Ernst Loof

Ernst Loof (4 July 1907 in Neindorf near Oschersleben – 3 March 1956 in Bonn) was an automotive engineer and racing driver from Germany. He contributed to the design of the BMW 328 sports car in the late 1930s.[1]

Ernst Loof
Born(1907-07-04)4 July 1907
Neindorf, Germany
Died3 March 1956(1956-03-03) (aged 48)
Bonn, West Germany
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality German
Active years1953
TeamsVeritas
Entries1
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1953 German Grand Prix
Last entry1953 German Grand Prix
Veritas RS from 1948
BMW 328 Mille Miglia coupé

Biography

Loof participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, the German Grand Prix held on 2 August 1953. He retired with fuel pump failure after two metres of racing and scored no championship points. Having only making it six feet off the starting grid, Loof holds the undesirable record for the driver with the shortest Formula One career, a record often falsely attributed to Marco Apicella.

Loof was also a famous motorcycle racer and designer, who scored numerous successes in pre-war years for Imperia of Bad Godesberg and for BMW. He later became one of the founders of the Veritas company, successful in Formula Two with the Meteor racer in the immediate post-war period. The company also built sports cars, mostly BMW-engined, as well as the Panhard-engined Dyna-Veritas cabriolets.

Loof was the head designer of the Veritas car he drove in this race. The company had already gone bankrupt by this time, and its assets were purchased by BMW. He was hired by BMW in styling and body engineering and worked there until he retired due to illness. Loof died in 1956 of a brain tumour.[2]

Complete World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1953 Ernst Loof Veritas RS Veritas Straight-6 ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER
Ret		 SUI ITA NC 0

Notes
  1. Norbye 1984, p. 47.
  2. Norbye 1984, p. 79.

References
  • Norbye, Jan P. (1984). BMW – Bavaria's Driving Machines. Skokie, IL US: Publications International. ISBN 0-517-42464-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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