Silver Arrows, Mercedes W25 GP. 1934

 Mercedes-Benz W25 (Grand Prix 750 kg)

 For the 1934 season, Grand Prix racing's governing body AIACR introduced a formula limited mainly by a maximum weight of 750kg.

 In 1934, the W25 won four major races (Eifelrennen, Coppa Acerbo, Spanish and Italian GP) compared to three for Auto Union (German, Swiss and Czechoslovakian GP), plus the Klausenpass hillclimbing event.

 The Mercedes W25 made it's debut at the Eifelrennen. Legend says they failed the 750 kg limit at the weight-in by 1 kg and that during the night the white paint and filler was removed and replaced by a thin coat of aluminium color. The next day the cars then passed the weight check and went on to win their first race and the Silver Arrows were bourne.
 

 The subject materials were for the VIII Eifel GP 1934, sourced from a variety of reference materials from my library, I do enjoy this process.

 The subject I decided on was, the moment where Fagioli let von Brauchitsch pass, by orders from Neubauer, to allow a German driver to win. Fagioli, while furious with the order, would simply abandon his Mercedes W25, on the side of the track in disgust.

 Rough sketch.
 

 I find when I study period photographs of these early Mercedes racers, it surprises me how rough the body work finish was? The craftsmen who worked the alloy material were skilled but it appears that in some cases the wonderfull finish you see on some of the restored examples of these cars, was not how the car looked originally. Not only the W25 but on at least one W154 as well. I like the rough tooled look. These cars mean business.

 I decided to move von Brauchitsch's car a bit more to the rear, after all Fagioli was leading and probably would have won the race, had he not allowed von Brauchitsch to pass at Bergwerk.

 It was important to keep your speed high, through Bergwerk, photographic evidence show this area of the circuit to be quite wooded and you need to maintain speed for the up hill section when exiting Bergwerk.

 I also moved Fagioli's attention to Brauchitsch as he lets him through to the lead.