Mike “Rocky” Rockenfeller was racing driver born in Germany in 1983 who has competed internationally in prototype sports, grand touring and touring cars.
Recognized worldwide as one of the most iconic drivers for the discipline, Rockenfeller has not limited himself to being behind the wheel to make an impact in motorsports and proof of this is the launch of a new virtual racing series such as the RCCO World eX.
Beginnings and teams
The discipline in which “Rocky” took his first steps was with karting in 1995, however it was not until 2001 that he would take fourth place in the German König Formula. He was subsequently runner-up in the 2003 Porsche Carrera German Cup, and competed in Petit Le Mans in a GT-class Porsche 911.
In 2004, Rockenfeller took the title in the German Carrera Cup with five victories, and won two Porsche Super Cup races. Porsche would hire Rockenfeller as the official driver in 2005 and then contest the FIA GT Championship in a Porsche 911 of the GruppeM team GT2 with Marc Lieb, where he achieved six victories out of 11.
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The German raced in the United States in 2006. As Alex Job’s driver in the American Le Mans Series, the pilot achieved a victory and three podium finishes in his Porsche 911 that placed him tenth in the GT2 championship.
In 2007, the driver joined the Audi team. Thus, he contested the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in the Rosberg team at the controls of an Audi A4 from the previous year with which he added a podium and finished twelfth.
2010 and his greatest successes
Rockenfeller started the 2010 racing season winning the 24 Hours of Daytona overall in the Action Express Racing Porsche Riley with co-drivers João Barbosa, Terry Borcheller and Ryan Dalziel.
However, his greatest achievement was the absolute victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, accompanying Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, after having finished fifth in the 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps of the Le Mans Series.
“Rocky” has other titles to his credit such as the 2005 24 Hours of Spa, the 2006 Nürburgring 24 Hours. He was champion of the GT2 class of the FIA GT Championship in 2005 and the LMP1 class of the Le Mans Series in 2008.
In the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters he was champion in 2013, third in 2014 and fourth in 2012.
Rugged season
At the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rockenfeller was involved in an accident when overtaking a slower GTE vehicle at 5:49 into the race.
Shortly after nightfall, he was involved in a violent crash at the kinks on the straight between Mulsanne Corner and Indianapolis after near contact with Robert Kauffman’s car.
Rockenfeller then climbed from his car and jumped to safety over the Armco barrier. He sustained a small flesh wound on his right arm and was admitted into a hospital overnight for observation.
A new challenge: sustainability and simulation races
Rockenfeller is now commanding the RCCO World eX championship, a new virtual series that will carry the DNA of real motorsports, offering a sport that is a communication platform for modern mobility and sustainability.
The new series aims to take on the best Sim Racing drivers with top-notch vehicles under the motto of #RacingForTheClimate.
““We want to use the popularity of motorsport to offer entertaining races and also raise awareness for sustainable mobility and the fight against climate change. And, of course, we don’t want to miss out on the fun part. Motorsport and climate conservation can be combined, just like what Formula E and other initiatives have already successfully demonstrated. We will link the real world of motorsport with the virtual world and media channels.”
Mike Rockenfeller
Written by | Gabriel Sayago
