Audi Electrifies the 2020 GP Ice Race

In just the second running of the rekindled GP Ice Race in Austria’s Zell am See, Audi Sport Formula E driver Daniel Abt joined other Audi veterans and iconic ICE Audi ice racers as he piloted his Formula E FE06 racer in a very different sort of competition than he normally sees.

Just a year ago, Abt contested the (re)debut of this once famous race put on by Ferdinand Porsche’s great grandson Ferdinand (Ferdi) Porsche. The race itself debuts back to 1937 when the first motorcycle skiing took place on the Zeller See lake. By the 50s, Porsche automobiles had taken to the ice in this, the spiritual home of the Porsche family.

45 years on, though now on manufactured ice at an air strip due to warmer temperatures brought about by climate change. Even still, the spirit of those early races is expertly captured, including the towing of skiers in the competition. That organizers now encourage clean and alternative fuels like ABT’s e-tron FE06 is a nod to the changing weather conditions of the region.

The Audi Formula E car wasn’t the only electric either. Corporate siblings Porsche brought out the Taycan while Volkswagen brought its eR1 TCR Golf with electric all-wheel drive drivetrain.

That the Porsche family is again involved, it should be no surprise that many corporate backers and brands have agreed to join in the fun. Amongst them, of course, is Audi who has supported it since it’s (re)inception last year.

Below is the full press release from Audi about the event.

Spectacular drifts on ice and snow: at the second running of the GP Ice Race in Austria’s Zell am See, Formula E driver Daniel Abt and DTM champion René Rast tackled slippery terrain with their Audi race cars. The 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist and triple Le Mans winner Benoît Tréluyer joined the Audi show.

Hildegard Wortmann, member of the Board of Managament responsible for marketing and sales, was present and joined René Rast in the Audi RS 5 DTM as well as Stig Blomqvist in the Audi Sport quattro for several fast laps. “It was an impressive experience,” she said. “It was great to see the enthusiasm of the many fans at the circuit, they were treated to a tremendous show: a unique event that connects the history, the present and the future of motorsport.” 

After the traditional ice race in Zell am See had celebrated a revival after 45 years last year, Audi racing drivers again treated spectators to an enthralling show. Daniel Abt turned several spectacular laps on snow with his Audi e-tron FE06 from the FIA Formula E and pulled the freestyle ski ace Benedikt Mayr on a rope, in traditional skijoring-style, behind his Formula E racer. “Bene is a professional skier, I drive race cars, so we had the idea to do something together here again,” said Abt. “Over time, this event with exciting racing cars from several marques and eras has turned into a hot spot of the motor racing scene. The drivers spend a great day together, there’s no competition pressure, and we give the fans a great show.”

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