ATS Wheels

Auto Technisches Spezialzubehör, generally marketed as ATS Wheels, is a German wheel manufacturer whose history combines automotive engineering, aftermarket alloy-wheel production, and Formula One competition. The company was founded in 1969 by Günter Schmid and established its early reputation through lightweight wheels supplied for or associated with Porsche, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz automobiles. Its products were positioned around reduced weight, performance-oriented styling, and suitability for both road-car customization and motorsport applications. One of the company's best-known historical products was the Penta wheel, which was used by the Mercedes tuning company AMG from 1979 into the 1980s. The association helped connect ATS with the period's high-performance Mercedes tuning scene and gave the company visibility beyond the specialist wheel market. ATS also sponsored national motorsport events before Schmid decided to develop a racing operation under the ATS name. ATS entered the Formula One World Championship in 1977 after acquiring the remaining PC4 chassis from Penske Racing. Jean-Pierre Jarier gave the new team an encouraging debut by finishing sixth at the United States Grand Prix West. The operation was small and frequently changed drivers, chassis, and technical personnel. Its early seasons included the HS1, developed with designer Robin Herd, followed by the D-series cars designed by engineers including John Gentry, Giacomo Caliri, Nigel Stroud, Gustav Brunner, and Hervé Guilpin. The team competed with limited resources and experienced repeated problems involving reliability, handling, qualifying performance, and driver continuity. The team recorded several notable results during the early 1980s. Hans-Joachim Stuck scored fifth place in the 1979 United States Grand Prix, while Manfred Winkelhock and Eliseo Salazar each achieved fifth-place finishes in 1982. The 1981 season also attracted attention because Swedish driver Slim Borgudd brought sponsorship connected with ABBA, with Borgudd having worked as a drummer with the pop group before his racing career. In 1982, Salazar became involved in a highly publicized collision with race leader Nelson Piquet at the German Grand Prix. For 1983, ATS obtained BMW's M12/13 turbocharged four-cylinder engine and entered a Gustav Brunner-designed D6 for Winkelhock. The BMW power unit provided competitive potential, but reliability limited the team's results. The subsequent D7 chassis was used in 1984, when Gerhard Berger joined Winkelhock during the season. Berger finished sixth at the Italian Grand Prix, but the result was not eligible for championship points because the second ATS entry had not been registered at the beginning of the season. After BMW withdrew engine access at the end of 1984, Schmid closed the ATS Formula One operation. Schmid later established the Rial wheel brand and returned to Formula One in 1988 with the Rial team, but that later racing activity was separate from the ATS Formula One entry. ATS itself remains associated primarily with alloy wheels, specialist automotive equipment, and its distinctive place in German motorsport history.

ATS was founded in Germany in 1969 by Günter Schmid as a specialist manufacturer of lightweight automotive wheels. The company concentrated on alloy-wheel applications for road cars and developed relationships with performance-oriented marques and tuners, including Porsche, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz. Its engineering emphasis on lower weight and sporting appearance made ATS relevant to both the aftermarket and motorsport communities. The Penta wheel, used by AMG from 1979 into the 1980s, became one of the most recognizable products associated with the brand. Before entering Formula One, ATS promoted itself through sponsorship of national motorsport events. Schmid subsequently decided to establish a Grand Prix team under the ATS name. The team made its Formula One debut in 1977 after acquiring the remaining PC4 chassis from Penske Racing. Jean-Pierre Jarier finished sixth in the team's first race at the United States Grand Prix West. A second entry was attempted at the German Grand Prix for Hans Heyer, who started despite failing to qualify and retired with a gear-linkage problem. Hans Binder then drove the second car for the remainder of the season, although ATS skipped the final three races. For 1978, designer Robin Herd created the HS1, ATS's first genuine Formula One chassis. Jarier was joined by Jochen Mass, but the season became unstable because of disputes, injuries, failed qualifying attempts, and repeated driver substitutions. Alberto Colombo, Keke Rosberg, Harald Ertl, Michael Bleekemolen, and Binder all appeared in ATS cars during the year. The team also introduced the D1, designed by John Gentry, with skirts, a wider track, and side pods, but the design did not substantially improve competitiveness. ATS returned to a one-car approach in 1979, entering Hans-Joachim Stuck. The D2 arrived during the season but handled poorly, so Nigel Stroud's D3 was introduced quickly. Stuck's fifth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix provided the team's only points of the year. The team expanded again to two cars in 1980, with Marc Surer and Jan Lammers driving the D3 while Gustav Brunner developed the D4. Surer suffered serious leg injuries in practice at the South African Grand Prix, and ATS ran a single car for part of the season. Lammers qualified fourth at the United States Grand Prix West but retired after a first-lap collision. In 1981, Lammers initially drove the D4. Slim Borgudd joined at the San Marino Grand Prix and brought sponsorship connected with ABBA, becoming the team's regular driver after outqualifying Lammers. ATS introduced the HGS1, designed by Hervé Guilpin, during the season. Borgudd finished sixth at the British Grand Prix, but the team otherwise struggled to turn its engineering changes into consistent results. The 1982 season brought a stronger effort with two D5 cars, heavily revised versions of the HGS1, for Manfred Winkelhock and Eliseo Salazar. Winkelhock and Salazar both recorded fifth-place finishes. Salazar was also involved in a highly visible collision with race leader Nelson Piquet at the German Grand Prix. For 1983, Schmid secured BMW's M12/13 turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Winkelhock drove a single D6 designed by Brunner, but mechanical reliability restricted the team's results; eighth at the European Grand Prix was his best finish. The D7 debuted in 1984. Winkelhock ran third at the Belgian Grand Prix before an electrical failure and later recorded eighth-place finishes in Canada and Dallas. Gerhard Berger joined the operation from the Austrian Grand Prix onward. Berger finished sixth at Monza, but ATS's second entry was not eligible for championship points because it had not been registered at the beginning of the season. Winkelhock eventually left after a gearbox failure on the Italian Grand Prix grid, leaving Berger to complete the campaign. BMW then withdrew its engine supply, and Schmid closed the ATS Formula One team. Schmid later created the Rial wheel brand and returned to Formula One with Rial in 1988. ATS's continuing identity is principally as an alloy-wheel brand, while its Formula One period remains a major part of its historical profile.

• 1988

  Schmid returns to Formula One with Rial

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  After establishing the Rial wheel brand, Schmid returns to Formula One with the separate Rial team.

• 1984

  Formula One team folded

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  After a difficult final season and the loss of BMW engine access, Schmid closes the ATS Formula One operation.

• 1983

  BMW turbo engine adopted

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  ATS secures BMW M12/13 turbocharged engines for its Formula One programme.

• 1982

  Best double-result period begins

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  The D5 helps Manfred Winkelhock and Eliseo Salazar achieve fifth-place finishes in Formula One.

• 1981

  Borgudd joins with ABBA-linked sponsorship

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Slim Borgudd joins ATS and brings sponsorship linked to his former work as an ABBA drummer.

• 1979

  Penta wheel association with AMG

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  The ATS Penta wheel is used by Mercedes tuning company AMG during the period from 1979 into the 1980s.

• 1978

  HS1 chassis introduced

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  The team fields the HS1, its first dedicated Formula One chassis, designed with Robin Herd.

• 1977

  Formula One debut

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  ATS enters Formula One with a Penske-derived PC4 chassis and scores sixth place with Jean-Pierre Jarier at its debut race.

• 1969

  ATS is founded

  [1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Günter Schmid establishes Auto Technisches Spezialzubehör in Germany as a specialist wheel manufacturer.

Performance-oriented German alloy wheels combining lightweight engineering, aftermarket vehicle styling, and motorsport heritage.

• Automotive wheels · 1969

  ATS alloy wheels

  ATS's core product category consists of alloy wheels for road cars and racing vehicles. The company's historical identity was built around lightweight wheel construction and applications for performance-oriented European automobiles, including Porsche, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz models. ATS wheels also served the aftermarket, where alloy construction and sporting design were important selling attributes.

• Performance alloy wheel · 1979

  Penta

  The Penta is a historically prominent ATS wheel associated with Mercedes-Benz performance customization. Mercedes tuning company AMG used the design from 1979 into the 1980s, helping make it one of the most recognizable products connected with ATS's period of growth in the specialist European tuning market.

• Motorsport equipment · 1977

  ATS Formula One wheels and racing equipment

  ATS supplied and developed wheel-related technology within the context of its Formula One racing programme from 1977 to 1984. The racing operation used a succession of internally developed and externally designed chassis, while the company's broader motorsport involvement reinforced its positioning as a performance engineering brand.

• 1981ABBA-linked sponsorship with Slim Borgudd

  International Formula One

  ATS supported Slim Borgudd, whose prior work as a drummer with ABBA brought sponsorship connected with the Swedish pop group into the team's Formula One programme.

  Outcome. Borgudd outqualified teammate Jan Lammers at the San Marino Grand Prix and was retained for the rest of the season.

  Source
• National motorsport sponsorship

  Germany

  Before entering Formula One, ATS sponsored a series of national motorsport events to build visibility for its wheel business and establish credibility in performance driving.

  Outcome. The activity preceded the creation of the ATS Formula One team, although the available reference does not identify individual events or campaign metrics.

  Source

• 1984

  Close the ATS Formula One teamStrategy

  Background

  The 1984 campaign was affected by reliability problems, driver changes, an ineligible points result, and the loss of BMW engine support.

  Action taken

  After BMW revoked use of its engines, Schmid folded the ATS Formula One operation.

  Aftermath

  Schmid later returned to Formula One through the separate Rial team, while ATS remained identified primarily with wheel manufacturing.

  Source

• 1983

  Adopt BMW turbocharged enginesStrategy

  Background

  Turbocharged power had become increasingly important in Formula One, and ATS sought a stronger engine package for its next stage of competition.

  Action taken

  Günter Schmid secured BMW's M12/13 four-cylinder turbocharged engine for ATS.

  Aftermath

  The engine offered competitive potential, but reliability problems continued to limit results.

  Source

• 1979

  Replace the D2 with the D3Generation change

  Background

  The D2 introduced during the 1979 season was reported to have poor handling.

  Action taken

  ATS rapidly introduced the Nigel Stroud-designed D3.

  Aftermath

  Hans-Joachim Stuck scored fifth at the United States Grand Prix, producing ATS's only points result of the season.

  Source

• 1978

  Develop the HS1 Formula One chassisProduct launch

  Background

  ATS needed a purpose-built car rather than continuing to rely on its acquired Penske chassis.

  Action taken

  The team hired Robin Herd to design the HS1, its first genuine ATS Formula One chassis.

  Aftermath

  The season was turbulent, and the HS1 and later D1 did not deliver consistent qualifying or race performance.

  Source

• 1977

  Enter Formula One with a purchased chassisStrategy

  Background

  After sponsoring national motorsport events, Günter Schmid sought to promote ATS through a factory-backed Grand Prix operation.

  Action taken

  ATS purchased the remaining PC4 chassis from Penske Racing and entered Formula One.

  Aftermath

  Jean-Pierre Jarier finished sixth at the team's debut race, but the programme remained a small and inconsistent operation.

  Source

• 1984

  ATS Formula One operation closes after BMW engine withdrawal[1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  Gerhard Berger scored sixth at the Italian Grand Prix, although the result was ineligible for points because the second ATS entry had not been registered at the start of the season. BMW subsequently revoked engine access, and Günter Schmid folded the ATS team.

• 1983

  ATS secures BMW turbo engines[1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  ATS began using BMW's M12/13 four-cylinder turbocharged engine in Formula One. The added performance potential was offset by reliability difficulties during the season.

• 1982

  ATS achieves two fifth-place Formula One finishes[1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Manfred Winkelhock finished fifth at the Brazilian Grand Prix after post-race disqualifications, while Eliseo Salazar finished fifth at the San Marino Grand Prix.

• 1982

  Salazar and Piquet collide at the German Grand Prix[1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  While being lapped at the German Grand Prix, Eliseo Salazar collided with race leader Nelson Piquet. The incident received extensive television coverage and Piquet confronted Salazar after both cars stopped.

• 1981

  Slim Borgudd brings ABBA-linked sponsorship to ATS[1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  Swedish driver Slim Borgudd joined ATS and brought sponsorship associated with ABBA, with whom he had previously performed as a drummer. He later became the team's principal driver for the season.

• 1979

  ATS records its first Formula One points of the late 1970s[1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Hans-Joachim Stuck finished fifth at the United States Grand Prix, giving ATS its only points-scoring result of the season.

• 1978

  ATS develops its first dedicated Formula One chassis[1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  The team introduced the HS1, designed with Robin Herd, replacing its initial reliance on the Penske-derived car. The season was marked by frequent driver changes and poor qualifying results.

• 1977

  ATS enters Formula One with a Penske-derived chassis[1]ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  ATS purchased the remaining PC4 chassis from Penske Racing and entered Formula One. Jean-Pierre Jarier finished sixth on the team's debut at the United States Grand Prix West.

1. 1ATS Wheelsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ATS Wheels official websiteats-wheels.com