Interview with Walter Röhrl

You wouldn’t expect a two-time World Rally Champion to be a fierce advocate of classic road cars, but according to FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens), Walter Röhrl is one of the most ardent supporters of the historic car movement.

Another doyen of motorsport with a passion for historic vehicles, Dr Mario Theissen, now Senior Vice President of FIVA, interviewed Walter Röhrl at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. He asked him for his thoughts on classic cars – and on the future. “I like to support FIVA because of its work promoting historic culture,” says Röhrl. “We have to ensure that in the future we can show our children what we did 50 years ago with these cars.” And more specifically, as a classic enthusiast, what would be Röhrl’s priorities for FIVA, the international federation of historic vehicles?

“I think there are three points,” replies Röhrl. “First of all, a bit of pressure on the car industry to take care that we get proper, good-quality, original spare parts. That is the main thing. “Second, permission to use these cars on the open road – now and far into the future. And the third priority is to introduce young people to an interest in old cars.”

Röhrl – nowadays a Senior Test Driver for Porsche – is keen to stress the importance of using genuine spare parts to original specification on classic cars of all makes; and in particular, of fitting the correct right tyres: “I was lucky to be involved in testing and developing new Pirelli tyres that make classic Porsches drive almost like a modern car. Porsche customers often ask me, ‘What is the right tyre for my historic car?’ and I certainly want to be safe on the right tyres on my historic 911s and 356s.”