The Forgotten Racer: Harald Ertl’s Lotus Europa Group 5 Project

A bold experiment in motorsport that pushed the boundaries of Group 5 regulations—but fell short of glory.

Posted by Tom Schwede on 18th Jan 2025

Group 5: The Playground for Innovation

In 1979, Austrian racing driver Harald Ertl, known for his entrepreneurial spirit, teamed up with Zakspeed to build a Lotus Europa Group 5 race car. While the innovative racer embodied the spirit of the Group 5 regulations, it ultimately failed to achieve the success Ertl envisioned. Unlike some of Ertl’s other ventures, the Lotus Europa story remains a curious footnote in motorsport history.

Group 5 regulations, introduced in 1976, were a hotbed for some of the most fascinating racing machines ever conceived. The rules required only the wheelbase and "greenhouse" of a production car to be retained. Designers had free rein to modify everything else for performance. This freedom gave birth to icons like the Porsche 935 from Joest and Kremer, Zakspeed’s Ford Capri, and the Lancia Beta Montecarlo.

Front view of the Lotus Europa Group 5 Front view of the Lotus Europa Group 5

Yet, not all Group 5 projects are as well-remembered. Cars like the Schnitzer Toyota Celica or Harald Ertl’s Lotus Europa Group 5 are treasures known mostly to enthusiasts.

Building the Lotus Europa Group 5

Ertl’s project began with a chassis from TOJ (Team Obermoser Jörg), a company specializing in lightweight, two-liter sports cars. Jörg Obermoser supplied a custom monocoque chassis, which Ertl fitted with a modified Lotus Europa body. For power, Ertl turned to Zakspeed, his team of choice after switching from BMW to Ford. The car featured a 1.4-liter Zakspeed turbocharged engine, the same unit that powered the Capri in the DRM’s (Deutsche Rennsport-Meisterschaft) lower division.

Ertl’s choice of the smaller engine was strategic. A larger 1.7-liter engine would have increased the car’s minimum weight, negating the advantage of the lightweight chassis. Backed by Minolta, which reportedly contributed 50,000 Deutsche Marks, Ertl aimed to fund the 200,000 DM project through prize money, appearance fees, and renting out the car.

Rear view of the Lotus Europa Group 5 Rear view of the Lotus Europa Group 5

The Lotus Europa Group 5 debuted at the 1,000 km Nürburgring race in June 1979, driven by Harald Ertl, Harald Grohs, and Hans Heyer. Despite a promising effort, the car qualified only 19th with a lap time of 8:49 minutes—a stark contrast to the 7:32 set by a Porsche 908/3 Turbo. During the race, mechanical issues forced the Lotus to retire early.

Tweaks, Trials, and Troubles

Undeterred, Ertl refined the car, adding a rear wing that remains part of its design to this day. The car competed at two more events: the Norisring in June 1979 and the Interserie race at Hockenheim in September. At the latter, Ertl managed a sixth-place finish—hardly the result he had hoped for.

In an attempt to recoup his investment, Ertl rented the car to Mario Ketterer and Immo Klein Racing. At a DRM event on the Nürburgring's short circuit, Ketterer qualified an impressive sixth. However, the car retired mid-race, leaving its renters disappointed.

Back on track: Lotus Europa Group 5 Back on track: Lotus Europa Group 5

After these efforts, the Lotus Europa Group 5 disappeared from competition. Harald Ertl, always chasing the next opportunity, moved on to other ventures before his untimely death in a 1982 plane crash.

A Brief Return and Final Disappearance

The car briefly resurfaced in the early 2000s, competing in the Orwell Super Sports Cup, before fading back into obscurity. Today, it stands as a testament to the creativity and ambition of Group 5 racing—and to the relentless drive of Harald Ertl.


Picture credits: Tom Schwede (4x)