Rudolf Krause (30 March 1907 – 11 April 1987) was an East German racing driver, mechanic and car builder whose competitive career stretched from 1927 to 1954. He became one of East Germany’s leading Formula Two racers and won the country’s final national championship for the category.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | East German |
| Birthplace | Reichenbach im Vogtland, Germany |
| Born | 30 March 1907 |
| Died | 11 April 1987 |
| First Grand Prix | 1952 German Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1953 German Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1952–1953 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: Bayerische Motoren Werke |
Biography
Born in Reichenbach im Vogtland, Krause began competing on motorcycles in 1927. During the early 1930s, he switched to cars—often machines he had modified himself.
Krause established a mechanical workshop in his home garage and began racing his own BMW sports car. This hands-on approach remained central to his career, with many of his later BMW-based racing cars built or extensively prepared at his Reichenbach premises.
His single-seater career began in 1949, when organised motor racing resumed in East Germany following the Second World War. Krause quickly became one of the region’s leading Formula Two competitors, racing alongside prominent German drivers such as Hans Stuck.
Between 1950 and 1953, East Germany staged its own Grands Prix and formula championships. Krause regularly finished near the front and captured the East German Formula Two title in 1953, the championship’s final season.
He also entered two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, in 1952 and 1953. Krause scored no points, with his only finish coming at the 1953 German Grand Prix, where he placed 14th.
Krause retired in 1954, largely because of his age. Unlike several East German contemporaries who moved west in search of stronger opportunities, he remained in his home country throughout his career.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 2 |
| Race Starts | 2 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 23rd |
| Best Race Finish | 14th |
| Retirements | 1 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 2 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Privateer: Bayerische Motoren Werke | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 | – | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1953 | Privateer: Bayerische Motoren Werke | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 14 | 0 | 0 | NC |
