Very unusual for his Western German origin, Heyer's sign is his so-called Tirolerhut, a hat from Tyrol or Bavaria which would fit better to drivers from these Alpine regions, like Hans-Joachim Stuck or Niki Lauda.
Early life
Heyer was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany to parents who ran a bitumen and a concerete mixing company. Heyer developed his passion for motor racing and engineering when he was at boarding school at Adenau. He later went into an apprenticeship with Daimler-Benz as a mechanic which was completed in 1962.[1]
Racing career
1960s
Living close to the Netherlands and not yet allowed to race in Germany at the age of 16, he started his career there in 1959 with karts and won the 1962 Dutch Championship in the 100cc category which he followed up by winning the 125cc class in 1963. In an attempt to race in his native Germany, he initially encountered problems with his racing license but managed to compete in the Formula K class in 1965 finishing 3rd in the next two years and backed up with the German and European Formula K titles in 1968 to 1971 driving in a Taifun/BM. Heyer also raced in France by competing in the Brignoles 24 Hour Classic in 1969 to 1971 winning twice and finished 2nd in 1970.[1]
1970s
Hans Heyer driving a Ford Capri at the Nürburgring in 1973.
For many years, Heyer was associated with Zakspeed, racing their Group 2Ford Escorts in the European Touring Car Championship (champion 1974) and the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (champion 1975 and 1976). Heyer attempted two European F2 races in 1976, finishing sixth at the first Hockenheim race. He failed to qualify for the second Hockenheim race and made no further attempts in F2.
In his single attempt at Formula One, he entered the 1977 German Grand Prix on 31 July 1977 with the second Penske car of the new German team ATS. With little experience in single seaters and a bad car, he did not qualify. He was also the first reserve, meaning that he would get the chance to race if another driver dropped out. No one gave up their spot, but this did not stop him from racing, as he was well known with the marshals at Hockenheim. They looked the other way when he put his car at the end of the starting grid and joined the race anyway. His Formula One career didn't last long, though, for after 10 laps the car's gearbox broke down. He was disqualified from the race and never attempted another race in a single-seat car. Heyer is credited with a DNQ, DNF, and DSQ for his brief moment in Formula One.
Heyer driving a Ford Escort in 1974.
1980s
In 1980 he won the DRM again, this time for Lancia in a Group 5Lancia Monte CarloTurbo, a car he also helped develop. He crashed his 480 hp car badly at the Norisring in Nuremberg, rolling several times. Heyer switched to continuations cooling when control of the water supply failed when the brake light switch failed which had not worked resulting in the left front brake caliper failing which destroyed the tyre rod and a burst affected the front left tyre.[2] He escaped unhurt, but returned immediately to the wreck to recover his famous hat. In the following medical exam, the doctor was said to have been more nervous than Hans was.
Between 1990 and 1991 Heyer worked at his family concrete works business but came out of retirement to test Mercedes-Benz's truck racing vehicles and competed in the Nurburgring Truck Grand Prix in 1992. Heyer returned to the same track in 1994 to compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours alongside Heiner Weiss, Rainer Braun driving a BMW M3 and returned to compete in the same race in 1995 albeit in a BMW veterans 'Dream Team'. Heyer also competed in the Nurburgring 500 km race in 1997.[1]
German
