On May 12, 1984, the Nürburgring witnessed a historic gathering of motorsport legends. Mercedes-Benz hosted the “Nürburgring Champions’ Cup”, an unprecedented event that brought together the largest assembly of past and present Formula 1 World Champions ever seen. This wasn’t just a celebratory congress; it was the stage for the dynamic debut of Mercedes-Benz’s brand-new 190 E 2.3-16 sport saloon, coinciding with the inauguration of the Nürburgring’s updated Grand Prix circuit. Juan Manuel Fangio, the five-time world champion and Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador, presided as master of ceremonies, setting the stage for a thrilling 12-lap exhibition race. The grid boasted 20 drivers, including nine of the twelve living Formula 1 champions, alongside prominent figures from Formula 1 and Nürburgring specialists. Each competitor was armed with a specially prepared 190 E 2.3-16, fine-tuned for racing conditions by Gerhard Lepler of Mercedes-Benz Sport-Technik.
Among the celebrated attendees were two future Formula 1 World Champions. Alain Prost, the seasoned McLaren driver, already with 11 victories and a 1983 Drivers’ Championship runner-up title under his belt, was present. The second was a then-relatively unknown Formula 1 rookie named Ayrton Senna, just days after a disappointing non-qualification at the San Marino Grand Prix. Niki Lauda, already a World Champion twice over (1975 and 1977), was in the midst of a Formula 1 season that would see him clinch his third championship title.
By May 1984, Lauda and his new McLaren teammate Alain Prost had each already secured race wins, foreshadowing their intense rivalry in the season to come. At this point, Prost and Senna were not yet rivals, and neither Prost nor Lauda could have anticipated their impending battle for the 1984 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, a title Lauda would ultimately win by a mere half-point. Initially, the exhibition race was approached with a sense of friendly competition and enjoyment. However, the competitive spirit soon ignited as the drivers vied for victory.
Mercedes-Benz Sport-Technik meticulously prepared 21 units of the new 190 E 2.3-16 directly from the production line for this special event. Modifications included a refined exhaust system and suspension setup, enhanced four-piston front brakes, a 4.08-ratio final drive for quicker acceleration, a bolt-in roll cage with a fire extinguisher for safety, twin Recaro racing seats with six-point harnesses for driver security, a quick-release bonnet for rapid access, a central circuit breaker, and wider wheels fitted with high-performance Pirelli racing tyres. Interestingly, documentation from Mercedes-Benz Classic reveals that these 21 cars raced with engines that differed from their factory data card specifications, adding a layer of intrigue to their racing pedigree.
Despite Alain Prost starting from pole position in the rain-soaked race, Elio de Angelis made heavy contact from behind just four corners into the first lap, disrupting Prost’s early advantage. On the third lap, a pivotal moment occurred that seemed to ignite the legendary rivalry between Senna and Prost. Senna executed an assertive overtaking maneuver, forcing Prost off the track and seizing the lead. Lauda closely followed, and the subsequent eight laps became a thrilling duel between Senna and Lauda, with frequent lead changes. Ultimately, the young Brazilian rookie, Ayrton Senna, managed to break away, securing victory over Lauda and the rest of the distinguished field by a narrow margin of 1.58 seconds.
In the aftermath of the Race of Champions, all 21 specially prepared 190 E 2.3-16s – except for the cars driven by Lauda and Senna – were reverted to their original specifications. These were then sold as used vehicles to Mercedes-Benz dealers and VIP clients. Senna’s victorious 190 E 2.3-16 ‘Nürburgring’ has been a prized possession of the Mercedes-Benz Museum since that historic race. Consequently, the 190 E 2.3-16 driven by Niki Lauda, which is occasionally available for private sale, stands as the sole privately-owned car from the race that remains in its original, “as raced” condition.
Records indicate that this remarkable machine was initially registered by Mercedes-Benz in April 1984 with the registration “S-HH-7837”. By February 1985, it was acquired by Jochen Holy, heir to a fashion empire, and registered in Reutlingen as “RT-VV1”. However, just six months later, it was sold to a car enthusiast in Mannheim and re-registered under “MA-RD113”. Lauda’s 190 E subsequently found its way to an Austrian collector based in Vienna.
A poignant moment occurred in October 2016 when the car was reunited with Niki Lauda for the last time, during which he signed the car’s roof. In 2017, Mercedes-Benz Classic headquarters in Stuttgart undertook a comprehensive recommissioning of the vehicle, just before it joined The Iseli Collection in 2018. Under the initiative of The Iseli Collection, a historic meeting between Senna’s and Lauda’s 190 E race cars took place on September 16, 2019, at Mercedes-Benz’s facility in Sindelfingen. It was planned for Lauda to attend, but sadly, the legendary Austrian driver passed away a few months prior. Under its current ownership, Lauda’s 190 E 2.3-16 ‘Nürburgring’ has been showcased by Mercedes-Benz Classic alongside Senna’s race-winning car and has been featured in prominent automotive publications such as evo and Petrolicious, cementing its place in automotive and motorsport history.
