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Porsche AG (P911.DE) said today that on 1 January 2026, the long-time Porsche works driver Hans-Joachim Stuck will celebrate his 75th birthday. He is also known as “Strietzel,” a type of Bavarian honey cake.*
“Hans-Joachim Stuck has done a great deal for Porsche. His performances over long distances, in particular his success at the wheel of the Porsche 962, still count as some of the seminal moments in Porsche motorsport history,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “We thank him for his dedication and wish him all the best for his 75th birthday.”
Hans-Joachim Stuck was born on 1 January 1951 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He was given special privilege to obtain his driver’s license at the age of 16. His father, Hans Stuck, earned the nickname “King of the Mountains” at hill-climbing races in the 1920s and 1930s.
Hans-Joachim Stuck competed in his first race in 1969 in a BMW 2002 at the Nürburgring. In 1970, he won the Nürburgring 24 Hours in a BMW 2002; in 1972, he was victorious in the German Racing Championship in a Ford Capri RS; in 1974, he was runner-up in the European Formula Two Championship in a March BMW 742. In 1975, he won the 12 Hours of Sebring in a BMW 3.5 CSL.
He was an adaptable driver, validating his talent in formula racing as well as in touring car and endurance racing. In 1977 and 1978, he drove in Formula 1 in a Brabham Alfa and Shadow Ford Cosworth. The following year, he raced in Formula 1 in an ATS Ford Cosworth and won the Procar series in a BMW M1. In 1981 and 1983, Stuck took second place in the German Racing Championship in a BMW 320. He secured second place in the European Touring Car Championship in 1984 at the wheel of a BMW 635 CSi.
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“The time he spent as a Porsche works driver in the 1980s was particularly important to him. Stuck celebrated his greatest international successes at the wheel of the Porsche 962. In 1985, he became the World Endurance Champion in a 962 C with his teammate and close friend Derek Bell, winning the ADAC Supercup in 1986 and 1987 and the 12 Hours of Sebring in a 962 IMSA in 1986 and 1988. In 1986, he won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. One year later, another overall victory followed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, also in a Porsche. In 1988, he came second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. These achievements solidified his reputation as one of the most outstanding endurance drivers of his generation and as a key driver in the Porsche works team at the time,” Porsche said.
Versatility
His ongoing driving career was surrounded with successes – with Porsche and other brands:
- In 1990, Stuck won the German touring car championship in an Audi V8 quattro.
- In 1993, he became the IMSA Supercar Champion in a Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 IMSA Supercar.
- In 1998, he won the Nürburgring 24 Hours in a BMW 320 Diesel.
- He won at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2004 and the 2006 Dubai 24 Hours.
Other Racing Podiums point to Stuck’s versatility:
- Five class victories in the VLN Nürburgring in a BMW Z4,
- A class victory in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in a VW Scirocco in 2008,
- and his farewell race at the famous track in the Eifel mountains three years later, in a team that included his sons Johannes and Ferdinand Stuck racing in a Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 PL600+.
- In 2021, the driver from Upper Bavaria was runner-up in the GT2 European Series in a KTM X-Bow.
- From 2012 to 2020, he served as President of the German Motor Sport Federation, advocating for young talent.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Porsche – Happy Birthday Hans-Joachim Stuck
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Porsche AG (P911.DE) said today that on 1 January 2026, the long-time Porsche works driver Hans-Joachim Stuck will celebrate his 75th birthday. He is also known as “Strietzel,” a type of Bavarian honey cake.*
“Hans-Joachim Stuck has done a great deal for Porsche. His performances over long distances, in particular his success at the wheel of the Porsche 962, still count as some of the seminal moments in Porsche motorsport history,” said Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “We thank him for his dedication and wish him all the best for his 75th birthday.”
Hans-Joachim Stuck was born on 1 January 1951 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He was given special privilege to obtain his driver’s license at the age of 16. His father, Hans Stuck, earned the nickname “King of the Mountains” at hill-climbing races in the 1920s and 1930s.
Hans-Joachim Stuck competed in his first race in 1969 in a BMW 2002 at the Nürburgring. In 1970, he won the Nürburgring 24 Hours in a BMW 2002; in 1972, he was victorious in the German Racing Championship in a Ford Capri RS; in 1974, he was runner-up in the European Formula Two Championship in a March BMW 742. In 1975, he won the 12 Hours of Sebring in a BMW 3.5 CSL.
He was an adaptable driver, validating his talent in formula racing as well as in touring car and endurance racing. In 1977 and 1978, he drove in Formula 1 in a Brabham Alfa and Shadow Ford Cosworth. The following year, he raced in Formula 1 in an ATS Ford Cosworth and won the Procar series in a BMW M1. In 1981 and 1983, Stuck took second place in the German Racing Championship in a BMW 320. He secured second place in the European Touring Car Championship in 1984 at the wheel of a BMW 635 CSi.
Click for more.
“The time he spent as a Porsche works driver in the 1980s was particularly important to him. Stuck celebrated his greatest international successes at the wheel of the Porsche 962. In 1985, he became the World Endurance Champion in a 962 C with his teammate and close friend Derek Bell, winning the ADAC Supercup in 1986 and 1987 and the 12 Hours of Sebring in a 962 IMSA in 1986 and 1988. In 1986, he won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. One year later, another overall victory followed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, also in a Porsche. In 1988, he came second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. These achievements solidified his reputation as one of the most outstanding endurance drivers of his generation and as a key driver in the Porsche works team at the time,” Porsche said.
Versatility
His ongoing driving career was surrounded with successes – with Porsche and other brands:
Other Racing Podiums point to Stuck’s versatility:
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.