Christian Lautenschlager
Encyclopedia
Christian Friedrich Lautenschlager (April 13, 1877 – January 3, 1954) was a German Grand Prix motor racing
champion.
Born in the village of Magstadt
, Baden-Württemberg
, Germany
near Stuttgart
, Christian Lautenschlager was 14 years old when he began training for a career as a machinist at a company in Stuttgart. After a few jobs, he spent time traveling around Europe, returning to Stuttgart in 1899 at the age 22 where he found work at the Daimler
factory. There, he worked his way up to the positions of mechanic and then of test driver for the company's race cars.
In 1908, Lautenschlager was given the opportunity to drive one of three Mercedes
race vehicles, and he drove it to victory in the French Grand Prix
at Dieppe, France. He returned to his factory job rather than joining the racing circuit as a permanent driver. In 1914, driving a Mercedes 37/95
, he won the Elgin National Trophy in Elgin, Illinois. He raced only a few more times until he achieved great fame at Lyon, France, on July 4, 1914 by winning the 1914 French Grand Prix
. As the assassination in Sarajevo had happened days earlier, international tensions were high, and this was the last Grand Prix before World War I
started.
Considered one of the great Grand Prix events in motor-racing history, 37 cars from 13 manufacturers in 6 different countries competed in the French Grand Prix race that for the first time had a limit on the size of the engine allowed, set at 4.5 litres. Against a top field led by Frenchman Georges Boillot
, who had won the race the past two years, after seven gruelling hours, Lautenschlager took victory in the prestigious event for the second time. The onset of World War I
ended Grand Prix motor racing in Europe.
In the early 1920s, when Lautenschlager was in his 40s, he raced on a semi-regular basis but without much success. He competed in the 1922 Targa Florio
, finishing in tenth place. In 1923, he traveled to the United States
to compete in the Indianapolis 500
as part of a three-car Mercedes team. Driving vehicles equipped with the first supercharged
engine in the race's history, their effort proved less than successful and Lautenschlager finished 23rd. The following year brought no victories, and he retired from racing.
Christian Lautenschlager worked for Daimler until his retirement. He died at the age of 76 in Untertürkheim, a suburb of Stuttgart.
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
champion.
Born in the village of Magstadt
Magstadt
Magstadt is a town in the German Federal state of Baden-Württemberg, in the district Böblingen. It is located between Renningen and Sindelfingen....
, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
near Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Christian Lautenschlager was 14 years old when he began training for a career as a machinist at a company in Stuttgart. After a few jobs, he spent time traveling around Europe, returning to Stuttgart in 1899 at the age 22 where he found work at the Daimler
Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft
Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft was a German engine and later automobile manufacturer, in operation from 1890 until 1926. Founded by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, it was based first in Cannstatt...
factory. There, he worked his way up to the positions of mechanic and then of test driver for the company's race cars.
In 1908, Lautenschlager was given the opportunity to drive one of three Mercedes
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
race vehicles, and he drove it to victory in the French Grand Prix
French Grand Prix
The French Grand Prix was a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships....
at Dieppe, France. He returned to his factory job rather than joining the racing circuit as a permanent driver. In 1914, driving a Mercedes 37/95
Mercedes 37/95
The Mercedes 37/95 was an early touring car first built in 1910-11 as the 37/90 and produced commercially from 1913 as the 37/95. It had a massive Daimler four cylinder 9.5 litre engine generating 90-95 horsepower, which provided power to the rear wheels by chain drive allowing the car to reach 71...
, he won the Elgin National Trophy in Elgin, Illinois. He raced only a few more times until he achieved great fame at Lyon, France, on July 4, 1914 by winning the 1914 French Grand Prix
1914 French Grand Prix
The 1914 French Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Lyon on 4 July 1914.-The Race:The restriction on Grand Prix cars for 1914 included an maximum weight and a 4500cc maximum engine capacity....
. As the assassination in Sarajevo had happened days earlier, international tensions were high, and this was the last Grand Prix before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
started.
Considered one of the great Grand Prix events in motor-racing history, 37 cars from 13 manufacturers in 6 different countries competed in the French Grand Prix race that for the first time had a limit on the size of the engine allowed, set at 4.5 litres. Against a top field led by Frenchman Georges Boillot
Georges Boillot
Georges Louis Frederic Boillot was a French Grand Prix motor racing driver and World War I fighter pilot.-Biography:...
, who had won the race the past two years, after seven gruelling hours, Lautenschlager took victory in the prestigious event for the second time. The onset of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
ended Grand Prix motor racing in Europe.
In the early 1920s, when Lautenschlager was in his 40s, he raced on a semi-regular basis but without much success. He competed in the 1922 Targa Florio
Targa Florio
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973...
, finishing in tenth place. In 1923, he traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to compete in the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
as part of a three-car Mercedes team. Driving vehicles equipped with the first supercharged
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
engine in the race's history, their effort proved less than successful and Lautenschlager finished 23rd. The following year brought no victories, and he retired from racing.
Christian Lautenschlager worked for Daimler until his retirement. He died at the age of 76 in Untertürkheim, a suburb of Stuttgart.
Indy 500 results
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