Toni Ulmen

Anton "Toni" Ulmen (25 January 1906 - 4 November 1976): German racing driver and former motorcycle champion who competed in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix in 1952 for Veritas, achieving one finish in eighth place at the German Grand Prix. Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Ulmen's racing career began in 1925 on a 250cc Velocette motorcycle. He achieved early success in motorcycle racing: in 1927, he won the opening race at the newly-constructed Nürburgring on a 350cc Velocette, marking him as one of the circuit's first victors and establishing his reputation in German motorsport. After World War II, Ulmen transitioned from motorcycles to automobiles and dominated German national motorsport.

From 1949 to 1952, he won the German sports car and Formula 2 championships four times, establishing himself as Germany's leading driver in these categories during the early 1950s. His consistent success in national competition marked him as a driver of considerable ability within Germany, though he remained relatively unknown internationally. Ulmen's Formula One opportunities came in 1952, when the World Championship was run to Formula Two regulations, making his Formula Two Veritas-Meteor RS eligible. The Veritas featured a 2.

0-liter 6-cylinder engine that conformed to FIA regulations but lacked the development and power of leading Italian and British machinery. His Formula One debut came at the 1952 Swiss Grand Prix (Grosser Preis der Schweiz) on 18 May 1952. Ulmen retired from the race due to fuel tank issues, scoring no championship points. His second and final Formula One appearance came at the 1952 German Grand Prix (Großer Preis von Deutschland) at the Nürburgring—the circuit where he had achieved his first major victory 25 years earlier on a motorcycle.

Despite his Veritas' significant power disadvantage compared to rivals, Ulmen finished eighth, scoring no championship points (points were awarded only to the top five) but completing the race and demonstrating competent driving on the demanding 14-mile Nordschleife. After his two Formula One appearances, Ulmen returned to German national motorsport, where he continued competing and achieving success in categories where his Veritas was more competitive. He eventually retired from active racing in the mid-1950s. Ulmen died on 4 November 1976 at age 70.

He represents the generation of German drivers who rebuilt motorsport careers after World War II, achieving considerable success in national championships and occasionally competing in Formula One World Championship events when regulations aligned, though usually without the resources to challenge internationally-funded teams. Known for: Winning the opening race at the Nürburgring in 1927 on a Velocette motorcycle, winning German sports car and Formula 2 championships four times between 1949 and 1952, finishing eighth at the 1952 German Grand Prix driving a Veritas-Meteor RS, and competing in two Formula One World Championship races.