GP Ice Race: 8000 fans celebrated revival 🎥
THERE'S JOY The new edition of the GP Ice Race in Zell am See turned into a small summit meeting of motorsport. At the same time, the new Porsche 911 also made its debut outside of a trade show. Before the show started on the ice, the new Porsche 911 was flown in for a presentation. The GP Ice Race, a revival [...]
Before the show started on the ice, the new Porsche 911 was flown in for a presentation.
The GP Ice Race, a revival of the legendary motorsport event in the Austrian winter sports paradise of Zell am See, was a complete success. Over 800O racing fans watched a spectacular show on ice under azure blue skies and bone-chilling cold, with more than 130 participants competing in historic and modern racing and rally cars.
Unexpectedly great interest of participants
Ferdinand Porsche, who with Vinzenz Greger is the initiator of the revival: "We are simply overwhelmed by the response to our first event. When we had the idea of reviving the ice race, which was held from 1937 to 1974, with a new concept, we could not have dreamed of this level of participant interest. Never before have legendary race and rally cars been gathered in such numbers and quality in one place."
Representatives of well-known brands as guests
Celebrities and motorsport greats such as Walter Röhrl, Hans-Joachim Stuck, former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber and Dr. Wolfgang Porsche (Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG) did not miss the spectacle, nor did Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, and Bernhard Maier, Chairman of the Board of Management of Škoda Auto. The motorsport directors of the Audi, Porsche, Skoda and Volkswagen brands and actor David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider, Baywatch) were also among the visitors.
Formula E car from Audi with spikes
In addition to the sporting competitions on ice, historic and modern racing and sports cars were on display. In addition, 2017 DTM champion René Rast stepped on the gas in his Audi RS5 DTM on slippery surfaces. Formula E driver Daniel Abt proved in the Audi e-tron FE04 Formula E World Championship car that electrically powered racing cars on ice and snow with spikes are also a show.
Tatter flyer and 600 hp bolide with it
A Red Bull NASCAR race car with 600 hp showed breathtaking drift action. The bolide once raced in the popular U.S. racing series and now serves as a demonstration vehicle. Another eye-catcher was the so-called Fetzenflieger. Racing driver Otto Mathé developed this racing roadster in 1952, which weighs just 490 kilograms and has a 130-hp 1.5-liter Porsche engine in the rear.
Skijoring thrilled the spectators
In addition to the action of the racing cars, the ice course also featured traditional skijoring, in which skiers are pulled by a car. A charity kart race with prominent drivers rounded off the program. The proceeds will go to Lebenshilfe in Zell am See. And will there be a GP Ice Race in 2020 as well? Ferdinand Porsche: "For sure, this year's success is motivation enough for us."
