Motorsport is a male domain, as the saying goes again and again. And yet, there are women who are more than successful in motorsport. Daniela Schmid is one of these women on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. Daniela is 27 years old, comes from Austria and has already left many a man behind on the Nordschleife! We interviewed Daniela before the fifth VLN run.
If the others know that there is a woman behind the wheel, then the men try harder!
In an interview, Daniela tells us about her 10 years on the Nordschleife and about her experiences with her “racing colleagues” in motorsport. Daniela Schmid in an interview.
mab: Daniela, this year you prefer to drive on the LMS engineering Audi TTRS2 with start number 303, in group SP3T. A front-wheel drive sports car with around 365 hp. You share the vehicle with Uli Andree and Stefan Wieninger, neither of whom are slow racers. What is it like for you as a woman? Do you have to try harder because your “colleagues” don’t want to be “ironed” by a woman?
DS: *laughing* Yes, of course, I think it motivates my colleagues even more. Of course everyone wants to be the “fastest” in the car - but I think that if the “teammate” is a woman, then the boys make an extra effort!
mab: Tell Daniela, how did your path actually lead you to the Nordschleife?
DS: Around 10 years ago I drove the first laps on an Alfa Romeo 147 Diesel. Before that, I had perfection training over 2 days from the “sports car” participated. And after that I actually jumped straight into the Nordschleife adventure.
mab: And what about the “reverence” of the Nordschleife? Back then, when you were 17, weren’t you afraid of this “green hell”?
DS: With the Alfa, with which I started my racing career, I had an experience in the first race that I probably won't forget in a hurry. Back then, without ABS and without traction control, you had to watch what you were doing carefully. So I came down the Schwedenkreuz and suddenly I saw how the route was almost completely closed after an accident. Hardly any time to react, no assistants, no helpers in the car and then there was only a small gap - I got through it. And actually I thought that there must be a “red flag” (renna break), but nothing. There was nothing there. That was for the “green Hell” a completely normal racing situation. That definitely boosted my respect for this race track again! You never know what's waiting for you around the next bend. You have to be wide awake!
mab: There are supposed to be racing drivers up here who claim that they still don't know the Nordschleife after 10 years. How is it with you? Do you feel like you know the Nordschleife by heart? Now, blindfolded, could you trace the route on a piece of paper?
DS: I think that after around 100 laps the track is already well known - I'm now driving the ninth season - so that's more than 80 races on the Nordschleife. I think I could easily paint the route with my eyes closed.
mab: You have with the LMS engineering Audi TTRS2 a 365 hp racing car, making you one of the constant favorites in your SP3T class. Today, in qualifying for the fifth VLN race, you are also the fastest in your class - overall you are in an impressive 22nd place - ahead of which there are many much more powerful vehicles. On average, your LMS-Audi TTS is only 10 km/h slower than the top vehicles from the SP-X and SP9 classes. This makes you one of the “fastest” on the race track. How much stress is “lapping” slower vehicles, constantly being “stuck in traffic”?
DS: Exactly, it's always 100% concentration. The traffic is heavy, VLN 5 has almost 150 vehicles at the start! That requires maximum attention. Even if you know the route, overtaking and fighting with the other vehicles is the challenge - even on the Nordschleife! We drive Dunlop racing tires on our Audi TTRS2 and they are a real help. Always reliable and thanks to the support of Dunlop let's go on the track with top material. The tire also fits extremely well with our front-wheel drive TTS.
mab: What's actually more nerve-wracking? Driving the race itself or, like you today, waiting until you can get into the vehicle? Today you are driving the “last stint” – so first you have to watch your two colleagues racing.
DS: I'm already excited, but on the one hand we have a very reliable car, so I can assume that there won't be any technical defects. In addition, my teammates are very experienced and drive smartly. So I don't get “hypernervous”, but of course you watch the race with a certain tension. But I use the time, concentrate, go through the route in my head, think about what is important in this race.
mab: Daniela, I have to ask that now. You've been driving the endurance trophy and motorsport for 10 years, we all know that, not a cheap hobby. How do you do it, who are your partners?
DS: That’s right, without “loyal sponsors” this wouldn’t work. On the one hand, I can rely on our “vacation region”. The Audi TTRS2 bears, among other things, the lettering from Pitztal! We have a very well-known ski region (Hochzeiger), where among other things the national ski team trains regularly. And then still belong Drexler and Becker carbon to my partners!
mab: From pole position in your class in the fifth VLN round of the season - and you, Daniela, drive the last stint. There can only be one goal for today, right?
DS: * laughs * Well, we are a little spoiled by the success - of course the class win is also my goal!
mab: Thank you Daniela for this interview!
Pole position and victory!
The LMS engineering Audi TTRS2 with the start number 303 entered the race from the 22 starting position and was ultimately able to Another class victory for Daniela Schmid and her colleagues drive in and came to an outstanding overall 12 finish!
Congratulations, Daniela!
Photos: SB-Medien | Stefan Baldauf