Prince Leopold of Bavaria (born 1943)

Prince Leopold (Poldi) of Bavaria (born 21 June 1943) is a member of the Bavarian royal house of Wittelsbach and a former champion race car driver. He descends from King Ludwig I of Bavaria in direct line and is a distant relative to the current head of the House of Wittelsbach, Franz, Duke of Bavaria and his brother, Maximilian, Duke in Bavaria. He also descends from Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth and from King George II of Great Britain, and is therefore a distant cousin of Elizabeth II. As a Roman Catholic he is excluded from the line for the British throne by the Act of Settlement 1701. He also descends from Isabella II of Spain, through her daughter, and Leopold's great-grandmother, María de la Paz.

Prince Leopold
Born (1943-06-21) 21 June 1943
Schloss Umkirch near Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Spouse
Ursula Möhlenkamp
​
(m. 1977)​
IssuePrince Manuel (illegitimate)
Princess Maria del Pilar
Princess Maria Felipa
Prince Konstantin
Full name
German: Leopold Rupprecht Ludwig Ferdinand Adalbert Friedrich Maria et omnes sancti Prinz von Bayern
HouseWittelsbach
FatherPrince Konstantin of Bavaria
MotherPrincess Maria Adelgunde of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Early life

Leopold (aka "Poldi") was born on Schloss Umkirch near Freiburg im Breisgau in Baden-Württemberg. He is the eldest son of Prince Konstantin of Bavaria and his first wife Princess Maria Adelgunde of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

Since his parents separated soon after he was born, Leopold was raised by his grandparents Prince Friedrich von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Princess Margarete Karola of Saxony. He grew up on Schloss Umkirch together with his uncle Prince Ferfried (aka "Foffie") who is only two months his senior. It was there the Prince developed his love for cars and racing.

Marriage

On 21 October 1977 Prince Leopold married Ursula (Uschi) Möhlenkamp, the daughter of Wilhelm (Willi) Möhlenkamp and Ingeborg Brauckmann. The civil ceremony took place at Berg on Lake Starnberg in Bavaria. The religious ceremony followed a month later, on 19 November 1977 in Aufkirchen, Bavaria. Initially the union was considered morganatic, but on 3 March 1999 the marriage was decreed to be conditionally dynastic in accordance with the Bavarian house laws. The couple have four children:

  • Prince Manuel Maria Alexander Leopold Jörg of Bavaria (b. out of wedlock in 1972); married Princess Anna of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (b. 1978) in 2005. They have three children:
    • Prince Leopold Maria Bengt Karl Manuel of Bavaria (b. 2007)
    • Princess Alva Manuelle Maria Petra Yvonne of Bavaria (b. 2010)
    • Prince Gabriel Maria Abraham Ludwig Theodor of Bavaria (b. 2014)
  • Princess Maria del Pilar Birgitta Adelgunde Charlotte of Bavaria (b. 1978)
  • Princess Maria Felipa Karin Marion Gabriele of Bavaria (b. 1981); married Christian Alexander Dienst (b. 1978) in 2012. They have three sons.
  • Prince Konstantin Eugen Alexander Max-Emanuel Maria Ludwig Ferdinand Leopold of Bavaria (b. 1986); married Deniz Kaya in 2018.[1]

Later life

The Prince resides in a villa on the Lake Starnberg south of Munich, capital of Bavaria, and is often seen in the company of the current Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf whom he has known since his teens. He is a godfather of King Carl Gustaf's only son, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden. His maternal uncle Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern was King Carl Gustaf's brother-in-law. Prince Leopold is also involved with charitable causes helping disabled children, such as the Special Olympics and organizations promoting the use of animal-assisted therapy. This is in part, because his oldest daughter Princess Pilar has a form of autism, which she developed as a baby after she was given the wrong anesthetic during a heart surgery.[2]

Ancestry

Motor Racing career

Prince Leopold started his career with rallying and in 1969 moved to touring car racing winning the North American Championships with Porsche in 1972. In 1984 he also took part in the legendary sports car endurance race 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Walter Brun and Bob Akin, finishing fourth. In 1986, Leopold became a factory driver for the Munich based car manufacturer BMW and although he retired from competitive racing in 1998, he remains involved with the BMW racing team as an adviser.

As well as competing in Europe and America, Prince Leopold competed in Australia also with a drive the 1984 James Hardie 1000 driving a Group A BMW 635 CSi for Frank Gardner's factory backed JPS Team BMW, partnering 1967 Formula One World Champion Denny Hulme. In Australian touring car racing Group A was only a minor class introduced for the endurance races in 1984 before taking over as top class in 1985. After a troubled week which included losing a day after the Prince crashed the BMW at the top of The Mountain due to a lost front wheel, the pair finished the race in 15th place and 2nd in class, 4 laps behind the class winning TWR Rover Vitesse and 15 laps behind the race winning Holden Dealer Team Commodore. von Bayern (and Hulme) both had a new experience while racing at Bathurst in 1984. Their BMW was equipped with a racecam unit fitted in place of the left front headlight and both drivers were able to talk to the Channel 7 television commentary team while they were driving with the Prince saying at one point that "The race is very much fun for me".[3]

Racing record

Complete World Sportscar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos. Pts
1971 International Martini Racing Team P
3.0		 Porsche 908/02 Porsche 908 3.0 F8 BUE DAY SEB BRH MNZ SPA TAR NÜR
DNS		 LMS ÖST GLN [N 1]
1972 Tony Fischhaber GT
+2.0		 Porsche 911S Porsche 2.4 F6 BUE DAY SEB BRH MNZ SPA TAR NÜR
14		 LMS ÖST GLN [N 1]
1973 Tony Fischhaber GT
+1.6		 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 2.7 F6 DAY VAL DIJ MNZ SPA TAR NÜR
14		 LMS ÖST GLN [N 1]
1977 Jörg Obermoser S
3.0		 Toj SC302 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 DIJ MNZ VAL PER EST LEC
Ret		 IMO SAL [N 2]
1981 Helmut Marko RSM GT BMW M1 BMW M88 3.5 L6 DAY SEB MUG MNZ RSD SIL NÜR LMS
Ret		 PER DAY GLN SPA MOS ROA BRH NC 0
1983 Brun Motorsport B BMW M1 BMW M88 3.5 L6 MNZ SIL NÜR
Ret		 LMS
Ret		 SPA FUJ 64th 4
R. Joest/Warsteiner C Porsche 936C Porsche 935 2.8 F6t KYA
7
1984 Brun Motorsport C1 Porsche 956B Porsche Type 935/76 2.6 F6t MNZ SIL LMS
4		 25th 25
Porsche 956 NÜR
9		 BRH
8		 MOS SPA
Porsche Kremer Racing Porsche 956B IMO
4		 FUJ KYA SAN
1985 Brun Motorsport C1 Porsche 956B Porsche Type 935/76 2.6 F6t MUG
DNS		 MNZ SIL LMS HOC MOS SPA BRH FUJ SHA NC 0
Footnotes
  1. No drivers' Championship.
  2. In 1976 and 1977 the World Championship was divided into two series that ran simultaneously but separately: The World Sportscar Championship and the World Championship for Makes.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1981 Helmut Marko RSM Christian Danner
Peter Oberndofer		 BMW M1 GT 49 DNF DNF
1983 Brun Motorsport GmbH Angelo Pallavicini
Jens Winther		 BMW M1 B 160 DNF DNF
1984 Brun Motorsport GmbH Walter Brun
Bob Akin		 Porsche 956B C1 340 4th 4th
Source:[4]

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos. Pts
1984 Brun Motorsport BMW 635 CSi ZOL
4		 HOC
Ret		 AVU
5		 AVU
2		 MFA
12		 WUN
Ret		 NÜR NÜR NOR NÜR
6		 DIE HOC
Ret		 HOC
8		 ZOL
5		 NÜR 10th 72.5
1988 Euro Racing BMW M3 ZOL
1		 ZOL
2		 HOC
1		 HOC
2		 NÜR
1		 NÜR
2		 BRN
1		 BRN
2		 AVU
1		 AVU
2		 MFA
1		 MFA
2		 NÜR
1		 NÜR
2		 NOR
1
16		 NOR
2
20		 WUN
1		 WUN
2		 SAL
1		 SAL
2		 HUN
1		 HUN
2		 HOC
1		 HOC
2		 46th 3
1989 GS Team BMW M3 Evo ZOL
1		 ZOL
2		 HOC
1		 HOC
2		 NÜR
1		 NÜR
2		 MFA
1
DNQ		 MFA
2
16		 AVU
1
Ret		 AVU
2
Ret		 NÜR
1		 NÜR
2		 NOR
1
25		 NOR
2
19		 HOC
1		 HOC
2		 DIE
1
DNQ		 DIE
2
18		 NÜR
1
23		 NÜR
2
25		 HOC
1
27		 HOC
2
14		 36th 9
1990 BMW Team Isert BMW M3 Sport Evo ZOL
1
15		 ZOL
2
Ret		 HOC
1
DNQ		 HOC
2
DNQ		 NÜR
1
15		 NÜR
2
11		 AVU
1
17		 AVU
2
13		 MFA
1
20		 MFA
2
19		 WUN
1
17		 WUN
2
15		 NÜR
1
14		 NÜR
2
17		 NOR
1
9		 NOR
2
18		 DIE
1
17		 DIE
2
21		 NÜR
1
24		 NÜR
2
24		 HOC
1
Ret		 HOC
2
DNS		 29th 2
1991 BMW Team Isert BMW M3 Sport Evo ZOL
1
26		 ZOL
2
Ret		 HOC
1
22		 HOC
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
27		 NÜR
2
Ret		 AVU
1
20		 AVU
2
22		 WUN
1		 WUN
2		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
DNS		 DIE
1
19		 DIE
2
10		 NÜR
1
21		 NÜR
2
Ret		 ALE
1
15		 ALE
2
DNS		 HOC
1
18		 HOC
2
22		 BRN
1		 BRN
2		 DON
1		 DON
2		 29th 1
1992 BMW Team Isert BMW M3 Sport Evo ZOL
1
18		 ZOL
2
Ret		 NÜR
1
25		 NÜR
2
Ret		 WUN
1
21		 WUN
2
14		 AVU
1
18		 AVU
2
14		 HOC
1
Ret		 HOC
2
13		 NÜR
1
16		 NÜR
2
17		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
15		 BRN
1
10		 BRN
2
14		 DIE
1
Ret		 DIE
2
Ret		 ALE
1
Ret		 ALE
2
DNS		 NÜR
1
13		 NÜR
2
14		 HOC
1
15		 HOC
2
Ret		 25th 1

Complete Bathurst 1000 results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1984 JPS Team BMW Denny Hulme BMW 635 CSi Group A 148 15th 2nd

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
1987 Schwaben Motorsport BMW M3 MNZ JAR DIJ NÜR
Ret		 SPA BRN SIL
Ret		 BAT CLD
Ret		 WEL
12		 FUJ NC 0

Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos. Pts
1994 BMW Team Schnitzer BMW 318i AUT
1
10		 AUT
2
9		 SUG
1
7		 SUG
2
7		 TOK
1		 TOK
2		 SUZ
1		 SUZ
2		 MIN
1
Ret		 MIN
2
DNS		 AID
1
10		 AID
2
6		 TSU
1
15		 TSU
2
DNS		 SEN
1
7		 SEN
2
8		 FUJ
1
DNS		 FUJ
2
DNS		 15th 24
1995 BMW Team Schnitzer BMW 318i FUJ
1		 FUJ
2		 SUG
1
9		 SUG
2
9		 TOK
1
13		 TOK
2
16		 SUZ
1
9		 SUZ
2
9		 MIN
1		 MIN
2		 AID
1		 AID
2		 SEN
1		 SEN
2		 FUJ
1		 FUJ
2		 20th 8

Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts
1996 Isert BMW-Team BMW 320i ZOL
1
11		 ZOL
2
12		 ASS
1
Ret		 ASS
2
DSQ		 HOC
1
15		 HOC
2
Ret		 SAC
1		 SAC
2		 WUN
1		 WUN
2		 ZWE
1
Ret		 ZWE
2
DNS		 SAL
1
18		 SAL
2
15		 AVU
1
Ret		 AVU
2
15		 NÜR
1
22		 NÜR
2
18		 24th 67
1997 Isert BMW-Team BMW 320i HOC
1
29		 HOC
2
17		 ZOL
1		 ZOL
2		 NÜR
1
15		 NÜR
2
14		 SAC
1
17		 SAC
2
10		 NOR
1
26		 NOR
2
DNS		 WUN
1
16		 WUN
2
21		 ZWE
1
26		 ZWE
2
18		 SAL
1
26		 SAL
2
23		 REG
1
17		 REG
2
15		 NÜR
1		 NÜR
2		 22nd 85
1998 Team Isert BMW 320i HOC
1
20		 HOC
2
6		 NÜR
1
20		 NÜR
2
20		 SAC
1
20		 SAC
2
16		 NOR
1
Ret		 NOR
2
16		 REG
1
18		 REG
2
Ret		 WUN
1
Ret		 WUN
2
16		 ZWE
1
17		 ZWE
2
21		 SAL
1
17		 SAL
2
Ret		 OSC
1
19		 OSC
2
18		 NÜR
1
17		 NÜR
2
Ret		 23rd 98

Notes
  1. https://www.popsugar.co.uk/celebrity/Prince-Carl-Philip-Princess-Sofia-Wedding-2018-45222703
  2. Ich habe einen Traum: Seine königliche Hoheit Prinz Leopold von Bayern gehört dem Adelsgeschlecht der Wittelsbacher an, das fast 800 Jahre lang regierte, bis 1918 die Monarchie abgeschafft wurde. Er träumt vom Fortleben seiner Seele als Geist | Nachr...
  3. 1984 Bathurst 1000, The Prince Joins RaceCams 5th Birthday
  4. "All Results of Leopold von Bayern". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved June 21, 2018.

References
  • Die Wittelsbacher. Geschichte unserer Familie. Adalbert, Prinz von Bayern. Prestel Verlag, München, 1979
  • Prinz und Demokrat. Konstantin von Bayern: Ein Gedenkbuch. Konstantin, Prinz von Bayern and Arens, Hanns. München; Wien : Langen/Müller, 1970
  • Ich habe einen Traum. DIE ZEIT, 18 September 2003. Nr.39
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