Madoff Racing

Madoff Racing

Full Name	Dilbert Racing Limited
Base	Zabbar, Malta
Founder(s)	Kruger Dunning Bernie Madoff
Team Principal(s)	Kruger Dunning
Technical Director	Peter Prince
Noted Former Drivers
Kruger Dunning	Thomas Nurmester

Madoff Racing was a short-lived racing team that competed in the 1980 Dywa Grand Prix Series season. The team was formed via a title sponsorship agreement between Kruger Dunning's Dilbert Racing squad and American financier Bernard L. Madoff.

The resulting inflow of investment from Madoff allowed Dunning to make the marquee signing of Thomas Nurmester, the 1979 Alternate Formula One season to replace previous incumbent Peter Prince. Prince was promoted to the team's first ever Technical Director; his first act in this new role was to use some of the Madoff money to secure two Renzo BI-3T 1.5 V8t engines for the team's inaugural running at the Steiermarksrennen at Zeltweg Airfield.

1980 Steiermarksrennen

The team's appearance at Zeltweg Airfield caused consternation: not only were they sporting a sleek new livery, but amongst the team's staff was the unmistakable figure of Nurmester: a driver who had not been announced prior to the weekend. Once the car was fired up, it also became apparent that they had secured a set of turbo engines that the organisers had only assigned for use by Macchina Automobili Giorgio Armani, Great Leap Backward, and Blockton Impact. During pre-qualifying, Nurmester topped the timesheet by three quarters of a second despite never having sat in a Dywa-003 before - this was Nurmester's only flying lap, and it remained the fastest lap by any driver in the weekend.

Confusion over numbering

Unbeknownst to Dunning, their team was already under appeal for inconsistencies surrounding the numbering on its car. The team's assigned entry numbers were #61 and #62, but the cars were still painted with the #39 and #40 of Dilbert Racing. This led to an immediate protest from an unconfirmed team, and the stewards summoned Kruger Dunning to meet with them immediately, but with Dunning out on track, Technical Director Peter Prince went to the stewards' room in his stead. He was informed that the team would be excluded from the weekend with immediate effect due to the inconsistency. Before Prince had left the room, a message was transmitted on circuit radio that there had been a heavy accident involving car #39.

Death of Kruger Dunning

Whilst turning off the main straight, Kruger Dunning's car suffered a suspension failure. Dunning was thrown from the car and suffered fatal injuries on his impact with the armco barrier. Dunning had just set the sixth-fastest time of the session with a 1:02.444. Dunning's body was transported to the local hospital, where he could not be revived. Doctors confirmed that he had died on impact.

Aftermath

Upon finding that his team had been excluded from the race, Nurmester activated a release clause in his contract with immediate effect - leaving the circuit before the news about Dunning's condition had reached the paddock. Madoff Racing and both of their drivers were disqualified from their respective Championships for bringing the Dywa Grand Prix Series into disrepute.

Racing Record

Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	No.	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Pts	Pos
1980	Madoff Racing	Dywa-003	Renzo BI-3T 1.5 V8t			BIZ	EMR	BEL	DEU	STE	FLB	SIC	CAN	USA	GRG	KIL	GBR	OST	MNG	0	Ex
				43	Kruger Dunning					Ex
				62	Thomas Nurmester					Ex