Source : Autosport Forum (Rob Ryder + Rewind)
http://forums.autosport.com/topic/71067 ... -the-ring/
Here is a puzzle for the TNF Guru's regarding the 1976 German Grand Prix and Rolf Stommelen. Rolf and Lella Lombardi were entered by RAM Racing in Brabham BT44B's, no problem there. Loris Kessel however thought he also had a contract with RAM to race at the Nurburgring, so took legal action against RAM Racing.
After the two Friday practice sessions the police impounded the RAM cars, which meant no drive for Rolf or Lella.
Bernie Ecclestone then gave Rolf one of the Martini BT45's, the Reutemann spare care, for the final practice session on Saturday and the race.
Time for the three practice sessions :
FORIX
No.32 Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT44B-01 7'21.6 , No time , No time
No.77 Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT45-01 No time, 7'21.6 , 8'02.3
Autocourse
No.32 Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT44B-01 7'33.5, 7'21.6, No time
No.77 Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT45-01 No time, No time, 8'02.3
Motor Sport magazine
No.36 Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT44B-01 7'33.5, 7'21.6, No time
No.77 Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT45-01 No time, No time, 8'02.3
Sheldon
No.36 Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT44B-01
No.77 Rolf Stommelen Brabham BT45-01
RAM entries throughout the year had numbers #32 and #33 - before the German GP as well as after it. Only at the German GP the cars had numbers #36 (Stommelen) and - presumably - #37 (Lombardi). Ulrich Schwab listed Stommelen and Lombardi beneath Stuck and above Pescarolo but without giving numbers. But those positions point to #36 and #37 as Stuck had #34 and Pescarolo had #38.
Since there is photographic evidence that Stommelen raced with #32 and with #36 it seems likely that the change of number(s) had something to do with the impounding of the cars by Loris Kessel. Maybe the change of numbers was an attempt to avoid the impounding of the cars by telling the bailiff: „Look, Mr. Kessel is about to impound cars #32 and #33 but our cars have #36 and #37." Remember, RAM boss John MacDonald is said to have been a shrewd guy.
BTW, times given by Schwab for Stommelen are: 7.33,5 in first practice on Friday, 7.21,6 in second practice on Friday, after switch to BT45/1 8.02,3 on Saturday.
As surely is well known for the starting grid Stommelen was credited with 7.21,6 although he achieved that time with a car with a different engine. Famous quote by Bernie Ecclestone: „
A Brabham is a Brabham".
Okay, well done Strad your go !
