Alongside David Coulthard’s demo runs, the Ferrari 310B turned out to be one of many predominant sights at The Racing Day in Assen. It’s the Components 1 automotive during which Michael Schumacher received the 1997 Monaco Grand Prix .
These days, the automotive is owned by 80-year-old Erich Zech. The German was already in Assen final yr, however again then the automotive was not prepared for motion. Earlier this month, the 310B may lastly be seen on observe.
“It was phenomenal,” admitted Zech. “What I beloved probably the most and what touched me was the response of the followers. They stood up and applauded, which was nice to witness.
“What I really like most is with the ability to present this automotive to the individuals once more. My predominant aim is to make the expertise as shut as attainable to what it was again within the day with Schumacher.”
A part of that have contains Zech driving with a reproduction of Schumacher’s helmet. The mixture of automotive and helmet could be very harking back to what it regarded like a long time in the past, with the person behind the wheel being the primary distinction.
Schumacher drove this automotive on the age of 28. Zech is 80. “Sadly so!”, he laughs whereas speaking to Autosport. “However that is particular, is not it? Driving such a automotive is a problem, however I nonetheless really feel extremely match. I needed to get the official [racing] licence to drive it and, for that, I needed to move a well being verify. It was additionally a shock to me that I’m nonetheless so match.”
Much more placing than the age is that till final yr, Zech had by no means pushed a single-seater.
“I solely began driving race automobiles in Might final yr, however I at all times stated: if I purchase a Components 1 automotive, then I wish to drive it at some point. In that respect, I owe every part to Ingo Gerstl,” the Austrian Boss GP driver who holds the lap document on the TT Circuit Assen along with his Toro Rosso STR01.
“He received me this far and stated ‘We’ll do a well being verify and if it goes effectively, then we’ll go for it’. I purchased a GP2 automotive from him and that’s my coaching automotive now.
Erich Zech, Ferrari 310B
Picture by: Angelo Poletto
“I began in that automotive and in Might I drove Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari for the primary time. Final yr, we already introduced the 310B right here in Assen, nevertheless it wasn’t transferring again then.
“Many knowledge appeared to have been erased. Ingo Gerstl has nice contacts in Italy and because of him the automotive may run in his personal workshop for the primary time in March. That was an exceptional second for all of us. That is the one historic Ferrari that’s working with out ‘F1 clienti’ help from Maranello.”
There may be additionally a particular story behind the acquisition of Schumacher’s 1997 Ferrari.
“My daughter has been residing in Dubai for 20 years. The next occurred there: they have been constructing a very new Ferrari storage in Dubai. I went there with my daughter to see which automobiles they’d. We have been speaking German within the showroom and immediately I used to be approached by a younger man who stated ‘Oh, you might be German?’ He stated that he spoke German as effectively and was chief of gross sales for Ferrari Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“He requested if I’m a Ferrari fan and which automobiles I’ve. Once I advised him what I’ve – together with two La Ferraris, two SF90s and an 812 – he checked out me with shock. I invited him to dinner on the Burj Al Arab lodge and through that dinner he advised me that 5 months earlier he had bought a Components 1 automotive, one with out an engine.
“My response was that I used to be involved in one thing like that as effectively, however not in a automotive with out an engine…
“He knew a few Ferrari assortment in Europe, a group of which the proprietor had died. All these automobiles would go to Sotheby’s to be auctioned. He remembered that there was a Michael Schumacher F1 automotive amongst them, though I stated ‘A Michael Schumacher F1 automotive? I am unable to purchase that as a result of it is approach too costly’.
“Anyway, he would collect info, verify whether or not the automotive was sellable in any respect and what the prices may be. 4 weeks later, he known as me once more, reported that it was certainly a 1997 Schumacher F1 automotive and stated he may prepare the deal for me.
“I requested what the automotive ought to price and if he may ship me an image. Based mostly on that photograph, so with out seeing the automotive in actual life, I purchased it. Three days later, Schumacher’s automotive was in my storage…. That is the way it took place.”
After all of the efforts to get the 310B working once more, Zech drove it for the primary time on the Jim Clark Revival in Hockenheim earlier this yr. “That was like Easter and Christmas fell on at some point, so stunning!” he smiles.
“Hockenheim is sort of a house occasion for me, as I reside solely 30 kilometres away. After Hockenheim, we took the automotive to Spielberg (the place the images on this article have been taken) after which the weekend in Assen was the third time we drove it. I truthfully loved Assen, particularly the followers.”
Zech wish to return to the TT Circuit through the Traditional GP in September and once more subsequent yr throughout The Racing Day. “I hope so! I’ve reached an age at which you’ll’t say what tomorrow brings, but when every part goes effectively, I might love to come back again.”
Zech has fulfilled his boyhood dream at a good age. “I used to observe Schumacher’s races and likewise went to the grand prix when it was nonetheless in Hockenheim. I do not forget that effectively, these have been good occasions in Components 1, additionally with the sound.
“When the races have been overseas, we might be watching tv and protecting our fingers crossed that he would win.” Many years later, Zech himself drives round in a automotive of certainly one of motorsport’s all-time greats. “It is fairly a cool story…”
Erich Zech, Ferrari 310B
Picture by: Angelo Poletto
