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Motorsport history’s first ever racing director revolutionised racing from 1926. In the initial years from 1894, drivers were left to their own devices. Before crossing the finish line, they often weren’t even aware of their ranking in the race.
Alfred Neubauer changed that, having been a racing driver for Austro-Daimler and Mercedes himself when he was younger. In 1926, he was the first to give his drivers tactical instructions using boards and flags as they raced along the Solitude race track near Stuttgart. He would go on to meticulously prepare the Mercedes-Benz racing team for each race.
Neubauer was born in 1891 in Neutitschein (now Nový Jičín, Czech Republic). In 1923, he moved from Austro-Daimler to Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft together with Ferdinand Porsche.
As racing director, Neubauer celebrated his greatest successes with the Silver Arrows between 1934 and 1939 and in 1954/1955, becoming a legend. He led drivers including Rudolf Caracciola, Hermann Lang, Manfred von Brauchitsch and later also Juan-Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss to great victories.
Neubauer died aged 89 on 21st August 1980 in Aldingen, south of Stuttgart.
Source: Motorsport history by Mercedes-Benz – Newsletter 1/2021 (Dated 18th March 2021)
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