This weekend was as interesting as it can be and all eyes were on Happe. After losing his sponsor, that paid his seat up until that point, Siegfried Happe was planned to miss at least the next race at Monaco this Saturday. While there were talks with him and the team right before the last race at Valentino about Happe skipping Monaco nonetheless to ready himself for Pescara, the team around Happe was very unsure when to expect the german driver.

Sure enough, Saturday morning rolls around and Happe stands in the paddock, demanding to have a go in the car. While the team did have a spare Maserati 6CM in tow, there wasn’t really a designated car for Happe. So the green 77 Maserati set the first few laps and while the times were not on point with the other Maseratis, ERAs or even the Talbot of Happes argentinian friend Russo, Siegfried started to warm up to the track, contrary to earlier interviews last year, where he made it undoubtedly clear, that Monaco wouldn’t be a trick up his sleeve:

“I will have to miss it. It’s way too dangerous with the open way to the sea and while the Bugatti T51A might have better cornering – I still feel unsure about this track overall. Without safety rails, that would ensure a minimum of safety to the waters, not a thousand horses can bring me to Monaco.” ~Happe right before the Gran Premio de Valentino

It actually took 175 horses in power, to convince him, as Happes reputation secured him the Maserati 6CM and gave him a chance to prove himself, with his wallet paying for the seat for the time being. Without any special painting attached, the german sat on the starting line in the back row with the number 77 on his car:

“you’ll see me in some colors on the next race, i promise – Maserati agreed to fit me with a car and I tried my best to secure a good position”, said the german right after the race.

It was enough for 4th place, overshadowed by an ERA Type B falling into the water after losing control at Tabac, which we are yet to receive info about Evadne Cleo, driver of said ERA.

“I told you last year, that this could happen and now we have it. It wasn’t me today, but it was a fellow driver and that track in general has to be designed to accommodate these fast cars, otherwise we will see much more injuries and maybe deaths on these roads. Today is a reminder, that we have to change certain things about racing city circuits such as Monaco – if we come back in a few years and nothing has changed, I won’t race, clear as that.” ~Siegfried Happe

A new rumor: German companies are looking to get into Motorsport

After Feldmühles departure from motorsport in general, there have been some companies that have shown a particular interest in Grand Prix races and they might be looking for a particular german driver names Siegfried Happe. While Robert Hofschläger, the other german driver on the Gentlemen Drivers will probably get a contract with Maserati themself, Happe might have a chance to get his seat paid by 2 potential companies in the near future, if they actually make the next step:

– Hermann Werner GmbH & Co. KG
– Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer AG

While both could have a serious impact on the racing world (with Hermann Werner being a tool constructor and Herman Hagenmayer a transmission supplier), the definitive decision hasn’t been made yet and Happe himself promised 2 races under his own wallet, before he will have to retire from racing without the proper funding. So we will see after the next race at Montjuic, where Happes head will be and if he continues in motorsport.