Rupert Hollaus

Rupert Hollaus
Rupert Hollaus in 1953
Nationality	Austrian
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1952 - 1954 First race 1952 250cc West German Grand Prix Last race 1954 250cc Swiss Grand Prix First win 1954 Isle of Man 125cc Ultra-Lightweight TT Last win 1954 250cc Swiss Grand Prix Team(s) NSU Championships 125cc - 1954 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 11 5 10 0 5 63

Rupert Hollaus (4 September 1931 – 11 September 1954) was an Austrian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who competed for the NSU factory racing team.^[1] He is the only Austrian to win a road racing World Championship, and the first racer to do so posthumously.

Motorcycle racing career

Hollaus was born in Traisen, Austria. He began his Grand Prix racing career in the 1953 season. In the 1954 season, he dominated the 125cc class by winning the first four Grands Prix. His victory at the 1954 Isle of Man TT was notable because he was one of only seven riders to have won an Isle of Man TT race in their first attempt.^[2] Due to the circuit's 37.7 mile length, it usually takes competitors two or three attempts before they learn its nuances.

Later that same year, Hollaus was killed during practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.^[3] Hollaus became the first posthumous World Champion in 1954, in the 125cc class and was runner up to his NSU teammate, Werner Haas, in the 250cc class.^[1][4]

On 23 February 1955 he was elected as "Austrian Sportspersonality of the year 1954" (posthum).

Motorcycle Grand Prix results^[1][4]

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6
Points	8	6	4	3	2	1

(Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Class	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Points	Rank	Wins
1952	250cc	Moto Guzzi	SUI -	IOM -	NED -	GER 9	ULS -	NAT 17			0	—	0
1953	125cc	NSU	IOM -	NED -	GER -	ULS -		NAT -	ESP 3		4	9th	0
	250cc	Moto Guzzi	IOM -	NED -	GER 6	ULS -	SUI -	NAT -	ESP -		1	15th	0
1954	125cc	NSU		IOM 1	ULS 1	NED 1	GER 1		NAT -	ESP -	32	1st	4
	250cc	NSU	FRA 3	IOM 2	ULS -	NED 2	GER 2	SUI 1	NAT -		26	2nd	1

References

1. "Rider Statistics – Rupert Hollaus". MotoGP.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
2. Procter, Guy (2015), "Bitesize", Classic Bike, Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, ISSN 0142-890X
3. Rupert Hollaus career profile at Motorsport Memorial
4. "Rupert Hollaus career profile at the Isle of Man TT Homepage". iomtt.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.

Rupert Hollaus grave at Traisen