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Marshall Pruett
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ALMS Video: Timo Bernhard ‘The Long Interview
Written by: Marshall Pruett   
08/07/2008 - 02:22 AM
Elkhart Lake, WI
 
The achievements of Timo Bernhard's racing career sound more like fiction that fact, but the 27yr old German's been winning since we was a child. (Photo: Porsche) » More Photos


Let’s take a moment to close our eyes and dream about having the perfect fantasy life of an imaginary sportscar racing driver. Imagine having won driving championships in every major series you’ve entered. Then imagine what it’s like to have won those championships while driving for the most storied manufacturer in the history of sportscar racing. Add in a win at the Daytona 24 Hours. Also add in two wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours. While we’re continuing to daydream, throw in two overall victories at the Nurburgring 24 Hours and one at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

To cap off the fantasy, imagine you’d done all of this by the age of 27.

For the young German driver Timo Bernhard, the reality and gravity of his achievements do sound too good to be true, but the factory Porsche racer has spent the majority of his life working to get him to the exact point he’s reached in motorsports today.
Barely in his teens, Timo was already making a name for himself on the German and the international karting scene. Note the DHL cap--he's already anticipated driving Roger Penske's DHL-sponsored LMP2 car... (Photo: Timo Bernhard) » More Photos

Take what he’s achieved by 27, and the only word that properly describes him is ‘Prodigy.’

Timo’s youth was spent pursuing his dream of becoming a professional racing driver—his goal was to get paid to race, and that desire wasn’t
about wanting to become rich, but to have a career as a driver in the same way a teacher or construction worker views their trade as serious and fulfilling.

The distinction of earning a paying career in motorsports came when Bernhard made the most of an invitation from Porsche to test for their junior team. That test turned into racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup, GT cars in the ALMS, Le Mans and Daytona, and for the past three seasons, driving for Roger Penske in Porsche’s RS Spyder LMP2 prototype.
Teamed with the equally talented Frenchman Romain Dumas, much of Timo's success in the ALMS has come while paired with Romain. The overall win at Sebring this year ranks as his all-time favorite. (Photo: Porsche) » More Photos

With a life story that’s almost too good to be believed, we sat down with Timo to conduct one of our ‘Long Interviews’ to have Porsche’s brightest star share everything from his first karting experience at age 4 to whether we might see him sample one of Penske’s NASCAR entries.

Just as he does so often on the race track, Timo delivers in this SPEEDtv.com video interview with the same warmth and openness that’s made him a fan favorite.

Click Here to watch ALMS Video: Timo Bernhard 'The Long Interview'
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