Axel Felder

Axel Felder (16 August 1949 – 15 October 1987) was a German racing driver who is best known for being a two-time winner of the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race.^[1] In 1985, he finished both 1st and 2nd in the race, completing stints in both BMW's during the event.^[2] Felder was killed in a plane crash in 1987.^[3]

Axel Felder
Born	(1949-08-16)August 16, 1949 Wuppertal, West Germany
Died	October 15, 1987(1987-10-15) (aged 38) Monte Crezzo, Italy
Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
Years active	1984-1985; 1987
Teams	RG Bergisch Gladbach Auto Budde Team Ford Ringshausen Motorsport
Starts	7
Wins	0
Poles	0
Fastest laps	0
Best finish	38th in 1987
Previous series
1984; 1986-1987 1985 1978-1985	European Touring Car Championship World Sportscar Championship Nürburgring 24 Hours
Championship titles
1985 1984	Nürburgring 24 Hours Nürburgring 24 Hours

Career

Felder began racing in the Nürburgring 24h race in 1978. His greatest successes at the Nürburgring would come in 1984 where he won his first race alongside Franz-Josef Bohling and Peter Oberndorfer in a BMW 635CSi run by Auto Budde Racing Team.^[4][5] In 1985, Felder won the race again in the BMW this time alongside Jurgen Hamelmann and Robert Walterscheid-Muller. As he completed stints in both the winning car and second placed BMW, Felder took home two trophies and was classified in the top two positions.^[6][7] Felder was recognised on BMW's 50th anniversary livery used in the 2020 race.^[8]

Also in 1984, Felder moved into Touring Cars. With his Nürburgring 24h winning team in European Touring Car Championship, competing in 10 races. For 1985, he competed in one race of the World Sportscar Championship in a BMW M1 for Helmut Gall. He also completed one race of the DTM season scoring 4 points. In 1986, Felder competed in 7 European Touring Car Championship races scoring 18 points. By 1987, he returned to DTM this time with Ford Ringshausen Motorsport and their Sierra XR4Ti. He completed two races, scoring 1 point and was classified 38th in the Championship.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Death

On 15 October 1987, Felder was a passenger on Aero Trasporti Italiani Flight 460 which was a scheduled flight from Milan Linate to Köln. The ATR-42 plane crashed into Mount Crozza, Conca di Crezzo, Italy. Felder, along with all passengers and crew were killed in the accident.^[3][13][14]

References

1. "Nurburgring 24 Hours (1970-to date)". motorsportwinners.com. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
2. "Decade In Waiting: BMW's Return To N24 Glory". Speedhunters. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
3. "Axel Felder". motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
4. "Result 12. ADAC 24h-Rennen 1984". 24h-rennen.de. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
5. "Nürburgring 24 hours". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
6. "Result 13. ADAC 24h-Rennen 1985". 24h-rennen.de. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
7. "ADAC-24-Stunden-Rennen Nürburgring". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
8. "BMW Field Tribute Livery Marking 50 Years (& 19 BMW Wins) At N24". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
9. "AXEL FELDER". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
10. "DTM 1987 Driver Standings". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
11. "Axel Felder race results". touringcars.net. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
12. "Axel Felder". driverDB. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
13. "ecco-nomi-dei-passeggeri-bordo-del" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 16 October 1987. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
14. "L'elenco ufficiale delle vittime" (PDF) (in Italian). l'Unita. Retrieved 23 August 2022.