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'''Bernd Schneider''' (20th July, 1964 in St. Ingbert, West Germany - 30th April, 1994 in Bologna, Italy) was a German racing driver known for his appearances in [[Formula One]] and [[WTCM]]. Schneider was considered as one of the best touring car drivers of his generation with successes on both the domestic and international stages. After three seasons with Opel and Vauxhall in the [[WTCM]], Schneider managed to secure a full-time [[Formula One]] seat with [[Rial]]. Early into his sophomore campaign in [[1994 Alternate Formula One season|1994]], Schneider was killed in qualifying for the [[San Marino Grand Prix]]. From there on, Vauxhall Sport retired the car number 5 and instead began using #32 in their WTCM program as a mark of respect for the German's motorsport legacy.
'''Bernd Schneider''' (20th July, 1964 in St. Ingbert, West Germany - 30th April, 1994 in Bologna, Italy) was a German racing driver known for his appearances in [[Formula One]] and [[WTCM]]. Schneider was considered as one of the best touring car drivers of his generation with successes on both the domestic and international stages. After three seasons with Opel and Vauxhall in the [[WTCM]], Schneider managed to secure a full-time [[Formula One]] seat with [[Rial]]. Early into his sophomore campaign with [[Simtek]] in [[1994 Alternate Formula One season|1994]], Schneider was killed in qualifying for the [[San Marino Grand Prix]]. From there on, Vauxhall Sport retired the car number 5 and instead began using #32 in their WTCM program as a mark of respect for the German's motorsport legacy.


==[[Alternate International F3000|F3000]]==
==[[Alternate International F3000|F3000]]==

Revision as of 19:07, 22 April 2022

Bernd Schneider (20th July, 1964 in St. Ingbert, West Germany - 30th April, 1994 in Bologna, Italy) was a German racing driver known for his appearances in Formula One and WTCM. Schneider was considered as one of the best touring car drivers of his generation with successes on both the domestic and international stages. After three seasons with Opel and Vauxhall in the WTCM, Schneider managed to secure a full-time Formula One seat with Rial. Early into his sophomore campaign with Simtek in 1994, Schneider was killed in qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix. From there on, Vauxhall Sport retired the car number 5 and instead began using #32 in their WTCM program as a mark of respect for the German's motorsport legacy.

F3000

Schneider entered the International F3000 series in 1988 with the Forti Corse team. He was a regular points scorer and finished the year in eighth place after taking his maiden F3000 victory at the Imola round.

He continued with Forti in 1989, taking a best result of third place at the season opener at Silverstone - enough for 15th place.

WTCM

1988: Mercedes-Benz

Schneider's F3000 efforts earned him a handful of rounds with the Works Mercedes-Benz team in the inaugural World Touring Car Masters championship in 1988. His drives came about after regular driver Jerry Mahony was released from his contract due to a string of poor performances. Schneider shared the car with former Grand Prix driver Jochen Mass and scored a pair of wins at Monza.

1990-1992: Opel/Vauxhall

Schneider returned to the WTCM in 1990, being signed for the Works Opel Team Irmscher outfit alongside Volker Strycek. Consistent results throughout the season (including 10 class wins) meant that Schneider won the Class D championship with a handful of races left.

Schneider remained at Irmscher in 1991, however this time under the banner of Vauxhall Sport. He was partnered by 1988 series champion Tim Harvey as the pair became the two highest-paid drivers on the grid. With the Cavalier being one of the best cars on the grid, Schneider got off to a quick start as he took his first win in the opening race of the season. He followed this win up with another two rounds later at Watkins Glen but was involved in a heavy accident in the Sprint race the following day that ruled him out for 4 rounds and effectively ending his challenge for the title. After missing six races, Schneider made a remarkable return in Monza as he won the Feature round. However, even with several more podium finishes until the end of the season, the Vauxhall started losing ground to BMW and Toyota. In the end, Schneider still finished third overall in the championship with many wondering what could have been if not for his injury.

The second year of Bernd Schneider's two-year deal in 1992 began in somewhat mixed fashion as the German driver won the Feature race in Japan and taking the championship lead at the end of that weekend. However, the maximum ballast hindered Schneider at the American round and he didn't take any points at Road America.

Formula One

Schneider began his Formula One career with three Grands Prix for Rial-Porsche in 1991, his best performance being a 14th place finish in the Pacific Grand Prix. This all hapepend while he was still under contract with Vauxhall in the WTCM, but after a rough 1992 season Schneider contemplated a possible return to F1. Rial, now running their own engines and seeking a replacement for Heinz-Harald Frentzen who departed for the new Sauber team, agreed a deal for the 1993 season where the German driver would partner Austrian hotshot Karl Wendlinger.

In the fourth round in San Marino Schneider took advantage of the promising Rial package by bringing the car home in 8th position, just in front of his teammate Wendlinger. However, in the very next round in Spain he scored his first career points as well as Rial's first points of the season, after a late retirement by race leader Paul Tracy moved Schneider into sixth place.

Career Results

Complete International Formula 3000 results

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Pts
1988 Forti Corse Reynard 88D Ford Cosworth DFY 3.0 V8 JER
4
IMO
1
PAU
Ret
SIL
6
MNZ
4
PER
Ret
BHA
14
BIR
Ret
BUG
5
ZOL
6
DIJ
Ret
8th 19
1989 Forti Corse Reynard 89D Ford Cosworth DFY 3.0 V8 SIL
3
IMO
9
PAU
Ret
JER
5
ASS
20†
PER
Ret
BHA
Ret
BIR
12
SPA
Ret
LEM
11
DIJ
10
15th 6

Complete Formula One results

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1991 Porsche Rial Racing Rial ARC3 Porsche 3512 3.5 V12 USA BRA PAC
14
SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL
Ret
ITA POR ESP JPN AUS‡
16
NC 0
1993 Rial Racing Rial ARC5 Rial 3512 3.5 V12 RSA
Ret
BRA
12
PAC
Ret
SMR
8
ESP
6
MON
Ret
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
10
GER
10
HUN
Ret
BEL
Ret
ITA
Ret
POR
9
JPN
11
AUS
Ret
18th 1

Complete WTCM Results

Year Team Car Class
1988 Mercedes-Benz AMG Team Mercedes-Benz 190E C M Template:AUS Flag of Japan svg.png Template:USA Flag of Germany svg.png Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 svg.png Flag of Germany svg.png Template:FRA Template:GBR Flag of Italy svg.png Template:BEL Flag of Germany svg.png WDC Pts Class Pts
E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E 30th 18 11th 124
NOR
16
NOR
19
KYA
Ret
KYA
25
HOC
Ret
HOC
Ret
CHA
12
CHA
18
MNZ
11
MNZ
18
1990 Opel Team Irmscher Opel Kadett E GSi 16V D M Flag of Japan svg.png Template:USA Flag of Nigeria svg.png Template:GBR Template:FRA Flag of the Czech Republic svg.png Flag of Italy svg.png Template:FRA Template:GBR Template:BEL Flag of Germany svg.png Template:AUS WDC Pts Class Pts
E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E S E N/A 0 1st 306
FUJ
29
FUJ
35
GLN
25
GLN
36†
LAG
26
LAG
36
BRH
23
BRH
Ret
PAU
Ret
PAU
26
BRN
DNQ
BRN
DNQ
MNZ
DNQ
MNZ
DNQ
CHA
22
CHA
31
BIR
DNQ
BIR
DNQ
SPA
DNQ
SPA
DNQ
NUR
Ret
NUR
45
BAT
DNQ
1991 Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier M Template:AUS Flag of Japan svg.png Template:USA Flag of Nigeria svg.png Template:GBR Template:FRA Flag of the Czech Republic svg.png Flag of Italy svg.png Template:GBR Flag of Sweden svg.png Template:BEL Flag of Germany svg.png Flag of Portugal svg.png WDC Pts
F S F S F S F S E F F S F S F S F S E F S F 3rd 138
AUS
1
AUS
6
JPN
2
JPN
7
USA
1
USA
Ret
AFR
INJ
AFR
INJ
RAC
INJ
PAU
INJ
CZE
INJ
CZE
INJ
ITA
1
ITA
4
GBR
3
GBR
2
SWE
2
SWE
4
SPA
4
GER
5
GER
9
MAC
Ret
1992 Vauxhall Sport Vauxhall Cavalier M Template:AUS Flag of Japan svg.png Template:USA Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 svg.png Template:GBR Template:FRA Flag of the Czech Republic svg.png Flag of Italy svg.png Template:GBR Flag of Sweden svg.png Template:BEL Flag of Germany svg.png Flag of Portugal svg.png WDC Pts
F S F S F S F S E F S F S F S F S F S E F S F S 2nd* 47*
AUS
5
AUS
9
JPN
1
JPN
5
USA
13
USA
12
AFR
2
AFR
10
RAC PAU PAU CZE CZE ITA ITA GBR GBR SWE SWE BEL GER GER MAC MAC