1988 | Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16

“Das Beste oder nichts”
1988 Mercedes-Benz 190E-2.5L Evo1
Ex-DTM car run by Dr. Helmut Marko’s RSM team
New Engine, Dyno time only.

Between 1977 and 1999, Mercedes-Benz sold no fewer than 1,879,629 examples of its W201 190 series sedan. That is a more than adequate number for a car that the brand itself later admitted was “massively over-engineered,” having reportedly spent hundreds of millions researching and developing the car.

A few years into production, a wish dawned to take the 190E rallying. In order to make the car rally-proof, Mercedes turned to Cosworth to develop a 2.3-liter, 16-valve four-cylinder engine. Unfortunately, as Mercedes was preparing to enter the rallying world with the W201, Audi changed the game completely by launching the Quattro - complete with turbocharged engine and revolutionary all-wheel drive technology. Realising that they would likely be hopelessly outgunned, Mercedes switched to plan B: the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM).

DTM had gone through a rapid growth period since it was first introduced in 1984. It began with privateer teams running cars under Group A rules, but as the decade progressed, the rules allowed for more and more modifications and when works teams began to enter, its popularity grew even stronger.

One of the teams present in DTM from the start was the Austrian Marko RSM squad, founded by Dr. Helmut Marko. The Graz native had enjoyed a successful racing career during the 1960s and 70s, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche in 1971 and coming close to victory in the Targa Florio in 1972. Just a few weeks later, however, his racing career ended abruptly when a stone thrown up by another competitor pierced Marko’s helmet visor as he was competing in the French Grand Prix at Clermont-Ferrand. The impact permanently blinded him in his left eye, and he would never race again.

After a few years campaigning Alfa Romeo machinery, Marko’s RSM team switched to the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 in 1986. The move proved immediately successful, with Volker Weidler winning two races.

In 1988, RSM fielded two cars: one for Jörg van Ommen and one for skier-turned-racer Franz Klammer. The season was less successful, but in the background, Mercedes was working on a significant upgrade for the car. That upgrade, primarily featuring a larger 2.5-liter engine and known today as the 2.5L Evo1, was introduced at round three of season 1989 in Mainz. Three works-backed drivers (Klaus Ludwig, Roland Asch and Dany Snobeck) got their hands on the new car first, with the remaining three getting the upgrade for the next race at the Nürburgring. Much to Mercedes’ surprise, there was a seventh Evo on the grid. Unwilling to wait, Marko had used his connections to acquire the necessary parts and build his own 2.5L Evo1. Mercedes was far from happy and forced Marko’s RSM to revert to the 2.3L non-Evo car for the next round. Marko, very displeased, left DTM at the end of the season and continued to enter the car in the Austrian Touring car championship with Franz Klammer in 1990.

Jörg van Ommen who had signed with Marko for at least another year, but wanted to stay in DTM requested to be released from his contract which was accepted by Marko. We interviewed Jörg van Ommen to his experience with the car and the team and he still has fond memories of the cooperation that launched his later DTM career with the Mercedes factory team. He still sees the release from his contract as a very generous move from Dr. Marko.

It is said that the deep rivalry between Dr. Helmut Marko and Mercedes Benz that continues to exist in Formula 1 today has its roots in the 1989 rejection of Marko’s “skunk works” creation of his 2.5LEvo1.

This 190E, still in Evo1 spec, moved into Dutch ownership at the turn of the century and has since been lovingly restored to bring it as close to the original as possible. The engine was recently completely rebuilt with the correct components and delivers 325 Hp on the Dyno. The car is now ready to race and, with its history, an ideal fit for Tourenwagen Legenden and other classic DTM races.

Included in the sale are many original parts that date back to the days that Jörg van Ommen and Franz Klammer campaigned the car. Also included are 6 rims. 

More details on request.