#0788 "Eifel Race 1978"

Nürburgring, small division, German racing championship 1978

BMW 320 Turbo
Drivers: Harald Ertl, Markus Höttinger, Eddie Cheever

Ford Escort
Driver: Hans Heyer

Harald Ertl in the Schnitzer BMW leads the "wild pack" of the small division of the 1978 German Racing Championship over the bridge near Breitscheid. Ertl in the BMW 320 got off to the best start and was able to defend his lead until the final lap of the Eifel race, which went over seven laps and almost 160 kilometers. Against all maneuvers by Markus Höttinger in the Fruit of the Loom BMW 320 and the pole setter Hans Heyer in the black, red and yellow Zakspeed Escort, Ertl defended himself brilliantly, but a gearbox failure meant he only finished fifth in the end. Höttinger won with a lead of 20 seconds. A brilliant duel between Heyer and Eddie Cheever on the factory BMW 320 in the M-Sport livery ended with the American taking second place. Both overtook each other several times - and exchanged paint.