Porsche AG: Congratulations to Walter Röhrl on seventy fifth Birthday

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Porsche congratulates Walter Röhrl on his seventy fifth birthday

The 2-time World Rally champion is as busy as ever

Stuttgart
. If you’re fortunate sufficient to have his telephone quantity, you’ll know that once you name him you might be usually greeted with the phrases: “I’ll name you again! I’m working proper now.” And work he does – gladly, and of his personal accord – although he’ll flip 75 on 7 March 2022. That’s our Walter Röhrl. Not solely was he topped World Rally champion twice, however he’s additionally one of many solely drivers ever to have received world championship rounds in each rallying and racing. He was victorious in each class or collection – whether or not TransAm, IMSA, hill climbs (Pikes Peak) or within the German Touring Automobile Championship. Röhrl is considered the world’s best rally driver of all time and, on the similar time, he’s identified for his honesty, being somebody who at all times says what he thinks. Röhrl has been a Porsche model ambassador since 1993 and till lately was additionally a Porsche check driver, placing the ending touches on all new manufacturing vehicles on the Nordschleife. Initially from Regensburg, Röhrl was significantly concerned in creating the 959, Carrera GT and 918 Spyder supercars.

He’s nonetheless on the street loads at the moment – predominantly for ‘his model’, Porsche. Only in the near past, for instance, he taught journalists easy methods to excellent ice drifting in Porsche fashions, and appeared on podcasts answering questions on artificial fuels, the preservation of historic automobiles, and sustainability. Driver coaching programs for Porsche prospects are necessary. “And once I’m requested what I consider a thoroughbred sports activities automobile like the brand new 911 GT3, I’ll take a check drive earlier than I reply,” says the septuagenarian. “All in all, I’m nonetheless on the street for greater than 100 days a 12 months.” And he’s at all times a really welcome interviewee at occasions organised by the Porsche Heritage and Museum division. He has met motorsport followers at quite a lot of occasions together with throughout appearances on the Porsche Sound Night time, at numerous commerce gala’s, and at driving occasions.

For Röhrl, work additionally means taking care of his personal fleet of automobiles, which incorporates a variety of traditional 911 derivatives. By the way, his first car was a Porsche 356 B Coupè with 75 PS. Whilst a works driver for Ford, Opel, Fiat, Lancia and Audi, Röhrl maintained his relationship with Porsche, together with rally entries with a privateer 911. Final 12 months, Porsche thanked him for his loyalty: to mark the
fortieth anniversary of the 1981 rally season, the Porsche Heritage and Museum division shocked Röhrl with the 924 Carrera GTS Rallye that he drove again then – newly restored. Collectively along with his co-driver Christian Geistdörfer, he took 4 total victories within the 1981 German Rally Championship within the gold-and-black 924 ‘Monnet’.

Nonetheless, the eager skier and bicycle owner isn’t making a lot of a fuss about his platinum celebration. “I’m going to go snowboarding that day,” he reveals, confessing that he has at all times felt just a little awkward about award ceremonies in his honour. Whether or not he’ll have the ability to fulfil his want to have extra time for himself over the subsequent few years is debatable – contemplating how energetic he’s. “I’d prefer to get my previous vehicles out a bit extra usually and go to mates,” he says. One factor’s for positive, his schedule for this 12 months is already booked up.

2/21/2022

Additional info and photos for journalists and media representatives will be discovered on the Porsche press database at http://presse.porsche.de/.