Hermann Lang

One of the true stars of pre-war racing, Lang had been a motor cycling champion in 1930 and 1931 before he joined Mercedes in 1933, initially working in the experimental department and then, in 1934, as Fagioli’s mechanic. Given his chance to race the following season, young Lang immediately tamed the fearsome silver beasts and became a full team member in 1937, celebrating with wins at Tripoli and AVUS. He was to add six more major victories to his tally before the war interrupted his career when he was undoubtedly at his peak.

Hermann was immediately back in action when peace returned, and rejoined the Mercedes team for their South American trip in February 1951, finishing second in the Peron Cup and third in the Eva Peron Cup. He then raced the team’s 300SL cars in 1952, winning Le Mans (with Fritz Riess) and the Nürburgring sports car race, and scoring second places in the Prix de Berne and the Carrera Panamericana. In 1953 Lang made a surprise return to Grands Prix, replacing the injured Gonzalez in the Maserati team at Spa and taking fifth place.

When Mercedes returned to GP racing in 1954, he was invited to drive in the German Grand Prix, but his race ended in disappointment when he spun off while challenging team-mate Kling for second place. He retired from competition immediately after this race, but for many years continued to demonstrate the famous cars which had brought him so much success early in his racing days.