The ninth round provided the opportunity for a very special and so far unique action in motor sports. At the 35th DMV 250-Meilen Race, Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO Aston Martin Lagonda, and Akio Toyoda, President of the Toyota Motor Corporation, exchanged steering wheels. Bez had entered the race together with team mate Chris Porritt (Great Britain) in the Aston Martin V12 Zagato „Zig“, Toyoda together with co-driver Akira Iida (Japan) in the Lexus LF-A race car. Both racing teams, Aston Martin and Gazoo Racing, shared a pit and used this opportunity to exchange their race cars during the weekend.
“When I learned that our teams will share one pit again, I renewed my invitation to Akio Toyoda to come and drive an Aston Martin race car whereupon I accepted with pleasure his invitation in return”, explained Bez the development of this particular action. “We meet regularly as race drivers here at the Nürburgring since the 24 Hour Race 2008. A personal friendship has developed since then which we wish to emphasize with this change of cars. Other bosses of enterprises meet on a golf court, we in contrast share the passion for car races”, adds Aston Martin CEO who regularly participates in races at the Nordschleife since 2006.
