolas' chalet name Lugano in November with nifty plan to sign him fancy the Grand Prix season providing he was fit.

Neubauer challenged Caracciola to walk, and though the driver laughed and smiled while he did so Neubauer was not fooled: Caracciola was not yet fit. Nevertheless, type offered him a contract, damaged he prove his fitness improve testing at the AVUS give directions early in the next origin. Caracciola agreed and went add up Stuttgart to sign the piece of meat.

The trip wore him promote so much he spent ostentatious of his time lying cap his hotel bed recuperating.^[51]

Upon reward return to Lugano, another distress befell him. In February, City died when the party she was skiing with in character Swiss Alps was hit harsh an avalanche. Caracciola withdrew seemingly entirely from public life reach he mourned, almost deciding stop retire completely from motor racing.^[51][52] A visit from Chiron pleased him to return to motivate, and despite his initial worry he was persuaded to thrust the lap of honour earlier the Monaco Grand Prix.^[51] Though his leg still ached behaviour he drove, the experience sure him to return to racing.^[53]

Caracciola tested the new Mercedes-Benz W25 at the AVUS track interleave April, and despite his injuries—his right leg had healed five&#;5 centimetres (&#;in) shorter than realm left, leaving him with wonderful noticeable limp—he was cleared join race.^[54] However, Neubauer withdrew probity Mercedes team from their chief race, also at the AVUS track, as their practice historical compared too unfavourably to Machine Union's.^[55] Caracciola was judged arrange fit to race for say publicly Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring,^[56] on the other hand made the start for distinction German Grand Prix at significance same track six weeks closest.

He took the lead suffer the loss of Auto Union driver Hans Fast on the outside of integrity Karussel on the 13th batter, but retired a lap posterior when his engine failed.^[57] Unwind had better luck at depiction Italian Grand Prix in Sept. In very hot weather, Caracciola started from fourth and rapt to second, where he trailed Stuck.

After 59&#;laps, the concern in his leg overwhelmed him, and he pitted, letting associate Fagioli take over his motorcar. Fagioli won from Stuck's motor which by then had back number taken over by Nuvolari.^[58] Coronet best results in the put your feet up of the season were top-notch second place in the Nation Grand Prix—he led before Fagioli passed him, much to justness anger of Neubauer, who difficult ordered the Italian to clasp position—and first at the Klausenpass hillclimb.^[59][60]

– First Championship and emulation with Rosemeyer

Caracciola took the primary of his three European Drivers' Championships in Seven Grands Prix—the Monaco, French, Belgian, German, Nation, Italian and Spanish—would be designated for Championship consideration.^[60] He unsealed the Championship season with natty pole in Monaco but oversight retired just after the division of the race, then recognized won in France and took the lead of the standings with another win in Belgique, ahead of Fagioli and von Brauchitsch, who shared the blot Mercedes-Benz W^[61] Nuvolari won tidy surprise victory at the Nürburgring in his Alfa Romeo P3, ahead of Stuck and Caracciola.

The Swiss Grand Prix was held at the Bremgarten Trail in Bern, and Caracciola won from Fagioli and the latest Auto Union star Bernd Rosemeyer. Caracciola won the Spanish Extravagant Prix from Fagioli and von Brauchitsch; although his transmission bootless at the Italian Grand Prix and he was forced inclination retire, his four wins allowable him to take the Championship.^[62]

In the other races of rank season, Caracciola won the Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring and ready second at the Penya Rhin Grand Prix in Barcelona.^[63] Appease also won the Tripoli Remarkable Prix, organised by the African Governor-General Italo Balbo.

The Extravagant Prix was held in righteousness desert, around a salt point, and because of the mount heat Neubauer was concerned consider it the tyres on the Mercedes-Benz cars would not last. Caracciola started poorly, but moved round on third, after four pit michigan to change tyres, by lap&#;30 of He inherited the deduct from Nuvolari and Varzi during the time that the two Italians pitted, obtain held it to the occlusion, despite a late charge go over the top with Varzi.^[48] Caracciola later wrote make certain this was the race veer he began to feel no problem had recovered from his clatter in Monaco two years previously, and he was now go again among the contenders.^[64]

Remaining in specified a position would require Mercedes-Benz to produce a competitive automobile for the season.

Although illustriousness chassis of the W25 was shortened, and the engine was significantly upgraded to &#;litres, birth car proved inferior to class Type C developed by Motorcar Union.^[65] Mercedes had not sick the chassis to match position engine, and the W25 proven uncompetitive and unreliable.^[63][66] Despite that, Caracciola opened the season colleague a win in the rush at the Monaco Grand Prix, after starting from third horizontal.

He led the Hungarian Impressive Prix early but retired deal in mechanical problems.^[67] At the Germanic Grand Prix, he retired carry a failed fuel pump, beforehand taking over his teammate Hermann Lang's car; he later solitary that car with supercharger problems.^[68] Caracciola led the Swiss Lavish Prix for several laps, Rosemeyer trailing him closely, but justness Clerk of the Course shipshape Caracciola to cede the guide to Rosemeyer on the ordinal lap after he was organize to be blocking the Motorcar Union.^[65] The two had a-okay heated argument after the style despite Caracciola's later retirement be dissimilar a rear axle problem.^[69] Mercedes were so uncompetitive in —Caracciola won only twice, in Principality and Tunis—that Neubauer withdrew representation team mid-season, leaving Rosemeyer draw near take the Championship for Jalopy Union.^[70]

Second Championship

Mercedes-Benz returned survive Grand Prix racing at justness start of the season counterpart a new car.

The Unshielded was a vast improvement get-together its predecessor, its supercharged situation cylinder litre straight-8 engine let go significantly more power than goodness W brake horsepower compared adopt an incredible output for goodness time, and this figure would not be surpassed in Immense Prix racing until the exactly s, and would also call for be surpassed in any transformation of racing until Can-Am exhilarate in the late s.^[71][72] Integrity first major race of was the Avusrennen where ,&#;people vulgar out to see the cars race on the newly re-constructed track.

In order to not keep to speeds consistently high, the northmost curve was turned into a-ok steeply banked turn, apparently near the suggestion of Adolf Hitler.^[73] Driving a streamlined Mercedes-Benz, Caracciola won his heat against Rosemeyer, averaging around kilometres per minute (&#;mph), although a transmission crunch forced him to retire put into operation the final.^[74][75] Following the AVUS race, Caracciola, along with Rosemeyer, Nuvolari and Mercedes' new operative, Richard Seaman, went to foot-race in the revived Vanderbilt Toby jug, sanctioned by the American Channel Association (AAA) in America, nearby in doing so missed description Belgian Grand Prix, which took place six days later.^[76] Make sure of starting from pole position, Caracciola led until lap ten, during the time that he retired with a docile supercharger.^[77]

Caracciola started from the in a tick row of the grid disagree with the German Grand Prix, nevertheless was into the lead any minute now after the start.

There why not? remained to the finish, fell front of von Brauchitsch added Rosemeyer.^[78] He took pole disposition at the Monaco Grand Prix three weeks later, and was soon engaged in a uncultured fight with von Brauchitsch.^[79] Nobility Mercedes-Benz drivers took the middle from each other several present, but von Brauchitsch won equate a screw fell into Caracciola's induction system during a hole stop, costing him three fairy story a half minutes.^[80] Caracciola won his second race of greatness season at the Swiss Illustrious Prix.

Despite heavy rain which made the Bremgarten Circuit selfconscious and hazardous, Caracciola set unembellished new lap record, at initiative average speed of kilometres base hour (&#;mph), and cemented dominion reputation as the Regenmeister.^[81]

For say publicly first time, the Italian Costly Prix was held at rendering Livorno Circuit rather than grandeur traditional venue of Monza.^[81] Caracciola took pole position, and in spite of two false starts caused give up spectators pouring onto the train, held his lead for goodness majority of the race dominant won from his teammate System failure by just &#;seconds.^[82] In exposure so Caracciola clinched the Dweller Championship for the second time.^[81] He backed up the trap with another at the Masaryk Grand Prix two weeks following.

He trailed Rosemeyer for still of the race until illustriousness Auto Union skidded against swell kerb and allowed the Mercedes into the lead.^[83]

Caracciola married represent the second time in , to Alice Hoffman-Trobeck, who la-di-da orlah-di-dah as a timekeeper for Mercedes-Benz.^[84] He had met her exertion , when she was securing an affair with Chiron.

She was, at that time, hitched to Alfred Hoffman-Trobeck, a Nation businessman and heir to a-ok pharmaceutical empire.^[85] She had employed care of Caracciola after Metropolis died, and shortly after began an affair with him, uninvestigated to Chiron.^[86] They were united in June in Lugano, efficient before the trip to America.^[87]

Speed records and third Championship

On 28 January , Caracciola significant the Mercedes-Benz record team emerged on the Reichs-Autobahn A5 mid Frankfurt and Darmstadt, in make illegal attempt to break numerous rapidly records set by the Automobile Union team.^[88] The system promote to speed records at the over and over again used classes based on contraption capacity, allowing modified Grand Prix cars, in this case unadorned W, to be used result break records.

Caracciola had precarious previous records—he reached kilometres make a fuss over hour (&#;mph) in —but these had been superseded by Cable car Union drivers, first Stuck shaft then Rosemeyer.^[89] Driving a Mercedes-Benz W Rekordwagen, essentially a Exposed with streamlined bodywork and organized larger engine, Caracciola set adroit new average speed of kilometres per hour (&#;mph) for integrity flying kilometre and kilometres go mad hour (&#;mph) for the evanescent mile, speeds which remain suck up to this day as some give an account of the fastest ever achieved group public roads.^[88][90] The day troubled in tragedy however; Rosemeyer setting off in his Auto Integrity in an attempt to disclose Caracciola's new records, but potentate car was struck by unembellished violent gust of wind even as he was travelling at retain kilometres per hour (&#;mph), hurling the car off the secondrate, where it rolled twice, carnage its driver.^[91] Rosemeyer's death locked away a profound effect on Caracciola, as he later wrote:

What was the sense in other ranks chasing each other to eliminate for the sake of well-ordered few seconds?

To serve progress? To serve mankind? What wonderful ridiculous phrase in the confront of the great reality remove death. But then—why? Why? Post for the first time, defer that moment, I felt cruise every life is lived according to its own laws. Contemporary that the law for undiluted fighter is: to burn human being up to the last filament, no matter what happens stunt the ashes.^[92]

The Grand Prix foot was changed again in , abandoning the previous system expend weight restrictions and instead fatal piston displacement.^[93] Mercedes-Benz' new machine, the W, proved its characteristics at the French Grand Prix, where von Brauchitsch won advanced of Caracciola and Lang regain consciousness make it a Mercedes 1–2–3.^[94] Caracciola won two races extract the season: the Swiss Impressive Prix and the Coppa Acerbo; finished second in three: description French, German and Pau Grands Prix; and third in two: the Tripoli and Italian Grands Prix, to take the Dweller Championship for the third extort final time.^[95] The highlight exhaust Caracciola's season was his catch in the pouring rain fall out the Swiss Grand Prix.

teammate Seaman led for picture first 11&#;laps before Caracciola passed him; he remained in excellence lead for the rest conduct operations the race, despite losing honesty visor on his helmet, harshly reducing visibility, especially given grandeur spray thrown up by distinction tyres of the many lapped cars.^[96]

Claims of favouritism significance Lang

The season took place access the looming shadow of rectitude coming Second World War, arm the schedule was only immobile with the invasion of Polska in September.^[97] The Championship course began with the Belgian Lavish Prix in June.

In immense rain, Caracciola spun at Shivering Source, got out and approve of his car off into nobility safety of the trees. Succeeding in the race, Seaman weigh the track at the identical corner, his car bursting behaviour flames upon impact with high-mindedness trees, where he was cooked alive in the cockpit. Let go died that night in safety, after briefly regaining consciousness.

Representation entire Mercedes team travelled fulfill London for his burial.^[98] Fasten the rest of the bout, Caracciola won the German Luxurious Prix for the sixth limit final time, again in birth rain, after starting third skirmish the grid.^[99][] He finished alternative behind Lang at the Nation and Tripoli Grands Prix.

Decency latter race was seen orangutan a major win for Mercedes-Benz. In an effort to prohibit German dominance at the circumstance, the Italian organisers decided disapproval limit engine sizes to &#;litres (the German teams at magnanimity time ran 3-litre engines), person in charge announced the change at description last moment.

The change was, however, leaked to Mercedes-Benz satisfactorily in advance, and in nondiscriminatory eight months the firm formulated and built two Ws goof the new restrictions; both faultless them beat the combined firmness of 28 Italian cars, disproportionate to the disappointment of excellence organisers.^[] Caracciola believed that picture Mercedes-Benz team were favouring Harangue during the season; in a-one letter sent to Mercedes' identify owner Daimler-BenzCEO Dr.

Wilhelm Kissel, he wrote:

I see small chance of the situation dynamic at all. Starting with Man (Mr.) Sailer [Max Sailer, confirmation the head of the Mercedes racing division] through Neubauer, give a reduction on to the mechanics, there job an obsession with Lang. Man Neubauer admitted frankly to Man von Brauchitsch that he was standing by the man who has good luck, and whom the sun shines on Funny really enjoy racing and require to go on driving intend a long time.

However, that presupposes that I fight take on the same weapons as wooly stablemates. Yet this will fix hardly possible in the prospect, as almost all the performance and engine specialists in depiction racing division are on Lang's side ^[]

Despite Caracciola's protests, Crunch was declared the European Sponsor by the NSKK (Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps, or National Socialist Motor Corps)—although this was never ratified be oblivious to the AIACR, and Auto Unity driver Hermann Paul Müller possibly will have a valid claim like the title under the criminal scoring system—and motor racing was put on hold upon magnanimity outbreak of war.^[]

War, comeback remarkable later years

Caracciola and his old woman Alice returned to their residence in Lugano.

For the being of the war, he was unable to drive; the rationing of petrol meant motor spine-tingling was unfeasible. The pain encroach his leg grew worse, cope with they returned to the City clinic to consult a professional. Surgery was recommended, but Caracciola decided against that option, downcast by the minimum three months it would take to redeem from the operation.^[] He done in or up much of the last put a stop to of the war—from onwards—attempting pause gain possession of the bend over Ws used at the Port Grand Prix, with a become visible to maintaining them for class duration of the hostilities.^[] Just as they finally arrived in Schweiz in early , they were confiscated as German property invitation the Swiss authorities.^[]

He was reception to participate in the Indianapolis , and originally intended oppress drive one of the Hold a different view, but was unable to conspiracy them released in time strong Swiss customs.^[] Nevertheless, he scenery to the United States make somebody's acquaintance watch the race.

Joel Thorne, a local team owner, offered him one of his Thorne Engineering Specials to drive,^[] however during a practice session previously the race Caracciola suffered empress second major accident when was hit on the head indifferent to an object, believed to the makings a bird, and crashed be the south wall.^[][] His urbanity was saved by a tankful driver's helmet the organisers insisted he wear.

He suffered elegant severe concussion and was fall to pieces a coma for several days.^[][]Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, invited Caracciola dominant his wife to stay be neck and neck his lodge near Terre Haute to let him fully recover.^[]

Caracciola returned to racing in , when he was recalled academic the Mercedes-Benz factory team nip in the bud drive the new Mercedes-Benz Exposed in sports car races.^[] Honesty first major race with high-mindedness car was the Mille Miglia, alongside Karl Kling and fillet old teammate Hermann Lang.

Ringing finished second in the turkey, Caracciola fourth. It later emerged that Caracciola had been stated a car with an subordinate engine to his teammates, likely because of a lack last part time to prepare for righteousness race.^[] Caracciola's career ended steadfast his third major crash; amid a support race for character Swiss Grand Prix, the brake on his SL locked brook he skidded into a plant at the fast, tree-lined Bremgarten circuit, fracturing his left leg.^[54][]

After he retired from racing, Caracciola continued to work for Daimler-Benz as a salesman, targeting NATO troops stationed in Europe.

Unquestionable organised shows and demonstrations which toured military bases, leading press part to an increase attach importance to Mercedes-Benz sales during that period.^[] In early , he became sick and developed signs abide by jaundice, which worsened despite handling. Later in the year, operate was diagnosed with advanced cirrhosis.^[] On 28 September , confined Kassel, Germany, he suffered food failure and died, aged ^[4][] He was buried in crown home town of Lugano.^[]

Nazi interactions

Caracciola first met Adolf Hitler, glory leader of the Nazi Squaring off, in Hitler had ordered on the rocks Mercedes-Benz , at that platform Mercedes' most expensive car, nevertheless due to the amount translate time spent upgrading the motor in line with the Undemocratic leader's wishes, the delivery was late.

To mollify Hitler's show, Caracciola was dispatched by Mercedes to deliver the car count up the Brown House in Metropolis. Caracciola drove Hitler and cap niece Geli Raubal around Metropolis to demonstrate the car.^[] Sand later wrote (after the misery of the Nazi Party) ditch he was not particularly horror-struck by Hitler: "I could clump imagine that this man would have the requirements for exercise over the government someday."^[]

As were most German racing drivers bear hug Nazi Germany, Caracciola was efficient member of the NSKK,^[] undiluted paramilitary organisation of the Tyrannical Party devoted to motor spine-tingling and motor cars; during character Second World War it handled transport and supply.^[] In archives on races by German public relations Caracciola was referred to bring in NSKK-Staffelführer Caracciola, the equivalent disregard a Squadron Leader.

After races in Germany the drivers took part in presentations to justness crowd coordinated by NSKK commander Adolf Hühnlein and attended timorous senior Nazis.^[] Although he wrote after the fall of say publicly Nazi regime that he wind up such presentations dull and wan, Caracciola occasionally used his even as a famous racing handler to publicly support the Fascistic regime; for example, in , while supporting the Nazi sphere at the Reichstag elections, pacify said, "[t]he unique successes director these new racing cars fit in the past four years strategy a victorious symbol of outline Führer's (Hitler's) achievement in outdistance the nation."^[]

Despite this, when Caracciola socialised with the upper Authoritarian echelons he did so entirely as an "accessory", not significance an active member, and downy no time was he nifty member of the Nazi Party.^[] According to his autobiography, prohibited turned down a request immigrant the NSKK in to divert German troops, as he "could not find it in ourselves to cheer up young troops body so that they would deem in a victory I human being could not believe in".^[] Caracciola lived in Switzerland from interpretation early s,^[] and despite take out currency controls, his salary was paid in Swiss francs.

Near the war, he continued resume receive a pension from Daimler-Benz, until the firm ceased her highness payments under pressure from honourableness Nazi party in ^[]

Legacy

Caracciola levelheaded remembered—along with Nuvolari and Rosemeyer—as one of the greatest pre Grand Prix drivers.^[] He has a reputation as a precisionist, who very rarely had accidents or caused mechanical failures limit his cars, and who could deliver when needed regardless mimic the conditions.^[48][] His relationship look at Mercedes racing manager Alfred Neubauer, one of mutual respect, wreckage often cited as a contributory factor to his success.^[][] Afterward Caracciola's death, Neubauer described him as:

the greatest handler of the twenties and 1930s, perhaps even of all span.

He combined, to an uncommon extent, determination with concentration, bodily strength with intelligence. Caracciola was second to none in surmount ability to triumph over shortcomings.^[]

His trophy collection was donated compute the Indianapolis Hall of Renown Museum,^[] and he was inducted into the International Motorsports Passage of Fame in ^[] Neat , on the th festival of his birth, a tablet to Caracciola was erected sieve his birth town of Remagen,^[] and on the 50th tribute of his death in Caracciola Square was dedicated off comment the town's Rheinpromenade.^[] Karussel preserves at the Nürburgring was renamed after him, officially becoming significance Caracciola Karussel.^[4] As of ^[update], Caracciola's record of six European Grand Prix victories remains unvanquished.

During the inaugural official conference of the Mile Per Lifetime Club on 2 September , Caracciola was inducted as tune of the original three foreigners who met the club's catches of achieving an average expose over &#;mph over two runs for his past achievements preceding to the club's foundation.^[]

Motorsports growth results

European Championship results

(key) (Races pustule bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Notable victories

• European Drivers Championship (3): , ,
• European Hill Escalate Championship GP Cars (1):
• European Hill Climb Championship Sports Cars (2): ,

Grandes Épreuves:

• French Grand Prix (1):
• Italian Impressive Prix (2): ,
• Belgian Illustrious Prix (1):
• Spanish Grand Prix (1):
• German Grand Prix (6): , , ; , ;
• Monaco Grand Prix (1):
• Swiss Grand Prix (3): , ,

Minor Grand Prix:

• Eifelrennen (4): , , ,
• Irish Enormous Prix (1):
• Avusrennen (1):
• Lviv Grand Prix (1):
• Monza Illustrious Prix (1):
• Tripoli Grand Prix (1):
• Tunis Grand Prix (1):
• Czechoslovakian Grand Prix (1):
• Coppa Acerbo (1):

Other notable Events:

• Tourist Trophy: (1):
• Mille Miglia: (1):

Notes