Marlboro, McLaren, Senna. Rothmans, Porsche, Bellof. State Express 555, Subaru, McRae. There have been many iconic driver, automotive and livery pairings throughout motorsport’s history.
Nonetheless, few sponsorship liveries transcend the drivers or vehicles related to them. Martini is certainly one of them, as is Gulf Oil. But I cannot consider a more recognisable motorsport livery than the brilliant orange of Jägermeister.
It wasn’t purported to be orange, initially. The primary ever Jägermeister race automotive was painted dark green, in keeping with the glass its liquor is bottled in. Soon after, it was modified to orange to face out on the circuit amongst the sphere.
The automotive in query? This exact Porsche 914/6.
Sponsorship is an easy equation in theory. Take an organization director who desires to market their product – Günter Mast and Jägermeister. Find an appropriate platform and person to advertise your brand to the world. Raise awareness, make sales, and make a profit.
Günter was fortunate to have a cousin (Eckhard ‘Ekhi’ Schimpf) with a motorsport interest and a race automotive. One thousand Deutschmarks later and with Rallye Monte-Carlo behind them, the precedent was set for the long run of Jägermeister in motorsport.
As long as the automotive modified color, in fact.
Ekhi would turn out to be the team manager, selecting to take payment in having the ability to race a Jägermeister automotive every time he wanted while making a living as an automotive journalist. (Sounds pretty good to me.)
Which marque you associate with Jägermeister’s orange livery can vary wildly depending in your alternative of motorsport.
For those who’re a touring automotive fiend, then the DTM Group A BMW E30 M3 could be what jumps to mind, if not the Alfa Romeo 155 or Jägermeister’s final racer, the Opel Astra DTM.
Historic Formula 1 fan? You would possibly know of March F1’s stint with the orange team within the Seventies using Cosworth DFV power. The Seventies were a much simpler time in F1; teams attempted to qualify on the grid with well over 20 drivers competing every weekend.
I feel the argument for Jägermeister’s most recognisable pairing is between BMW’s touring automotive legends and Porsche’s terrifying race cars.
From the Group 2 3.0 CSL to the Group 5 E21 320 Turbo and the enduring DTM M3, BMW has strong ties with the brand.
Yet Porsche is where they began, and orange Porsches have competed in disciplines from early rallying to the World Supercar Championship, IMSA, and DRM. Wins and podiums at Le Mans, Spa, Nürburgring and Daytona cemented the enduring partnership.
Luftgekühlt Wroclaw 2024 brought at least 4 Jägermeister Porsches together. I couldn’t resolve whether I have more love for the #17 935 or the Carrera 3.0 RSR…
I’m not normally a flat nose enthusiast (frog eye supremacy), however the side profile of this early 935 with its enormous wing was incredible, especially because the night drew in and the LED lights modified the atmosphere.
There’s no looking away from a Porsche 962, though, with this ‘C’ model’s short tail and bolted-on wing giving it a way more aggressive stance than the low-drag, high-elegance long-tail versions. Jägermeister saw great success with Brun Motorsport, the primary privateer team to buy a Porsche 956 – this automotive’s predecessor.
2000 was the last yr of Jägermeister’s racing legacy, with the prices related to sponsoring DTM not well worth the exposure. The game simply didn’t have enough reach anymore.
As such, every orange race automotive emblazoned with a stag on its flanks is a nostalgia trip. They’re reminders of a bygone era of motorsport where competition was dangerous, fierce, and oh-so-stylish.
Would I really like to see orange Jägermeister race cars back in motorsport? Possibly, but sometimes it’s higher to maintain the rose-tinted glasses on.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
mariochristou.world
This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com
