Ernst Loof
| Born | 4 July 1907 |
|---|---|
| Died | 3 March 1956 (aged 48) |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |
 German |
| Active years | 1953 |
| Teams | Veritas |
| Entries | 1 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1953 German Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1953 German Grand Prix |
Ernst Loof (4 July 1907 in Neindorf near Oschersleben – 3 March 1956 in Bonn) was an automotive engineer and racing driver from Neindorf, Germany. He contributed to the design of the BMW 328 sports car in the late 1930s.[1] He participated in one World Championship Grand Prix, on 2 August 1953, but he retired with fuel pump failure after two meters of racing and scored no championship points. Due to only making it six feet off the starting grid, Loof is actually the driver with the shortest Formula One career, not Marco Apicella who is frequently and falsely given that title.
Loof was also a famous motorcycle racer and designer, who scored numerous successes in pre-war years for Imperia of Bad Godesberg and for BMW. He later became one of the founders of the Veritas company, successful in Formula Two with the Meteor racer in the immediate post-war period. The company also built sports cars, mostly BMW-engined, as well as the Panhard-engined Dyna-Veritas cabriolets.
Loof was the head designer of the Veritas car he drove in this race. The company had already gone bankrupt by this time, and its assets were purchased by BMW. He was hired by BMW in styling and body engineering and worked there until he retired due to illness. Loof died in 1956 of a brain tumour.[2]
Complete World Championship Results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Ernst Loof | Veritas RS | Veritas Straight-6 | ARG | 500 | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER Ret |
SUI | ITA | NC | 0 |
Notes
- ↑ Norbye 1984, p. 47.
- ↑ Norbye 1984, p. 79.
References
- Norbye, Jan P. (1984). BMW - Bavaria's Driving Machines. Skokie, IL US: Publications International. ISBN 0-517-42464-9.