Bernd Robert Schneider (born 20 July 1964) is a German racing driver. He is a five-time Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters champion, FIA GT champion and Mercedes brand ambassador. He also competed in Formula One.
Career
Early years Schneider was named after legendary driver Bernd Rosemeyer, winner of the 1936 European Drivers' Championship. Introduced to karting at an early age, he displayed an obvious talent for racing. After several years in the junior kart series, Schneider won the 1980 German Kart championship. Two years later, he would win the 1982 European Kart championship with the national team. In 1983, he won the African kart championship.
Single seater racing The next few years, Schneider would race in the various Formula Ford series in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. In 1986, he joined the German Formula Three circuit, winning the title the following year in 1987 as well as finishing third in the 1987 Macau Grand Prix. This brought him to the attention of Erich Zakowski, who signed Schneider to drive for his Formula One team Zakspeed in and . However, the small German-based squad did little to make an impression on the F1 circuit and Schneider was only able to qualify for nine races out of the 32 he entered with the team (seven out of 16 with the turbo powered car in 1988 and only twice out of 16 attempts did he pre-qualify and actually qualify for a race in 1989). Schneider also briefly drove for Arrows, before leaving single seaters and racing Porsche sports cars in the early 1990s for Kremer Racing and Joest Racing, in the World Sportscar Championship and the Interserie and races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Schneider won the , an annual award presented by Porsche AG to recognize the world's most successful privateer racing driver competing with Porsche machinery in a customer racing team, in 1990.
DTM championships
In 1992, Schneider moved to the DTM (German Touring Car Championship), driving for AMG-Mercedes. Finishing third his first season, he has since been a regular Mercedes driver. In 1995, he won his first DTM championship, piloting an AMG C-Class.
In the years of the DTM's absence, Schneider raced the works Mercedes CLK GTR cars in the FIA GT Championship, winning the title in 1997 after winning six races. In 1998, now with the CLK-LM variant, although winning five races with teammate Mark Webber, he lost the title to teammates Klaus Ludwig and Ricardo Zonta. He was also a Mercedes works driver in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998 and 1999.
The DTM returned in 2000 with silhouette bodies and V8 engines, and Schneider took the championship crown three of the first four years (2000, 2001, and 2003) in an AMG CLK-Class; he was runner up in 2002. Still driving for AMG, Schneider has won a record four championships; in 2005, he was teammates with (among others) former F1 champion Mika Häkkinen, and in 2006 won his fifth championship title.
On 21 October 2008, it was announced that Schneider would retire from racing at the conclusion of the 2008 season.
Post-DTM
In recent years, Schneider has returned from retirement to take part in several endurance races. In 2013, he raced in and won the 24 Hours of Dubai, the Bathurst 12 Hour, the 24 Hours Nürburgring and the Spa 24 Hours in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
Schneider currently races in the Pro-Am class of the Blancpain Sprint Series in the No. 70 GT Russian Team Viatti Mercedes.
Personal life Schneider lives in Monte Carlo with his girlfriend Svenja and their daughter Lilly-Sophie. He also has children Lisa-Marie and Luca Maximilian with his ex-wife Nicole, Oliver Bierhoff's older sister. Schneider still enjoys karting.
Racing record Career summary
SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition1984German Formula Ford 1600?????3052ndGerman Formula Ford 2000?????0NC1985German Formula Ford 20002????2694thEuropean Formula Ford 2000?????0NC1986German Formula 3 Championship111124944thDeutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftFord-Grab Motorsport GmbH200001327thMacau Grand PrixVIT Formula Racing10000N/A19th1987German Formula 3 ChampionshipTeam Sonax Autopflege878771401stDeutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftFord-Grab Motorsport GmbH700115613thMacau Grand PrixSchubel Rennsport Int.10011N/A3rdWorld Touring Car ChampionshipFord Texaco Racing Team / Rousesport100001643rd1988Formula OneWest Zakspeed Racing600000NCEuropean Touring Car ChampionshipEggenberger Motorsport200007032bdDeutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftFord-Grab Motorsport GmbH20000938th1989Formula OneWest Zakspeed Racing200000NCDeutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftFord Motorsport Eggenberger20000149th1990Interserie - Div. IPorsche Kremer Racing109510997.51stWorld Sportscar Championship800003.518thFormula OneFootwork Arrows Racing100000NCPorsche Carrera Cup GermanyPorsche AG100000NC1991Interserie - Div. IJoest Racing666???1stIMSA GT Championship90001499thDeutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftZakspeed Racing600112615thWorld Sportscar ChampionshipTeam Salamin Primagaz200011217th24 Hours of Le MansJoest Porsche Racing100011217th1992Deutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftAMG Motorenbau GmbH2441781913rdIMSA GT ChampionshipJoest Racing300000NC1993Deutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftAMG-Mercedes Sonax2232491723rd1994Deutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftAMG Mercedes Tabac-Original Sonax2023778610th1995Deutsche Tourenwagen MeisterschaftD2 Privat-Team AMG Mercedes1452461381stInternational Touring Car Championship1062581551st1996International Touring Car ChampionshipD2 Privat-Team AMG Mercedes2641392052nd1997FIA GT ChampionshipAMG-Mercedes116568721st1998FIA GT ChampionshipAMG-Mercedes105458692nd24 Hours of Le Mans10100N/ADNF199924 Hours of Le MansAMG-Mercedes10000N/ADNF2000Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team16649122211st2001Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team1033591611st2002Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team102018642nd2003Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team102467681st2004Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team111055366th2005Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team111103324th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - A6 Raeder Motorsport10??0N/A?2006Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team102027711st 24 Hours of Nürburgring Raeder Motorsport SP6 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII10??0N/A6th2007Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team10100231.56th2008Deutsche Tourenwagen MastersHWA Team111102346th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP3T10000N/A4th 2011 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP3T10000N/A6th 2012 Australian GT Championship Erebus Racing221224211th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro-Am Preci-Spark100000NC City Challenge Baku HEICO Motorsport10000N/A4th 24 Hours of Nürburgring Hankook Team Heico SP9 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT310000N/A? 2013 Australian GT Championship Erebus Motorsport200011930th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro HTP Motorsport22012712nd 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Black Falcon11001N/A1st 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro HTP Motorsport300203014th 2015 ADAC GT Masters HP Racing801004321st Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro-Am GT Russian Team10000625th Black Falcon10000 Blancpain GT Sprint Series GT Russian Team60000424th 24H Series - A6 Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon HP Racing 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Black Falcon10000N/ADNF 2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup AMG - Team Black Falcon200000NC 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP911001N/A1st Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup HTP Motorsport101023594th Intercontinental GT Challenge AMG - Team Black Falcon10000615th Erebus Motorsport10000 24H Series - A6 Black Falcon HTP Motorsport 2017 Intercontinental GT Challenge HTP Motorsport100000NC 24H Series - A6 Touring Car Endurance Series - SP3-GT4 Mercedes-AMG Testteam HTP Motorsport 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Mann-Filter Team HTP Motorsport10000N/A14th 2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup SunEnergy1 Team HTP Motorsport100000NC Intercontinental GT Challenge100000NC† IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD SunEnergy1 Racing100102354th 24H GT Series - A6 HTP Motorsport 24H GT Series - GT4 Team RACE SCOUT by Winward / HTP Motorsport 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP8T Mercedes-AMG Team Driving Academy11001N/A1st2019 24H GT Series - A6 Mann-Filter Team HTP Motorsport 2022 GT2 European Series - Invitational SPS Automotive Performance200000NC 24H GT Series - GT3 MANN-FILTER Team Landgraf
Complete Formula One results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Points West Zakspeed Racing Zakspeed 881 Zakspeed 1500/4 Straight-4 t/c BRA SMR MON MEX CAN DET FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS NC 0 West Zakspeed Racing Zakspeed 891 Yamaha OX88 V8 BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS NC 0 Footwork Arrows Racing Arrows A11 Ford Cosworth DFR V8 USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR NC 0 Arrows A11B ESP JPN AUS
Complete World Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points 1987 Ford Texaco Racing TeamRousesport Ford Sierra RS500 MNZ JAR DIJ NUR SPA BNO SIL BAT CLD WEL FJI*ovr:17cls:10 43rd 16 * Overall race position shown. Registered WTCC points paying position may differ.
Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft/Masters results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pts 1986 Ford-Grab Motorsport GmbH Ford Sierra XR4 TI ZOL HOC NÜR AVU MFA WUN NÜR ZOL NÜR 27th 13 1987 Ford-Grab Motorsport GmbH Ford Sierra XR4 TI HOC ZOL NÜR AVU MFA NOR NÜR WUN DIE SAL 15th 56 1988 Ford-Grab Motorsport GmbH Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth ZOL1 ZOL2 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 BRN1 BRN2 AVU1 AVU2 MFA1 MFA2 NÜR1 NÜR2 NOR1 NOR2 WUN1 WUN2 SAL1 SAL2 HUN1 HUN2 HOC1 HOC2 38th 9 1989 Ford Motorsport Eggenberger Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth ZOL1 ZOL2 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 MFA1 MFA2 AVU1 AVU2 NÜR1 NÜR2 NOR1 NOR2 HOC1 HOC2 DIE1 DIE2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HOC1 HOC2 49th 1 1991 Zakspeed Racing Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 ZOL1 ZOL2 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 AVU1 AVU2 WUN1 WUN2 NOR1 NOR2 DIE1 DIE2 NÜR1 NÜR2 ALE1 ALE2 HOC1 HOC2 BRN1 BRN2 DON1 DON2 15th 26 1992 AMG Motorenbau GmbH Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 ZOL1 ZOL2 NÜR1 NÜR2 WUN1 WUN2 AVU1 AVU2 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 NOR1 NOR2 BRN1 BRN2 DIE1 DIE2 ALE1 ALE2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HOC1 HOC2 3rd 191 1993 AMG-Mercedes Sonax Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 93 ZOL1 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 WUN1 WUN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 NOR1 NOR2 DON1 DON2 DIE1 DIE2 ALE1 ALE2 AVU1 AVU2 HOC1 HOC2 3rd 172 Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 ZOL2 1994 AMG Mercedes Tabac-Original Sonax Mercedes C-Class V6 ZOL1 ZOL2 HOC1 HOC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 MUG1 MUG2 NÜR1 NÜR2 NOR1 DON1 DON2 NOR2 DIE1 DIE2 NÜR1 NÜR2 AVU1 AVU2 ALE1 ALE2 HOC1 HOC2 10th 86 1995 D2 Privat-Team AMG Mercedes Mercedes C-Class V6 HOC1 HOC2 AVU1 AVU2 NOR1 NOR2 DIE1 DIE2 NÜR1 NÜR2 ALE1 ALE2 HOC1 HOC2 1st 138 2000 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM HOC1 HOC2 OSC1 OSC2 NOR1 NOR2 SAC1 SAC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 LAU1 LAU2 OSC1 OSC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HOC1 HOC2 1st 221 2001 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM HOCQR HOCCR NÜRQR NÜRCR OSCQR OSCCR SACQR SACCR NORQR NORCR LAUQR LAUCR NÜRQR NÜRCR A1RQR A1RCR ZANQR ZANCR HOCQR HOCCR 1st 161 2002 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM HOCQR HOCCR ZOLQR ZOLCR DONQR DONCR SACQR SACCR NORQR NORCR LAUQR LAUCR NÜRQR NÜRCR A1RQR A1RCR ZANQR ZANCR HOCQR HOCCR 2nd 64 2003 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes CLK 2003 HOC ADR NÜR LAU NOR DON NÜR A1R ZAN HOC 1st 68 2004 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2004 HOC EST ADR LAU NOR SHA2 NÜR OSC ZAN BRN HOC 6th 36 2005 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2005 HOC LAU SPA BRN OSC NOR NÜR ZAN LAU IST HOC 4th 32 2006 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2006 HOC LAU OSC BRH NOR NÜR ZAN CAT BUG HOC 1st 71 2007 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2007 HOC OSC LAU BRH NOR MUG ZAN NÜR CAT HOC 6th 31.5 2008 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2008 HOC OSC MUG LAU NOR ZAN NÜR BRH CAT BUG HOC 6th 34 - Shanghai was a non-championship round. † — Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.
Complete International Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)