History 1960s

1960 Rallye Pneumant / Rallye DDR (East Germany)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1960 Rallye Pneumant / Rallye DDR (East Germany)

Date: March 15–18, 1960

Start Location: Berlin, East Germany

Finish Location: Berlin, East Germany (loop route)

Total Distance: ~1,400 km (total route), ~520 km (competitive)

Surface: Asphalt and cobblestone with rural gravel sectors

A cornerstone of East German motorsport, the 1960 Rallye Pneumant—named after the nation’s tire manufacturer—was a showcase for state-supported automotive engineering. Held in the early spring, it combined agricultural backroads, border-adjacent forest zones, and structured urban control points to test consistency and teamwork across the GDR.

Route

Brandenburg & Mecklenburg: Flat, fast stretches with surprise junctions and military-restricted zones.
Ore Mountains: Narrow, fog-prone climbs near the Czechoslovakian border added elevation and danger.
Industrial sectors: Routes passed by key DDR production facilities—punctuated by timed tests near Leipzig and Zwickau.
Return to Berlin: Final navigation-heavy segments returned crews to the capital via cobbled roads and early morning fog.

The loop-style route radiated from Berlin and sampled a range of East German road conditions:

Local authorities coordinated tightly with race organizers, and the route emphasized self-reliance with limited external support allowed.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Heinz Melkus & Egon Culmbacher · Wartburg 311
2nd Place
Hans-Joachim Walter & Dieter Suckow · Trabant P50
3rd Place
Gerhard Schüler & Horst Wappler · IFA F9

Melkus piloted the Wartburg 311 with precision and discipline, leveraging its 3-cylinder strength and nimbleness through technical sectors. His win marked an important moment for East German rallying pride on home soil.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Checkpoint Control: Strict timing windows and military coordination meant delays resulted in instant disqualification.
  • Surface Variety: Drivers had to adapt between cracked asphalt, slick cobblestones, and muddy rural farm roads.
  • Weather and Visibility: March fog and cold air made morning starts treacherous, especially in wooded areas.

The 1960 Rallye Pneumant emphasized preparation over performance—rewarding resilience, accuracy, and mechanical reliability in a distinctly East German setting.

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