Back at the Nürburgring for the Modena Track Days, two years after the accident I had on the way back of the previous edition, I wanted to make the most of this event together with Jacky Ickx, I would not be disappointed !

I arrived, on the Eiffel circuit, with Dominique Dreneau on Monday at arbout 9:30. Dominique will describe the general atmosphere and tell his experience of these two great days in a forthcoming article.

When we find Jacky Ickx, he tells me : “I am here with the Audi R8 V10 and you will join me on a lap of the circuit.” At this point, I do not realize yet what will happen.

In reality, Jacky Ickx is there with two Audi R8 : a road version and a 550 hp version prepared for competition which he has already driven in Spain. These “Taxis” are here to drive the VIP and other members of the press on a circuit lap to promote the car.

Seeing the crowd of candidates for this dream ride, I decide to postpone my turn to the next day as, from what I know, there are less people on the second day of the event. I tell Dominique to register on the co-driver list for Monday afternoon.

Deep down I have two feelings, on the one hand I am excited to go with Jacky Ickx and, on the other hand i am anxious to ride in this car. Indeed, my only experience of racing cars is a lap of the old Spa-Francorchamps in a Ferrari P3-P4 in 1965 or 1966. I had helped the “Beurlys” Team and to thank me, I had been entitled to a lap of the circuit. There was no passenger seat and I had to sit on an old blanket, holding me as I could to what I could find. My only memories are the hallucinating speed down Masta and the way I was shaken in every curve. I also had the opportunity to ride as a passenger in a Ford GT40 (a replica) but at much reduced speed on an open road.

As expected, on Tuesday morning, the crowd is less dense. This morning, Jacky takes the first candidates in the Audi road version and after forty-five minutes he returns to the Audi pit, comes to me and the dialogue starts :

– You haven’t come for a drive with me ?
– No, I prefer to go on the racing version…
– Ah… You don’t want to run in anything… he says with a smile
– Well, if I have the choice…
– Your heart is OK ?
– Yes, why ?
– Because I am going to make you vomit your breakfast… hahaha…

Then, watching the Audi crews setting up new slick tires, he says still with a laugh :

– Hem, and on top of that I will have new slicks… it is going to be great…

My mind is not put at rest after this conversation, my anxiety increases. Dominique nevertheless tells me that he has not felt extreme sensations during his lap, the day before, with Jacky. Well, once the wine is drawn it must be drunk up to the dregs… and a few minutes later, I am in the pitlane with the carbon helmet on the head, ready to settle in this 550-hp monster. The door opens, I slip into the deep bucket seat and the Audi technician fixes securely the safety harness. I see the roguish glance of Jacky on me and I think “I’m going to get it in the neck…”.

A push on the starter and I feel the monster vibrate behind us. Jacky sets the first gear and we drive at moderate speed in the pitlane, so far … everything is OK …
At the end of the pitlane, the light is orange and then after a few seconds, turns to green. At this moment, I’m stuck at the bottom of the seat by the sudden acceleration, Jacky feels liberated …. .

We are already at the first right turn which is taken very wide, a slight brake followed by a rough acceleration while the next left turn is already coming. But … he does not brake ??? He keeps accelerating ???

At this moment and in the three following seconds, I can tell you that I regret having sat in this racing car, I feel overwhelmed with panic. Fortunately, Jacky’s control reassures me very quickly and panic is very quickly replaced by pleasure.

With the fantastic grip of this four-wheel drive car you take an incredible centrifugal force… rapid curves are taken at more than 180 km/h, braking is more than late, impossible to keep the helmet on the back of the headrest, the feet try to keep the body that is nevertheless held back on the seat by the harness , but nothing happens. I try to see where we are on the circuit, I admire how Jacky tames this driving monster without brutality but with the necessary grip. Vibrations felt when we drive on the curb reminds me that we are not on a touristic drive.

A Porsche 908 is ahead of us, but not for a long time. In a fast curve, Jacky passes it without hesitation, probably more easily than when he was driving the Ferrari 312 PB, although not sure …

We are already in the last curve and soon the straight line in front of the grand stands is quickly swallowed at more than 300 km/h. I dread the next three bends which had induced a sense of panic but the human body adapts very quickly to the situation and I enjoy this second lap, I realize the value of the gift I receive from Jacky who gave me this extraordinary sense of pleasure.

On the way back to the pitlane, I put my hand on his arm and thank him for these magical moments he has shared with me. In response he turns a slight smile to me, shakes his head. It is a little harder to climb out of the car than to get in it, my corpulence and my age have certainly a lot to do with it. Back to the pit, while removing the helmet, I cannot realize what has just happened. Dominique Dreneau comes to me and questions me. I do not know what I have answered because my mind was elsewhere, at 250 km/h…

When Jacky returns to the pit after his last “Taxi” trip, he comes to me, sits down and tells me :

– Well, are you all right ?
– Yes, but I did not think you would attack so hard, I say;
– I have not attacked, he says with a laugh, when I attack there is smoke everywhere…
– You see, I have not vomitted my breakfast, I say, but I don’t dare to tell him I panicked for a few seconds,
– That’s fine, he says putting a friendly hand on my shoulder.

A little later, it is time to go back home. We are overjoyed. I thank Jacky again and we say goodbye. He advises me to be careful on the way back, certainly remembering my previous accident.

As a fan of Jacky Ickx, I am filled, he not only gave me his friendship, but I also had the pleasure to be with him in a racing car on the circuit he probably best knows. The loop is closed.