Manfred von Brauchitsch, 1905-2003

After starting his racing career in a private Mercedes in 1929, the German was the first driver to win a Grand Prix for the legendary Silver Arrows Mercedes at the 1934 Eifelrennen, held at the Nurburgring. He drove for Mercedes until the start of World War Two, during which time he garnered a reputation as a hard-charging, if unlucky, driver.

During his works career von Brauchitsch also won the 1937 Monaco GP and the 1938 French Grand at Reims, both times leading home the legendary Rudolf Caracciola.

As well as Caracciola, von Bracuhitsch was a contemporary of the likes of Tazio Nuvolari and Bernd Rosemeyer, and was considered to be one of the top drivers of his era.

However, despite his many successes, he was best known for the ill-luck which cost him many great victories. He famously missed out on victories in the German Grands Prix of 1935 and 1938 with car problems, and was also disqualified from victory in the prestigious Coppa Ciano, held at Livorno in Italy, after winning on the road in 1938.

In the decades after the war he worked in the East German ministry of sports, and retained close ties with Mercedes stemming from his six years as a works driver.

"He was one of the founders of the Silver Arrow legend and the first winner in a Grand Prix car of this name," said Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug. "He was one of the first to congratulate us on Mika Hakkinen's first championship, and we will all keep him in our memory as a great racing driver of our company."