He is most commonly known for starting one Formula One World Championship race, the 1977 German Grand Prix, despite failing to qualify.

[citation needed] Heyer was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany to parents who ran a bitumen and a concrete mixing company.

[1] Living close to the Netherlands and not yet allowed to race in Germany at the age of 16, he started his career there in 1959 with karts and won the 1962 Dutch Championship in the 100cc category which he followed up by winning the 125cc class in 1963.

Heyer also raced in France by competing in the Brignoles 24 Hour Classic in 1969 to 1971 winning twice and finished 2nd in 1970.

He crashed his 480 hp car badly at the Norisring in Nuremberg, rolling several times.

Heyer won the 12 Hours of Sebring race in 1984 driving alongside Stefan Johansson and Mauricio de Narvaez in a Porsche 935.

[5] His son Kenneth Heyer is also a racing driver, currently involved in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for MANN-FILTER HTP Motorsport.