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This image shows: Benz RH 2-litre “teardrop” racing car in the 1924 sports car version. Photo from the front right, with Benz works driver Willy Walb at the wheel. A striking feature was the front wing, which was divided into three levels. A century ago at the European Grand Prix in Monza, Italy, on 9 September 1923, a remarkable car that would change motorsport made its debut. Although it wasn't the race's victor that captured the headlines, the groundbreaking Benz RH 2-litre "teardrop" racing cars stole the headlines despite only finishing in 4th and 5th place. These innovative vehicles, whose abbreviation stood for "racing car rear," marked a pivotal moment in automotive history, introducing the concept of mid-engined racing cars and pushing the boundaries of aerodynamic design. In a race dominated by the traditional front-engined competition vehicles of the era, it was Ferdinando Minoia, driving car number 1, who secured 4th place in one of these revolutionary racing cars. His teammate, Franz Hörner, driving car number 7, closely followed, claiming 5th position. Unfortunately, a third Benz RH 2-litre "teardrop" racing car, piloted by Willy Walb (starting number 13), had to retire. The ultimate race victory went to Carlo Salamo in a Fiat. However, the true accolade that day was awarded to Max Wagner, the designer behind Benz & Cie.'s pioneering "teardrop" racing car, recognising its game-changing impact on racing car technology. The journey of the Benz RH 2-litre "teardrop" racing car began two years earlier at the German Motor Show in Berlin in September 1921. Dr. Hans Nibel, the head of development at Benz & Cie., and his designer, Max Wagner, drew inspiration from Edmund Rumpler's "teardrop" car, featuring a mid-engine and a teardrop-shaped body optimized for aerodynamics in a wind tunnel. Although Rumpler's passenger car failed to find commercial success, Nibel and Wagner saw the potential for groundbreaking vehicles. Benz secured a license agreement with Rumpler, obtaining the "teardrop" car and associated design specifications. The company continued to refine the design, and in 1922, they produced four "teardrop" racing cars, introducing a double-jointed swing axle at the rear, another pioneering feature. The Benz RH 2-litre "teardrop" racing car was powered by a 66 kW (90 hp) in-line six-cylinder engine developed by Dr. Arthur Berger, boasting a displacement of 1,997 cubic centimeters and two overhead camshafts. This engine design shared similarities with the Benz Kaiserpreis aircraft engine from 1912. Notably, the car featured two Zenith horizontal carburetors and a crankshaft with seven roller bearings. To reduce weight, various components of the frame, pedals, steering wheel spokes, gearshift lever, and front axle incorporated numerous weight-reducing holes. The car's exterior was distinguished by its streamlined shape, central engine placement, and a curved radiator positioned behind the cockpit, crowned with a teardrop-shaped vessel, symbolizing speed. For the 1923 European Grand Prix, the cars were equipped with a smaller additional radiator to the right of the cockpit. Following the sensational debut at the 1923 European Grand Prix, the Benz "teardrop" racing cars participated in subsequent competitions. However, they did not achieve victory, due to the supercharged engines of other manufacturers, such as Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), who introduced the Mercedes 2-litre supercharged racing car, designed by Ferdinand Porsche, which was more powerful and faster. Despite this setback, Benz persisted in their efforts. By the end of 1924, they developed a sports car with a distinct body design, featuring two headlamps, a relocated rear tank, and splash guards. This car became successful in the hands of works racing driver Willy Walb and private drivers Adolf Rosenberger and Carl Hermann Tilger. The merger of Benz & Cie. and Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft in 1926 to form Daimler-Benz AG marked a shift in focus. Porsche moved on to Auto Union in 1928, where he continued to develop similar concepts. Auto Union's mid-engined racing cars with sixteen-cylinder engines became fierce competitors of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows from 1934 onwards. Mercedes-Benz driver Rudolf Caracciola secured the European Championship title in 1935, 1937, and 1938, comparable to later Formula One World Championship titles. His teammate Hermann Lang also became a European champion in 1939. In 1936, the championship went to Auto Union driver Bernd Rosemeyer. Eventually, the mid-engine racing car concept made its Formula One debut in the late 1950s, forever changing the landscape of motorsport. The 1958 Argentinian Grand Prix was the official first championship Formula 1 race to be won by a rear mid-engined car, as Stirling Moss triumphed in a Cooper T43. A year later, any F1 car with its engine the front was essentially obsolete Where: Monza, Italy When: 05 Sep 2023 Credit: Mercedes-Benz AG/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED SUPPLIER.**