Porsche works driver Timo Bernhard (29, Dittweiler/ Germany) was chosen by a panel of motor sport experts to become ADAC Motor Sportsman of the Year. The regular participant in the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring crowned his successful career as race driver in 2010 in winning the “Motorsport Grand Slam”: As first driver ever, he was able to win the four most significant and classical endurance races. Bernhard won the 24 Hours Daytona for Porsche, the 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring four times in a row from 2006 to 2009, the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2008 and last year the 24 Hours of Le Mans in an Audi. He also scored ten overall victories in the endurance race series.
The title “ADAC Motor Sportsman of the Year” will be awarded for the 31st time. Previous winners include amongst others Walter Röhrl, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. “This award has a great significance for me. It is the highlight of a very special motor sport season”, says Timo Bernhard. “I have taken my first steps in motor sport in the year 1991 in the ADAC Kart Slalom series. This was a perfect start for me at the time as only talent was decisive and not the available budget.”
The experts appreciated in particular Bernhard’s endurance, his sophisticated capability as a team player and his determination in the fight for many titles. These qualities made Bernhard an ideal example in motor sports for many young talents, as the jury said. In a run-off ballot, Bernhard passed his competitor for the prize, Nico Rosberg (25, Monaco).
