Raving with the Meister

Nov 11, 20243 min read

Updated: Nov 14, 2024

During a chilly autumn night, a DJ was preparing on the 7th level of a nondescript multi-storey parking garage in West London. The DJ played a secondary role as the primary focus was on 5 vividly orange cars illuminated by orange lights. The event was a rave commemorating all things Jagermeister and the heyday of alcohol sponsorship in motorsports.

Jagermeister Racing made its debut in motorsport in 1972 and has since participated in various championships with numerous cars. The distinctive orange livery featuring the Jagermeister stag emblem became just as iconic as the renowned Martini or Marlboro liveries. Although Jagermeister ceased its motorsport sponsorship in 2000, its influence has endured. Over five decades since the inaugural Jagermeister-liveried car, a display of five cars from the Jagermeister Racing collection was organized in a parking lot, accompanied by a DJ playing 90s music in the background.

BMW E21 320 Group 5

The 320 immediately caught my attention as it was a powerful machine weighing 730kg, designed according to the 1979 group 5 regulations of the Manufacturer's World Championship. It was based on the standard 320 model, featuring a 2-litre engine that delivered 330 BHP at 10,000 rpm without any forced induction, and an impressive 550 BHP when equipped with a turbocharger. Constructed by Gerhard Schneider (GS), this specific 320 competed in more than 80 races between 1979 and 1982, adorned in the iconic Jagermeister livery. Notably, it secured victory in the 2-litre category at the Nurburgring 1000 km race. Furthermore, this particular 320 also participated in the DRM (German Racing Championship), achieving a commendable 6th place finish in 1980.

At the conclusion of its racing career, the car participated in numerous hill climbs and even emerged victorious in some.

BMW E30 M3 "Sports Evolution"

In the early 1990s, the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) reached its zenith. The success of DTM was largely due to its efforts to balance weight and power across various manufacturers, leading to thrilling races. The E30 M3 underwent a reconstruction in the winter of 1991/1992 by the Linder race team using components from BMW motorsports, and it competed in the 1992 DTM season.

Equipped with a 2.5 litre 4 cylinder engine generating 370 BHP at 8750 rpm and weighing just 980kg, the car was driven by Wayne Gardner for his debut in motorsport. Known for his aggressive driving style, Gardner quickly became a favorite among fans.

In 1993, the car participated in races under private ownership, but it did not achieve significant success and was subsequently withdrawn from DTM competition.

Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI

In the mid-90s, Alfa Romeo achieved success in DTM by racing with a Jagermeister livery in 1994, 1995, and 1996. The 155 model featured a 2.5-liter V6 engine that produced 420 BHP at 11,500 rpm. While other 155s had success in the championship's inaugural year, the Jagermeister car secured its first and second victories at Diepholz and finished 10th overall in 1995. In 1996, JAS Motorsport took charge of the racing team, equipping the 155 with new aerodynamic packages. The car enjoyed relative success until escalating costs led to teams withdrawing from DTM, ultimately leading to the demise of the series.

Porsche 935 Flatnose

The Porsche 935 is one of the iconic Orange cars of the 70s. This particular car was the predecessor to the Kremer K3s which is a turbo charged version of this car. This fltnose chassis, optimised for the 1974 season saw the car being fitted with a huge wing and chubby tyres. The 3 litre flat 6 engine developed 350 BHP and the car only weighed 800kg. Eventhough this car did not see a lot of competition success, it was a good starting point for the other 934 and 935 which weighed around 1100kg and produced aroud 580 to 800 BHP.

Opel Astra V8 DTM

In 2000, the DTM series made a remarkable comeback. Jagermeister made a final appearance with a V8 Opel Astra, equipped with a 4-liter engine generating 450 BHP at 8,500 rpm and mounted on a space frame chassis. Although the exterior resembled an Opel, the chassis was becoming a standard in DTM. The chassis's lightweight design resulted in a total weight of approximately 1080kg with the driver. This marked Jagermeister's farewell to motorsports, and given the new sponsorship regulations, it may unfortunately also be their last.