Hans Wassermann

Hans Wassermann (born September 1, 1953 in Kraftisried ) is a former German speedway and long-track racing driver who had to end his career in 1978 as a result of a racing accident.

Career

Wassermann began his career in 1971 at the Speedway in Krumbach and was promoted to the international class in 1974. In 1975, 1976 and 1977 Wassermann qualified for the long-course World Cup final and in 1977 took 3rd place with Egon Müller at the Best Pairs World Cup final in Manchester and thus won the only medal for Germany in this speedway competition to date .

In 1977 and 1978 Hans Wassermann also had a professional contract in the British league with Reading and experienced considerable success. He had his greatest success in 1978, which also became Aquarius' season of fate. As the winner of the 1978 Continental Final in Prague, he had qualified for the Speedway Individual World Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London, but four weeks before that he had a tragic accident at a league race in England after being paralyzed and not for a while could walk.

His health improved and Wassermann was able to train young Germans in the 1980s. Among other things, the later world champion Gerd Riss learned to drive the speedway from Hans Wassermann. Above all, British speedway experts considered Hans Wassermann to be the best German driver of all time in terms of driving and style.

successes

singles

• Speedway individual world championship finalist 1978
• Long course World Cup finalist in 1975, 1976 and 1977

team

• Best-Pairs WM: 3rd place in 1977 with Egon Müller
• Bundesliga: MC Krumbach
• British League: Reading

Personal

After his racing accident, Wassermann stood by the German track racing youngsters with words and deeds. Among other things, he was the mentor and discoverer of the later German multi-world champion Gerd Riss .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Speedweek website: Hans Wasserman. From: www.speedweek.com , accessed December 17, 2013 .