Franz Wittmann senior
Franz Wittmann senior (born April 7, 1950 in Ramsau , Lower Austria ) is an Austrian rally driver .
Life
Wittmann has achieved 79 victories so far, 32 of them in the European Rally Championship and one in the World Rally Championship . He won the Austrian State Rally Championship eleven times. His tenfold triumph at the January rally is unique to date . With this record, Wittmann is so far the most successful Austrian rally driver.
Wittmann experienced one of his absolute low points in motorsport at the Rally Finland in 1981 when, after crossing the finish line of the 4th special stage (Ehikki), he collided with the timekeeper's car at night, caught a small group of officials and the President of the Finnish Automobile Sports Association AKK Raul Falin fatally injured. Boris Rung and FIA WRC observer Costas Glossotis from Greece got away with the horror.
Wittmann is married and has three children. His son Franz followed in his father's footsteps and is also a rally driver. On May 29, 2006, his 17-year-old daughter Julia was killed in a traffic accident in Radstadt .
successes
- 1972: 1st place Total Rumwolf Rally, VW 1302
- 1973: 1st place in the Seiberer Rally, VW 1302
- 1974: 1st place Taurus-Rallye, EM, BMW 2002 and 1st place ÖASC-Rallye, EM, BMW 2002
- 1975: 3 overall victories in a BMW 2002
- 1976: 3 overall victories in an Opel Kadett
- 1977: 4 overall victories in an Opel Kadett
- 1978: 3 overall victories in an Opel Kadett
- 1979: 5 overall victories in a Porsche 911
- 1980: 4 overall victories in an Audi 80 and Porsche 911
- 1981: 2 overall victories in an Audi Quattro and a Porsche 911
- 1982: 3 overall victories in an Audi Quattro
- 1983: 9 overall victories in an Audi Quattro
- 1984: 7 overall victories in an Audi Quattro
- 1985: Franz Wittmann drove a Group A VW Golf GTi and he was able to take first place in his group in five rallies.
- 1987: 1st place in the World Rally Championship in New Zealand, Lancia Delta HF and 2 overall victories in a Lancia Delta HF
- 1988: 7 overall victories in a Lancia Delta HF
- 1989: 6 overall victories in a Lancia Delta HF
- 1992: 5 overall victories in a Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
- 1993: 5 overall victories in a Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
- 2000: 1 overall victory in a Toyota Corolla WRC
- 2001: 4 overall victories in a Toyota Corolla WRC
- 2003: Overall victory at the Int. IQ January rally on a Toyota Corolla
Awards
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Wittmann, Franz senior |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Austrian rally driver |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 7, 1950 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Ramsau (Lower Austria) |