“Instinct is something subconscious: the earlier you start to train it, the stronger it gets. Car control stops being a matter of concentration and becomes second nature. You don’t think about it any more, it becomes as natural as walking, or riding a bike.” This is how professional racing driver André Lotterer describes his experiences behind the wheel – from karting to formula sport right and up to Le Mans prototypes.
The background of rapper and amateur racing driver Smudo, on the other hand, is somewhat different. His journey began in the digital world, with a simulation inspiring his fascination with motor racing. The theoretical knowledge he gained there later opened the door to real-life motorsport and he can now be found on the starting line of races like the legendary 24 Hours Nürburgring.
Sustainability in motorsports: Smudo races in a “Bio Porsche”
The fact that Smudo is not only aware of the environment but proactively supports it is shown by his bioconcept race cars. Recycled engine oil, special fuel with 20 per cent bioethanol and body parts made from organic fibre composites are a clear sign of how motorsport can be sustainable.
While Smudo made the switch from digital to real-life cockpit, it was the other way round for Lotterer: the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a number of races being held digitally – a new experience for the Porsche works driver. “Not having any feedback from G forces and vibration required a real adjustment. I was more nervous before the first digital race than my other races,” he remembers.
Porsche 9:11 podcast: Smudo and Lotterer in conversation
Listen to the third episode of the Porsche 9:11 podcast to hear how Smudo is preparing for his dream – starting at Le Mans – about the difficulties in Formula E qualifying mode for Lotterer, and to find out how both fare in the Nordschleife quiz.
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André Lotterer, born in 1981 in Duisburg, has not only won the Japanese Super Formula and Super GT championships, he was also WEC champion and finished the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the very top of the podium no less than three times. Today he races as a Porsche works driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team.
Michael Bernd Schmidt, born in 1968 in Offenbach am Main and best known by his pseudonym Smudo, has gold records on display alongside his racing cups. That is because the rapper is one of Die Fantastischen Vier, the pioneers of German rap. As well as music, the passionate gamer runs the Four Motors racing team, where he competes with successful bioconcept race cars – currently a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR.
