Racing overall instead of spacesuit: stratosphere diver Felix Baumgartner will line up in the final race of the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup, which forms part of the program at the DTM finale in Hockenheim. The 44-year-old completed an exclusive test at the Hockenheimring on Thursday, under the guidance of none other than DTM legend and ARD expert Manuel Reuter.
Baumgartner showed impressive basic speed and is highly motivated ahead of his motorsport adventure. However, even in the 285-hp natural gas Scirocco, the Austrian was nowhere near his own high-speed record. Almost exactly a year ago – on October 14, 2012 – the extreme sportsman launched himself out of a craft at around 39 kilometres above the planet, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier during free fall. The top speed of Mach 1.25 or 1,357.6 kilometres per hour set during the Red Bull Stratos project is one of three world records now held by Baumgartner. The Volkswagen ambassador, who drives a custom-built Touareg “Stratos Edition,” is now embarking on his next adventure in the Cup-Scirocco.
Also joining Baumgartner and 18 talented young racing drivers in Saturday’s race (live on Sport1 at 16:15) are motorsport legends Manuel Reuter, Frank Biela (both D), Laurent Aïello and Éric Hélary (both F). The battle for the title promises to be nothing short of dramatic: championship leader Kelvin van der Linde (ZA) is being chased by Kasper H. Jensen (DK) and Jordan Lee Pepper (ZA).
Felix Baumgartner: “The test in the Cup-Scirocco was great fun! I am now really looking forward to the race weekend in Hockenheim. After all my years as an extreme sportsman, this is actually my first real motorsport race. There will obviously be even more action and adrenalin on Saturday, but I can handle that. However, the car is not easy to drive – particularly when it is your first time in a natural-gas racing car, as it is for me. You have to drive a good line, otherwise you soon fall away from the man in front. The weekend will be a real challenge. No matter what happens, I am sure it will not be the last time I don a racing overall.”
Manuel Reuter, Starter Legend-Cup: “Respect. Felix did a great job at his first test in Hockenheim today. Although he may not have broken the sound barrier, you can tell he has a good feeling for speed. The DTM finale and a start in the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup – this will be a great final weekend at the Hockenheimring for me. However, the focus will definitely be on having fun – just as it will be in the duels with the younger drivers.”
In case you missed it, here's that record-breaking dive.
