Born : February 25 1943
Deceased : February 17 2022
Biography Jürgen Lässig
Jürgen Lässig saw daylight on February 25 1943 in Tuttlingen, a town at the border of the ‘Black Forest’ in the Donau valley. Tuttlingen is worldwide known as a medical technology cluster, as it houses many renowned companies specializing in medical equipment and devices. At the age of 8, the parents of Lässig divorced, and together with his 2 years older brother, the young Jürgen was raised by his mother. After his school years as a child, Lässig completed an apprenticeship as a retail salesman. Subsequently, he completed his studies of business administration in Hamburg. After his studies, a Swiss company was looking for a business economist for a subsidiary in Stuttgart. Lässig applied for the job and set his first steps in asset management.
Jürgen Lässig in a Porsche 911 S 2,3 Coupé 1971 in Hockenheim (C) Corporate Archives Porsche AG
A late start of the racing career
Jürgen Lässig was a true latecomer when it comes to racing. It all started when his friend Herrman-Peter Duge insisted Jürgen Lässig to buy an Alpina-BMW 2002. It was only later that Lässig realized that it was Dinge himself who wanted to drive slaloms with that car. It was only after his friend drove the car a few times, that Lässig wanted to try it himself. In the 1972 seasons finale, both Lässig and Duge drove a car. And Lässig came home with the trophy. This result didn’t go unnoticed.
Max-Moritz Racing
The 2.8 RSR upgraded to 3.0 RSR – Max Moritz team in 1974 at the Hockenheim
Later, Rudi Sauter, teamleader of the Max Moritz Racing Team in Reutlingen, called Lässig and asked him if he would try a ride in a Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 in the 1974 seasons finale at the Hockenheim. No way Jürgen Lässig would reject that offer, even though he had to pay it by himself. Luckily he was befriended with Jochen Holy, owner of the Boss fashion company. Holy considered motorsport as a fascinating way to make his company better known. And with the help of Holy, Lässig raced his first races as a member of the Max Moritz Racing Team in 1974. In the meantime, the Porsche Carrera RSR had been upgraded from a 2.8 RSR to the 1974 3.0 specs. In the 1975 DRM (Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft), Lässig achieved two 6th and 2 7th spots in the end-rankings of the race.
03.06.1979 1000km Nürburgring; Nr. 44: Jürgen Lässig, Gerhard Holup and Hermann-Peter Duge in Porsche 934/5; 7th overall-1st in class (C) Corporate Archives Porsche AG
In the 2nd half of the seventies, Jürgen Lassig teamed up with his friend Herrmann-Peter Duge in the Valvoline Cup, later renamed to the VLN. Lässig won 11 races in the series at the Nürburgring. In 1977 and 1978 the duo raced in the Max Moritz Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 of Lässig, still sponsored by Boss. In 1979, Lässig competed in the DRM Division II in a Porsche 934. One of his major opponents was Edgar Dören, who raced in a similar Max Moritz Porsche 934 too. In the Porsche 934, Lässig won his class in the race at the Salzburgring. Furthermore, he finished 2nd at the Hockenheimring and achieved 3 times a 3rd place ( Zolder, Nürburgring, and Zandvoort). In 1973, Lässig finished 7th in the 1000km race at the Nürburgring: good enough for a class victory.
Obermaier Racing Team – Weralit-Elora Team
Silverstone 5th place – 10.05.1981, Porsche 935 K3 (Edgar Dören, Jürgen Lässig, Gerhard Holup) (C) Corporate Archives Porsche AG
After the 1973 1000km Nürburgring, the Weralit-Elora Team, later renamed the Obermaier Racing Team was looking for a driver. They contacted Jürgen Lässig and asked him whether he was interested in driving the Group 5 Kremer Porsche 935K3. As from the 3rd race of the 1980 DRM season, Jürgen Lässig took the wheel of the car. In the World Championship for Makes, he finished 2nd in the Vallelunga 6H and 3rd in the Silverstone 6H. In 1981, together with Edgar Dören and Gerhard Holup, they took the checkered flag in the 1000Km Monza.
Endurance Racing
19.06.1983; 24h Le Mans; Nr. 18: Axel Plankenhorn, Jürgen Lässig and Desiré Wilson- Porsche 956 LH (C) Corporate Archives Porsche AG
Even though Jürgen Lässig always raced as a private racer, he made a steep climb up the career ladder and even raced in Group C series. In this series, the personal highlights were a 2nd podium spot at the 1987 Le Mans 24H, teaming up with Pierre Yver and Bernard de Dryver. A quite remarkable result, as the team ran the slowest practice times in the Porsche 962C. And despite being over 50 years old, Lässig won the 1995 Daytona 24H in a Kremer Porsche K8. In 1998, Lässig was offered a seat for the Le Mans 24H. However, coping with back problems that affected him throughout his career, he refused the offer and retired from racing.
WSC (Kremer K 8), Training – Daytona 1995 Winners, Giovanni Lavaggi, Jürgen Lässig, Marco Werner und Christophe Bouchut (C) Corporate Archives Porsche AG
Race Results Jürgen Lässig
Year: 1973
Date
Race
No.
Car
Drivers
Entrant
Result
22.7.1973
SM Hockenheim [T2.0/GT2.0]
323
Porsche 911
Jürgen Lässig
Jürgen Lässig
2nd
Year: 1974
Date
Race
No.
Car
Drivers
Entrant
Result
7.4.1974
DARM Hockenheim [GT+2.0]
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz
6th
5.5.1974
Neubiberg [GT/T+2.0]
255
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH
3rd
17.6.1974
DARM Nürburgring
40
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH
DNA
17.6.1974
300 km Nürburgring
40
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH
DNA
14.7.1974
Euro GT Hockenheim
18
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH
DNA
18.8.1974
DARM Kassel-Calden [GT+2.0]
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz
DNF
25.8.1974
SM Hockenheim [GT]
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz
1st
25.8.1974
DRM Hockenheim Preis der Nationen
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz
7th
1.9.1974
DARM Mainz-Finthen [GT]
159
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH
3rd
15.9.1974
SM Ulm [GT]
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz
3rd
29.9.1974
DRM Hockenheim Preis von Baden
9
Porsche 911 Carrera
Jürgen Lässig
Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH, VW-Porsche-Sportswagen-Zentrum
