Karl Oppitzhauser

Karl Oppitzhauser (born 4 October 1941) is a former racing driver from Austria. He is chiefly known for his optimistic attempt to enter the 1976 Formula One Austrian Grand Prix.

Career Oppitzhauser began his career in Formula Vee in the 1960s, and also raced a Lotus Europa. By 1968 he had progressed to a Ferrari Dino, and later a Lamborghini Miura, before competing in the Alfasud Cup in the mid-1970s.

In 1976, Oppitzhauser attempted to enter the Austrian Grand Prix with the local ÖASC Racing Team, driving a March 761, despite having little experience in single seater racing cars. Due to this lack of experience, both Oppitzhauser and his teammate Otto Stuppacher were refused entry to the event. Unlike Stuppacher, Oppitzhauser did not make any further attempts at Formula One.

After his Formula One attempt, Oppitzhauser entered a Brands Hatch round of the Shellsport G8 Formula 5000 Championship, but did not start the race. He switched to touring car racing, and competed with a BMW 635CSi in Group 5.

Racing record

Complete World Sportscar Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pts 1976 Egon Evertz KG GT Porsche 934 Porsche 930/71 3.0 F6t MUG VAL SIL NÜR ÖST GLN DIJ Footnotes

Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts 1976 Sports Cars of Austria March 761 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA JPN NC 0

Complete Shellsport International Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pts 1976 Sports Cars of Austria March 761 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 MAL SNE OUL BRH THR BRH MAL SNE BRH THR OUL BRH BRH NC 0