Theo Helfrich was born in 1913 in Hamburg. As a motor trader, he was one of the first West Germans to acquire a Cooper Mk VIII-Norton and competed on both sides of the border. He won his first 500 race at Leipzig then finished second to Moss and ahead of Stuart Lewis-Evans a week later at the Nürburgring.

Theo also raced in three Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in 1952 - 1954, twice in a Veritas and finally in the Klenk Meteor, he failed to finish each time. Theo had more success at Le Mans in '52, finishing second in the Mercedes 300 SL with Helmut Niedermayr  Theo Helfrich died in April 1978.

Theo at Leipzig, May 1954, where he won.

Some results for Theo:

Leipzig 16th May 1954, 1st

Nürburgring 23rd May 1954, 2nd

Dresden 13th June 1954, 1st

Bressuire 27th June 1954, 3rd

Halle Saale Schleife 8th August 1954, 1st

Sachsenring 15th August 1954, 1st

 

Sachsenring 14th August 1955, DNF

Stockholm 4th September 1955, 7th

 

Leipzig 6th May 1956, 3rd

Wismar 5th August 1956, 2nd

Dessau 23rd September 1956, 2nd

 

Halle Saale Schleife 28th April 1957, DNF

Leipzig 26th May 1957, DNF

Cooper Mk VIII, Leipzig, 16th May 1954

If anyone has more information, please get in touch.