A busy Sunday for Audi drivers
Racing drivers, in general, are not very good at sitting still or doing little. In between races they train hard to be physically and mentally as fit as possible to cope with the rigours of top-line racing, and often seek leisure activities or pastimes which provide them with the same adrenalin rush as their ‘day’ job.
Before leaving for next weekend’s 6 Hours of Bahrain, the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, Audi Sport drivers Marcel Fässler, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish have all put their physical or mental powers to the test to keep themselves sharp for the forthcoming race.
24 Hours of Le Mans winner Marcel Fässler, together with his wife Isabel, contested the 16th Iron Bike Race at Einsiedeln in Switzerland. The Swiss couple took part in a race covering a 53-kilometre mountain trail near their home town on Sunday, climbing 1,300 metres in altitude along the way. Marcel finished 8th in his class, despite breaking a spoke on the rear wheel, while his wife was 9th in the ladies’ catagory. Congratulations to them both!
For the Danish-Scottish duo, it was the Singapore Grand Prix - held at night, just as much of the 6 Hours of Bahrain will be - which required their time and attention. Television viewers in Denmark enjoyed Tom Kristensen’s expert analysis for their specialist coverage of Formula One, while his team mate Allan McNish was also present in Asia as one of the three FIA race stewards. Quick thinking, rapid-decision making, dealing with the unexpected…it would seem it’s all in a day’s work for these two drivers, both on and off track.
Fiona Miller
Photo: AUTODROMO JOSE CARLOS PACE (INTERLAGOS, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL), 6 HOURS OF SAO PAULO, 15TH SEPTEMBER 2012. Audi Sport's Marcel Fassler.