RFM Front Page News

TORONTO, Canada (January 4, 2003) — Like Alain Prost before him, Mike Rockenfeller of Neuwied, Germany has never been in doubt about his career path or how to get there. From the age of 10 when he began in karts, he knew he was destined to be a champion race driver. Six years of success in karts, including the Formula König, caught the eye of the Porsche Junior development program, and Mike the Kart Champion became Mike the Porsche Competitor. He spent the past two years in the Carrera Cup competition, and his guest drives in the Supercup where he competed with more experienced drivers proved that, like Senna, he could take to a new track and mix it with anyone. Mike produced authoritative drives to first and second place at the Nürburgring and Silverstone, including pole position, and it was clear that he could have taken first place at Silverstone had he been “prepared to use a crowbar to get by” as another driver of the same first name might have done. After concluding the Carrera Cup in second place overall (42 points ahead of American teammate Patrick Long), he crossed the Atlantic to step up another rung. His first race in America was with the Orbit Racing team at the Petit Le Mans, the season ending ALMS endurance race, and despite 15 different personal “firsts” that weekend, acquitted himself like the professional he is, until mechanical problems ended the car’s run. The entire Orbit team have praised his maturity, focus and talent, and hints have been dropped that this 19 year old is eagerly sought after even by other racing series that don’t involve sports cars! Although we are still awaiting final word on where Mike will drive in 2004, rumour is that he will return to Carrera Cup for his final year, joining the ALMS and GARRA for selected endurance races. Following up on the interview we were privileged to get at the PLM, Mike gave RFM Sports a review of his 2003 season and a look at his goals for 2004.

Kate Shaw: I know that 2003 was an exciting season for you with many different experiences in three different racing series. What do you think was the high point of your 2003 season?

Mike Rockenfeller: My high points were the Supercup race at the Nürburgring because I was the youngest driver who ever won a race in Supercup, and Atlanta, my first endurance race. Also, I was the youngest to ever finish second in the Carrera Cup [Mike finished the season with 126 points, only 10 points behind the winner]. This was a good result, but maybe not a high point. Winning the championship would have been a high point!

KS: Did your season have any low point that you would care to remember, or would you rather forget about low points?

MR: I do not really like to talk about it, but the absolute low point was the Supercup race in Monza. It was really, really a bad race. That's all I want to say about it.

KS: Of all the “firsts” that you experienced in 2003, which was your favourite?

MR: I had a great experience in Atlanta, when I drove in my first endurance race for Orbit. Everything was new to me, especially the car which is faster than the Cup car. The track was very interesting because it is so different from what we have in Germany. German tracks tend to be very flat, but Road Atlanta had many up and down sections, really nice.

KS: Have you seen or driven the new Porsche? If you have, what did you think of it compared to the 2003 car? If not, when do you think you will be driving it?

MR: No, I haven't driven it so far. I've seen it and I hope I can drive it in the future, but I don't know when.

KS: I understand that you will be driving the Flying Lizard Porsche at Daytona this winter. Have you visited Daytona or will this be another “first” for you?

MR: It's my first time on the track. It's a pleasure to go to Daytona and drive there. I don't know the track, but Jörg [Bergmeister] and Timo [Bernhard] have told me some things about it.

KS: What have they told you?

MR: Jörg and Timo told me the Rolex 24 is a really, really long night, maybe 12 dark hours. They said the track is not really difficult; it's quite easy to learn, easier than Atlanta. The banking will be new for me, though.

KS: Orbit Racing is known for its sense of fun. Did the Orbit Racing boys play any jokes on you at Road Atlanta?

MR: No, although in night practice, I stopped at the wrong pit with the wrong pit crew. So all the guys, the mechanics, made some jokes about that!

KS: What are your personal goals for 2004, either on or off the track?

MR: I want to win as many races as I'm able to, especially in the German championship – I want to win the Carrera Cup – and for sure some Supercup races. I hope I'll do some endurance races with BAM! Including maybe Le Mans. But the Nürburgring 24-hour race is the same weekend as Le Mans, so I don't know if that will be possible.

KS: What track in the ALMS schedule would you most like to drive on?

MR: I think there are many interesting and nice tracks, but I cannot really tell my favorite one because the only one I know is Atlanta. Maybe in two or three years, I can tell you which one is my favorite.

KS: What one question would you like to be asked that you have not been asked before?

MR: “Do you want to test a Formula One car?”

KS: What question do you wish nobody would ever ask you again?

MR: “Are you related to the Rockefeller family from America?" [Note that the two names are not spelled the same!]

KS: Well, on that note we thank you for bringing us up to date. Best of luck to you and Flying Lizard at Daytona, and we look forward to seeing you on the grid at Sebring!

Next week: Chris Dyson and Bobby Sak!