Date of Birth : April 19 1940

Biography Kurt Ahrens

Kurt Karl-Heinrich Ahrens, also known as Kurt Ahrens, Jr.,  was born in 1940 in Brunswick.  Kurt Ahrens Jr. inherited the race virus from his father. Kurt Ahrens Sr.  was a racer during the weekends, and ran a recycling company for a living. The business seemed to run well, as Kurt Ahrens Sr.  Was the first customer who took delivery of a Porsche 550 Spyder (chassis 550-018) January 15 1955.  That was the first connection for Kurt Ahrens Jr. with Porsche, and a connection that continues even today.

Kurt Ahrens Jr. showed interest in the race career of his father, who raced in Formula 3 and Formula Jr. In 1958 Kurt Jr followed his father into the category. They raced each other for five years. The talent of Kurt Jr could not be hidden, and he outperformed his father in most races. Kurt Ahrens Jr. won the German Formula Junior championship 3 times (1961,1963,1965).  Kurt Ahrens Sr retired from racing and Kurt jr stepped up in the Formula 2.

1958 SCHAUINSLAND – FREIBURG Ahrens father (95) and son (96) on the front row

One of the most emotional moments in Kurt Ahrens’ career was the death of Jim Clark at the Hockenheimring. The night before Clarck’s fatal accident, Ahrens and Clark spent together in a TV studio for an interview and they shared a car back to their hotel. Kurt Ahrens was a succesful racer in Formula 2 and the next step up was Formula 2. Jack Brabham offered him a seat in the 1968 German GP at the Nürburgring. That would immediately be Kurt Ahren’s only F1 race. Kurt Ahrens Jr. noticed the sacrifices to be done to have an active F1 career. And for him, racing was  above all there to provide a counterpoint to his everyday work in the family business. That made him decide against a F1 career.

In 1967, Huschke von Hanstein asked Kurt Ahrens to drive a Porsche. And there was no way Ahrens could refuse this offer. His first outing in a Porsche was at the 1000KM Nurburgring. Ahrens Jr. teamed up with Rolf Stommelen in a Porsche 910/8 (chassis 910-027). Due to engine troubles, they had to quit the race. In 1968, Kurt shared the wheel of a Porsche 908 at the 500km Zeltweg with Hans Herrmann. They climbed the 2nd step of the podium.

June 1st 1969 NÜRBURGRING 1000 Km Third place in a Porsche 908/02 shared with Vic Elford
June 1st 1969 -NÜRBURGRING 1000 Km – 3rd in a Porsche 908/02 shared with Vic Elford

In 1969 Kurt Ahrens joined the Porsche works team. First race in 1969 was the Daytona 24H , Ahrens and Stommelen shared a Porsche 908 but they didn’t make it to the finish. Just a few weekends later, Joe Buzzetta joined the duo at the Sebring 12H. This time they had more succes and finished 3rd. His most successful race in 1969 was the 1000Km Zeltweg. Ahrens teamed up with Jo Siffert in a Porsche 917. This combination resulted in the first outright victory for a Porsche 917.

Kurt Ahrens crashes at Ehra-Lessien

Kurt Ahrens escapes unhurt from this wrecked Porsche 917.

In his 2nd year as a Porsche works team member, Kurt Ahrens won the 1000km Nürburgring in a Porsche 908. He shared the car with Vic Elford. Earlier that year, April 6th, Kurt Ahrens was one of the drivers involved in test rides with the Porsche 917 at the Volkswagen testrack in Ehra-Lessien in Germany. At a speed of 250kmh, the car started shaking and became complete unmanageable due to aquaplaning. Ahrens crashed in the barrier, and the long  tail Porsche 917 disintegrated.  The car went under the Armco barrier at the other side of the road with Kurt Ahrens still strapped in the seat. Deeply impressed, he he climbed out of the car. This accident did not prevent Ahrens to get back in a race car. He completed the race season. In 1971 however Ahrens decided to quit racing.

Kurt Ahrens behind the 917-001, the first built 917 from 1969.
Kurt Ahrens behind the 917-001, the first built 917 from 1969.

It is remarkable that Kurt Ahrens participated in over 300 races, and never crashed a car during a race. Today, Ahrens still accompanies the Porsche Museum to its driving events at renowned classic car meets all over the world as well as various historical motorsport events. Last year he was a guest at the Solitude Revival.

Kurt Ahrens Jr. Race results with Porsche

Year: 1967

Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
28.5.1967 1000 km Nürburgring 9 Porsche 910 Stommelen / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering DNF
30.7.1967 6 h Brands Hatch 12 Porsche 907 In entry list only Porsche System Engineering Ltd. 4th

Year: 1968

Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
25.8.1968 500 km Zeltweg 3 Porsche 908 Herrmann / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering Ltd. 2nd
25.8.1968 500 km Zeltweg 4 Porsche 908 In entry list only Porsche System Engineering Ltd. DNF

Year: 1969

Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
2.2.1969 24 h Daytona 54 Porsche 908 Stommelen / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering DNF
22.3.1969 12 h Sebring 27 Porsche 908/02 Stommelen / Buzzetta / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering Ltd. 3rd
22.3.1969 12 h Sebring 28 Porsche 908/02 Herrmann / Ahrens, Jr. / Stommelen Porsche System Engineering Ltd. DNF
30.3.1969 Le Mans Test 25 Porsche 908 Herrmann / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering 4th
25.4.1969 1000 km Monza 7 Porsche 908 Herrmann / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering 2nd
11.5.1969 1000 km Spa 10 Porsche 908 Elford / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering 3rd
1.6.1969 1000 km Nürburgring 3 Porsche 908/02 Elford / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering Ltd. T-car
1.6.1969 1000 km Nürburgring 3T Porsche 908/02 Elford / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering Ltd. 3rd
15.6.1969 24 h Le Mans 10 Porsche 917 Woolfe / Linge / *Ahrens, Jr. John Woolfe Racing DNF
15.6.1969 24 h Le Mans 14 Porsche 917 Stommelen / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering DNF
15.6.1969 24 h Le Mans 45 Porsche 910 Stommelen / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche System Engineering DNA
15.6.1969 24 h Le Mans 64 Porsche 908 In entry list only Porsche System Engineering 2nd
10.8.1969 1000 km Zeltweg 29 Porsche 917 Siffert / Ahrens, Jr. Karl Freiherr v. Wendt 1st
17.8.1969 Wunstorf [SP] 58 Porsche 908/02 Kurt Ahrens, Jr. Porsche-Konstruktionen KG Salzburg 1st
14.9.1969 500 km Imola 7 Porsche 908/02 Ahrens, Jr. / Lins Porsche Salzburg 11th
21.9.1969 Preis von Salzburg 32 Porsche 908/02 Kurt Ahrens, Jr. Porsche KG 1st
5.10.1969 Preis von Tirol [SP] 27 Porsche 908/02 Kurt Ahrens, Jr. Porsche KG 4th
12.10.1969 Salzburgring [SRP] 20 Porsche 908/02 Kurt Ahrens, Jr.   1st

Year: 1970

Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
1.2.1970 24 h Daytona 3 Porsche 917 Ahrens, Jr. / Elford Porsche Konstruktionen KG DNF
21.3.1970 12 h Sebring 16 Porsche 917 Elford / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche Audi DNF
21.3.1970 12 h Sebring 17 Porsche 917 In entry list only Porsche Audi DNF
12.4.1970 1000 km Brands Hatch 11 Porsche 917 In entry list only Porsche Konstruktionen KG. Salzburg 2nd
25.4.1970 1000 km Monza 10 Porsche 917 Elford / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche Konstrukzion Salzburg DNF
3.5.1970 Targa Florio 20 Porsche 908/03 In entry list only Porsche KG DNF
17.5.1970 1000 km Spa 28 Porsche 917 Elford / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche Salzburg 3rd
31.5.1970 1000 km Nürburgring 22 Porsche 908/03 Elford / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche Konstruktionen Salzburg 1st
31.5.1970 1000 km Nürburgring 52 Porsche 917 Ahrens, Jr. / Elford Porsche Konstruktionen Salzburg DNA
14.6.1970 24 h Le Mans 23 Porsche 917 Attwood / Herrmann / *Ahrens, Jr. Porsche Konstruktionen K.G. 1st
14.6.1970 24 h Le Mans 25 Porsche 917 Elford / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche Konstruktionen K.G. DNF
11.7.1970 6 h Watkins Glen 31 Porsche 917 Elford / Hulme / *Ahrens, Jr. Porsche Audi Division 4th
11.7.1970 6 h Watkins Glen 32 Porsche 917 Attwood / Ahrens, Jr. Porsche Audi Division 6th
12.7.1970 Can-Am Watkins Glen 32 Porsche 917 In entry list only Porsche Audi Division 3rd
16.8.1970 Wunstorf [SRP] 13 Porsche 908/02 Kurt Ahrens, Jr. Kurt Ahrens 5th
13.9.1970 500 km Imola 33 Porsche 908/02 Ahrens, Jr. / Marko Martini Racing Team 3rd
20.9.1970 Interserie Thruxton 5 Porsche 908/02 In entry list only International Martini Racing 3rd
11.10.1970 1000 km Zeltweg 20 Porsche 917 Ahrens, Jr. / Marko Porsche KG Salzburg DNF
11.10.1970 1000 km Zeltweg T Porsche 917 Elford / Attwood / Ahrens, Jr. / Marko Porsche KG Salzburg T-car
18.10.1970 1000 km Paris 15 Porsche 908/02 In entry list only   17th
7.11.1970 9 h Kyalami 2 Porsche 917 Siffert / Ahrens, Jr. Martini International 2nd

Year: 1971

Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result
4.4.1971 1000 km Brands Hatch 9 Porsche 917 In entry list only Martini Rossi Racing Team 9th

Race results courtesy of Racing Sports Cars

Pictures Carlos Ghys and Porsche AG