It’s Michael Fastbender!
Petrolhead actor is hitting the racetrack in the US in a $300,000 Ferrari
MICHAEL Fassbender has demonstrated his petrolhead power – as he successfully completed the first round of the North American Ferrari Challenge series this week.
Wearing his racing overalls, the Irish-German actor honoured his hero Michael Schumacher as he deftly handled the powerful Ferrai 488 around the track.
Despite being known as a serious motorbike fan, Fassbender is also an extremely capable supercar driver and a lifelong Formula One fan.
He began his training with Ferrari’s Corso Pilota driving programme last year – and has since showcased his track skills.
Speaking to a motoring magazine, Fassbender said he is a lifelong fan of Ferrari and their legendary driver.
‘From a very early age I idolised Ferrari and its champion Michael Schumacher in particular, so now racing in the Ferrari challenge brings that team full circle,’ he said.
This is not the first time the Kerry-born thespian has voiced his admiration for Schumacher. Nor is it the first time he has acquitted himself with style behind the wheel of a car.
In fact, Fassbender ranks third in the leaderboard for Top Gear’s Star in a Reasonably Priced Car challenge. In 2008 he drove round the famous Top Gear track in a Kia Cee’d and, despite icy conditions, his lap was a winner.
He completed the lap in 1 minute 42.8 seconds earning him a top three spot behind Rowan Atkinson and the current Top Gear host Matt LeBlanc.
And during his interview with the then host Jeremy Clarkson, he admitted that his German roots pipped his Irish heritage, at least when it came to motors.
When prodded by Clarkson as to whether the German Schumacher or Irish driver Eddie Irvine was his favourite, he chose Schumacher.
‘So your German side wins out,’ said Clarkson.
‘Yes, I’m still a Schumacher man.’
Fassbender also revealed that he alarmed his hero by mobbing him at the Silverstone track.
‘I was really lucky to get invited to Silverstone one year and he did come out of the Mercedes garage and I was running behind him like a stalker, shouting “Shuh, Schumacher.” Then I shouted “Michael I still think you’re the best.”
‘I think there was a bit of fear. He hadn’t a clue who I was.’
The Top Gear producers were also full of praise for his dedication, and revealed that Fassbender, ever the professional, turned up over an hour early for his practice laps.
‘He turned up early at 11.15; they don’t come till about 12.30. He’s a biker, they usually do well,’ he said.
And series producer Andy Wilman labelled him a ‘madman’ on the track.
During his practice laps, Fassbender said that he hoped to make the top 10 on the leaderboard.
‘I’m keeping the viewers entertained hopefully. You have high hopes of getting in the top 10, but right now I just need to complete a lap.’ After his winning lap time, which was completed in icy conditions, he told Clarkson that he thought that The Stig was ‘fed up with him’. To which Clarkson quipped, ‘He’s jealous, your helmet is now more famous than his’ – a reference to Fassbender’s bare-all movie Shame.
And despite this week driving the Ferrari 488 – which costs around $300,000 – Fassbender has only owned one car, a Peugeot 306 turbo diesel, which he once crashed.
Fassbender is a very capable supercar driver