Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg knows a thing or two about what it takes to win.
So his endorsement of Volkswagen’s record-breaking ID.R electric race car is a significant accolade.
Son of world champion Keke Rosberg, he retired from Formula 1 in 2106 after finally winning the world championship in a 10-year career that spanned 208 races, 23 wins and 57 podiums.
Rosberg gave the ID.R the nod after being invited to drive the car on what turned out to be a wet Nürburgring.
He described the experience as the kind of performance he had only ever experienced before in Formula 1.
The electric race car currently holds five records, plus all-time records at Pikes Peak in Colorado (USA), on Goodwood Hill (GB), and Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie (China).
It also holds the lap record for fully-electric cars at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER) and Bilster Berg (GER).
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Rosberg, who is passionate about electromobility, has invested heavily in future technologies since retiring from Formula 1.
Among other things, he founded the Greentech Festival – an event focused on sustainability topics.
The 35-year-old is particularly fascinated by companies with innovative solutions and more sustainable concepts in the field of mobility.
At the Nürburgring, he took his place for the first time in the Volkswagen ID.R in his other role as car tester and influencer.
Despite rain, wind and temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, Rosberg still had a smile on his face as he climbed into the ID.R to take the 500kW electric race car for a spin at the Grand Prix circuit in the Eifel region of Germany.
“It’s been a while since I have driven a real race car in the rain, but I immediately felt like a fish in water in the ID.R,” he said.
“It feels fantastic to drive. The traction, the acceleration, the downforce — it was all very familiar.”
“Compliments to the engineers at Volkswagen, who have done important pioneering work in the field of electromobility with the ID.R.
“Motorsport’s job is to change mobility as a whole. It should be the test and development platform, in order to transport technology into production.”
The findings of test and record drives are incorporated in the production development of future electric models, like the ID.4 electric SUV.
The goal is for the Volkswagen brand to launch more than 20 all-electric vehicles by 2025.
Rosberg.
Rosberg behind the wheel of the ID.R
Oh, what a feeling.
Out she goes.
Discussion time
Rosberg with the ID.R
CHECKOUT: Tianmen run from the air