Sign in or subscribe
Highlights
Series
Explore
The waiting was too much, and agitation was giving way to annoyance for Volkswagen Motorsport. Out of everybody, driver Romain Dumas looked the most relaxed - strapped tightly into the svelte I.D. R electric racer, staring impassively into the distance. Every now and then he shut his eyes, mentally clipping one of the 156 apexes that lay ahead. Miss one and he might as well miss them all. Miss one and the last nine months meant nothing - he had one shot.
Finally, a deeply harassed-looking official sought and found the right blue jacket. It was time.
Charging umbilicals withdrawn, access hatch battened-down, tyre warmers whipped off, Dumas rolled the car away. Flicking the regulatory-required siren on to warn spectators, deer, elk and even bears of his impending arrival, he stamped on the gas and drew broken black lines through the tunnel of observers.
To continue reading this feature, subscribe to Autosport Plus today.
Expert opinion. Technical insight. Unbeatable analysis. Subscribe today for unlimited access to the world's best motorsport journalism.Subscribe for just £1
- Completely ad-free environment.
- Access Autosport Plus - the best motorsport analysis, insight and opinion.
- No monthly news limit.
- Explore Forix, the world's most comprehensive motorsport stats database.
- Find out more about Autosport Plus
Are you an Autosport magazine subscriber? Activate your Plus account
