Sunday 21st May 1933

On the first day of practice of the Avusrenen, one of Germany’s best drivers, Otto Merz (33), crashed to his death. This calamity overshadowed the entire event. The 1933 Avusrennen eclipsed all previous races at this track due to the impressive and exciting battle of Count Czaykowski and Varzi in their 5-litre Bugattis. The Count led every lap except the last two after Varzi passed him on the penultimate lap. Despite Czaykowski’s great effort to regain the lead, Varzi won by a fraction of a second.