About Edgar Barth
Lived 1917 – 1965 (aged 48). Edgar Barth was a German formula One driver and motorcycle racer.
Wilfried Edgar Barth (; 26 January 1917 – 20 May 1965) was a German racing driver who competed under the East German flag in Formula One in , and as a West German between and , taking part in five Grands Prix in all. He also competed in sports car racing, winning the 1959 Targa Florio with Wolfgang Seidel.
Racing career Barth was born in Herold. He began his career as a DKW motorcycle racer and later switched to BMW sportscars. The East German factory of BMW would become the Eisenacher Motorenwerk (EMW) after the war. He drove the factory team car in the East German Formula 2 Championship, which he won in both 1952 and 1953. He was allowed to participate in three events in the West in 1953, including his first appearance in the Formula One World Championship. He finished fifth in the non-championship Eifelrennen, but retired from the Avusrennen and the German Grand Prix.
In 1957, Barth emigrated to the West and drove sporadically for the works Porsche team in Formula One until 1961. He drove in the F2 sections at his home race in 1956 and 1957, finishing outside the points both times. He drove a Formula 1 car in the 1960 Italian Grand Prix, finishing seventh. He was entered into his home race in 1961 but was later withdrawn and was entered as a substitute at Monza that year. His final F1 appearance came at the 1964 German Grand Prix driving a Cooper-Climax for Rob Walker Racing, failing to make the flag.
Barth participated in the 500 kilometers of the Nürburgring, in 1960 in a BMW 700, finishing fifth. Barth won the 1959, 1963 and 1964 European Mountain Championships (Hillclimb) for Porsche and also the 1959 Targa Florio.
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Important facts
People in Edgar Barth's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Edgar Barth's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Edgar Barth?
German racing driver (1917–1965)
When was Edgar Barth born?
Edgar Barth was born on 26 January 1917 in Herold.
When did Edgar Barth die?
Edgar Barth died on 20 May 1965 in Ludwigsburg.
What was Edgar Barth's occupation?
Edgar Barth was a formula One driver and motorcycle racer.
What nationality was Edgar Barth?
Edgar Barth was German.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edgar Barth. https://biography.guide/edgar-barth/
MLA: "Edgar Barth." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edgar-barth/.
Chicago: "Edgar Barth." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edgar-barth/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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