Adolf Brudes, whose motorsport career spanned nearly five decades, was a member of the German nobility. Brudes began racing motorcycles shortly after World War I and would go on to compete in everything from hillclimbs to Formula One, enduring war, displacement, and personal loss along the way.
| Nationality | German |
|---|---|
| Born | Adolf Brudes von Breslau 15 October 1899 Groß Kottulin, German Empire |
| Died | 5 November 1986 (aged 87) Bremen, West Germany |
Born in Kotulin near Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland), Brudes entered the world of motorsport at a time when the sport itself was still evolving. He began racing motorcycles in 1919 and by the mid-1920s had become a factory rider and master mechanic for the German motorcycle manufacturer Victoria. Known for both technical expertise and daring, Brudes helped develop Victoria’s machines, including a supercharged 597cc flat-twin that propelled him to a land speed record of 165 km/h (102.5 mph) in 1926.
Eager to challenge himself further, Brudes began racing cars in 1928, starting with a Bugatti Type 37A. He found early success in hillclimb events across Poland and Germany, eventually expanding his private stable to include a Bugatti Type 35B and an MG C-type. In 1934, he scored a class victory at the prestigious Eifelrennen at the Nürburgring, solidifying his reputation as a capable and versatile driver.
Though he auditioned for a place on the Auto Union works team in 1936, the opportunity went to another driver. Undeterred, Brudes acquired a BMW 328 and produced strong results, earning a works drive in the 1938 Spa 24 Hours, where he and co-driver Paul Heinemann finished fourth overall and second in class. He continued his rise with a podium finish at the 1940 Mille Miglia (held as the Gran Premio Brescia delle Mille Miglia), placing third alongside Ralph Röese in a BMW 328 spider.
World War II brought racing to a halt, and for Brudes, life changed drastically. He lost his business and possessions, and his family was forced to relocate to Sedlitz in East Germany. By the end of the war, Brudes was left to start from scratch. He moved to Berlin, working odd jobs before finding employment at a BMW dealership in Halensee. It was there that he met Alexander Orley, an American officer with a passion for racing. Brudes began preparing cars for Orley and eventually resumed his own racing career behind the wheel of an Orley Speciale—a car based on the Veritas-Meteor and BMW technology.
In 1952, Brudes took part in his only World Championship Formula One race: the 1952 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Driving the Orley Speciale, he retired after just five laps due to engine problems. While his F1 career was short, Brudes became affiliated with Borgward in the early 1950s, first as a test driver and later as part of their factory team. In 1953, he helped set several speed and endurance records at Montlhéry in a highly aerodynamic 1.5L Borgward sports car. That same year, Brudes was part of the Borgward entry at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, though his car ran out of fuel just three hours into the race.
Despite advancing age, Brudes never lost his competitive fire. He continued racing in hillclimb events well into his 60s, capping off his extraordinary career in 1968 at the Taunus Hillclimb. There, in an Alfa Romeo Giulia, he took third in class—his final official result after nearly 50 years of motorsport competition.
Brudes holds a notable record as the seventh oldest driver ever to start a Formula One race—at 52 years, 293 days old during the 1952 German Grand Prix, where he retired from the race.
Formula One History Recommends
Adolf Brudes Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 1952 |
|---|---|
| Teams | privateer Veritas |
| Entries | 1 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1952 German Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1952 German Grand Prix |
