Career
His greatest success came in the 1980s as a driver for Ford. Niedzwiedz rose to prominence when driving a Ford Capri for Zakspeed in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft. The turbocharged 1.4 L engine from the Zakspeed Ford Capri was later enlarged for the 1.7 L "Super Capri".
With this 500+ hp car, Niedzwiedz established in 1982 the "eternal lap record" for Group 5 touring car racing at the old 22.8 km Nürburgring with 7:08.59, just 10 seconds slower than the F1 record of 6:58.60 set by Niki Lauda in 1975 (see: Nürburgring lap times).
During the 1982 season, Niedzwiedz also drove in the World Endurance Championship for Zakspeed, in a Ford C100. The Zakspeed-prepared Group C machine was run by the works Ford Germany team with Klaus Ludwig, Manfred Winkelhock and Marc Surer at the wheel, but the car was a midfielder at best, although Jonathan Palmer and Desiré Wilson scored a 4th place overall the 1,000 km of Brands Hatch in 1982.
Driving an Eggenberger Motorsport Ford Sierra he was runner-up in the World Touring Carolina Championship of 1987 and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft of 1989. Between 1987 and 1996, Niedzwiedz drove six times in the Bathurst 1000.
After driving for Eggenberger Motorsport in 1987, he drove Eggenberger built Sierra RS500s for Allan Moffat Racing in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992.
He returned in 1996 to drive a Ford Falcon EB. Niedzwiedz also drove for Allan Moffat Racing at the 1989 Fuji 500 and 1990 Sandown 500. Other events:
1981 24 Hours of Le Mans
1982 24 Hours of Le Mans
1988 24 Hours of Le Mans
Since 1984, Niedzwiedz has worked as a journalist and television host in Germany, starting with moderation of Sat.1 magazine Treibstoff. Since 1997, he moderates n-tv Motor.
A 1/24 scale model of the 1979 Ford Capri Zakspeed (model 24014) is represented as the Doctorate&West Klaus Niedzwiedz car, and is complete with Niedzwiedz in team uniform.