From 1937 to 1973, ice races in Zell am See were a crowd-puller and a place for the international motorsport elite to meet. The organizational team headed by Ferdinand Porsche and Vinzenz Greger is reviving this tradition after 45 years. Audi Tradition is using the revival to demonstrate the history and future of the motor racing program – featuring, among others, an Auto Union Type C that is part of the historic exhibition. In 1938, Hans Stuck won the Großglockner hillclimb event not far from Zell am See in a Type C. The most spectacular rally car of all time, the Audi Sport quattro S1, will also do its laps at the GP Ice Race.
When René Rast starts his Audi RS 5 DTM in Zell am See, it will definitely be a loud and fast experience. The 2017 DTM Champion is eager to see how the studded tires will cope with the more than 500 horsepower of his race car. “In karting, I once drove an ice race against Nico Rosberg on studded tires and with the Audi driving experience I’ve been to Sweden before,” says the 32-year-old pro. “Obviously, ice is the absolute challenge for any race driver. Even though everything seems to be happening in slow motion, we have to be fully focused. On the one hand, it’s fun but on the other, as always, we want to feel the limit. I’m already very excited.”