From dream to driver’s seat
ADRIAN Zaugg is living his dream.
As a child, the 27-year-old had a framed picture of a Lamborghini on the wall of his bedroom. Today, it is his job to test the luxury cars before they are deemed fit for the shop floor.
Zaugg is no daredevil, but he loves the thrill of speeding cars and nothing could beat landing a job as a factory test driver for the Italian car company.
“I used to watch Formula One on television since I was eight years old. I just remember getting excited about cars and dreaming of doing the sport.”
He was born in Singapore. His mother hails from Heathfield in Cape Town and his father is a Swiss programmes engineer. Zaugg flies the South African flag when he races.
“I remember that when I was kid, in my room I had a framed picture of a Lamborghini on my wall. Now I am working for them. It’s crazy,” he said.
Zaugg, who is fluent in English, German and French, started off as a kart racer at age 12. His “hobby” turned serious and he won the Bridgestone Championship at 16.
“Then I told my parents that I wanted to be a racer. At first they thought it was a phase, but they still supported me because they used to take me to my karting lessons,” he said.
He grew up mainly in Switzerland and the family spent most of their winter breaks in South Africa.
After finishing school, Zaugg scored a scholarship with German car manufacturer BMW, for which he raced while attending business school.
In 2006, when South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale ploughed cash into team South Africa to compete at the A1GP world championship, Zaugg bagged a seat.
“I have always wanted to wear my South African colours, and when Mr Sexwale chose me to be part of team South Africa it was my proudest moment,” he said.
He joined the Lamborghini family formally this year and was picked as one of four international drivers to take part in a daring high-speed night race at a Berlin airstrip.
The race was filmed for promotional material for oil company Castrol, and Zaugg travelled here for the big reveal of Blackout, which has caused an international stir thanks to the “jaw-dropping” stunts.