He is the driver who did not qualify, retired and was disqualified from his only ever Formula 1 race

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For thousands of drivers, reaching Formula 1 is the pinnacle of their racing career.

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso holds the record for most starts in Formula 1, but for others, simply getting onto the grid once is more than enough.

The last driver to only take part in one Grand Prix during their F1 career was Jack Aitken.

He was called up by Williams to replace George Russell when he stepped in for the unwell Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

There have been plenty of drivers down the years in Formula 1’s 75-year history who only entered a single race before never competing again.

However, none are likely to have the same backstory as Hans Heyer and his crazy weekend at the 1977 German Grand Prix.

READ MORE: He is ‘one of the worst Grand Prix drivers ever’ who started more than 100 F1 races but never finished on the lead lap

Who was German racing driver and F1 one-hit wonder Hans Heyer?

Heyer was born in Monchengladbach, Germany, on 16 March 1943 and quickly took on a role at his parents’ bitumen and concrete mixing company.

In an interview during his one foray into Formula 1, he admitted he preferred touring car racing as it was safer than F1 and he couldn’t afford not to be working at the business when he wasn’t driving.

Heyer was a passionate racer and highly regarded in Germany, although his many attempts to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans all ended in failure.

He won plenty of karting trophies growing up before the German touring car series DRM in 1975 and 1976.

It was the following year that Heyer made his infamous appearance on the grid in F1 with new German team ATS.

They required a driver in their second Penske car at the Hockenheimring with Hans Binder unavailable, and Heyer answered the call.

READ MORE: He is the youngest driver ever to retire from racing in Formula 1 and once cost Michael Schumacher a world championship

Why did Hans Heyer fail to qualify for the 1977 German Grand Prix amid Niki Lauda’s scepticism?

During the 1977 F1 season, only 24 cars could start each race, with several drivers therefore missing out if they didn’t set fast enough times in qualifying.

Heyer finished the session in 27th, but that didn’t stop him from getting his bright yellow ATS onto the grid that day.

Heyer was interviewed during the 19 November 2022 edition of Sport Inside for WDR and explained: “It wasn’t my place; I only wanted to do this once. They decided afterwards that I was not allowed to drive in Formula 1 again this year. I still have the license today!

“The attraction, of course, was to have the opportunity to race in F1, which not everybody has, and to race against people, some of whom I know, and to have a decent, technically good car, which I knew was the case.

“In addition, the ATS crew were my people, and I was able to assess the risk.”

Before the race, Niki Lauda was interviewed about Heyer’s chances and simply said: “To be honest, I would say that it will always be very difficult.

“From the touring car, the main thing is to get to Formula 1. A step that I don’t think can be done all at once.”

Hans-Joachim Stuck added to Lauda’s scepticism and said: “If he only has two days of training, then I don’t think he can qualify.”

READ MORE: He is the F1 driver with the most Grand Prix starts without scoring a point, Ferrari once chose him over Michael Schumacher

Hans Heyer’s nine-lap Formula 1 career ends at the Hockenheimring

When Heyer didn’t qualify, he hatched a ‘plan’ to make sure his first visit to the Formula 1 paddock wasn’t wasted.

He explained: “Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t give up that easily. So, scraping together everything there is [to try and race] is part of it. You can always give up, but that wasn’t my world.

“Of course, you have to keep the pit lane clear, but that wasn’t as strict then as it is today.”

Heyer convinced marshals that he knew from the track to lead him onto the circuit as the race was about to start.

“I couldn’t even see the flag,” Heyer continued. Wolfgang Stahl was standing on this double bank that was two metres high.

“I could see it from my position, and when he gave the thumbs up, I should drive away, but he did it before the start. But I’m not even sure they noticed it at all.”

His race only lasted nine laps, and Heyer admitted: “I was in no way a risk factor for the existing field of drivers; everyone knew that.

“I discussed it with the drivers afterwards. They all thought it was great.”

Heyer, therefore, became the only driver who failed to qualify, retired and got disqualified from the same race.

The 82-year-old continued his successful touring car career after his only F1 appearance, but ATS didn’t rush to recall the German driver.