Biography René Rast

The DTM champion as a Formula E rookie

René Rast is getting off to a fresh start in Formula E. Following another title win in the DTM and his successful Formula E debut for Audi in Berlin last season, Rast is now contesting his first full season in the fully electric racing series.

In the DTM, there was no getting around him on the path to success: In his four years as a regular driver in the touring car championship, he won the drivers’ title three times and set numerous records. Now a new chapter begins in the German’s career as a race driver. For the first time since 2004, he will be on the grid again in a single-seater race car. In the final rounds of the 2019/2020 Formula E season, he demonstrated that he should not be underestimated here either. Rast instantly impressed with his first appearance in the Super Pole, his first points and his first podium finish.

For Audi, the logical consequence was filling the cockpit of the second Audi e-tron FE07 with Rast. Even though this will be his first full season in the electric racing series, Rast is not a classic rookie. His first stint in a Formula E car was in Berlin, in 2016, still in the first-generation car back then. In the motorsport world, the German is particularly known for his meticulousness. He leaves nothing to chance, analyzing everything down to every detail to find the tenths that are still missing. This, not least, is reflected in his successes in the DTM, in which 24 victories and three titles have made him the most successful Audi driver in history, as well as in his victories in the 24-hour classics on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, at Daytona and at Spa-Francorchamps.

Within the Volkswagen Group, René Rast’s unusual career took him from the Polo Cup all the way to Le Mans and now, via the DTM, into Formula E. As many as three times he won the Porsche Supercup held as part of the Formula One supporting program. Since 2011, he has been active under the banner of the four rings. At the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 sports car, he is regarded as the benchmark and a guarantee for success, which includes the ADAC GT Masters title win.

Rast’s aspiration for his first year as a regular driver in the electric world championship is clear: “My goal is to build on the performances I delivered in the rounds in Berlin and to achieve further podium finishes. Naturally, I’ve also firmly set my sights on my first victory,” says Rast. As previously in the DTM, the German will be on the grid in car number 33: “33 is my trademark and has brought me a lot of luck so far. I think it looks cool and a double number is easy for anyone to remember.” 

Off the race track René Rast is a family person. Time with his loved ones helps the German recharge his batteries between races: “When I spend time with my family I can unwind. That’s when I mentally get away from motorsport. One or two days after a race weekend are usually enough for me to be able to recuperate and subsequently fully focus on the next race again.” With his partner, Diana, and their son, Liam, he lives in Bregenz on the Austrian side of Lake Constance. 

Biography
René Rast (D)
Date of birth: October 26, 1986
Place of birth: Minden (D)
Place of residence: Bregenz (A)
Marital status: partner Diana, one son (Liam)
Height/weight: 1.79 m/64 kg
Motorsport since: 1996 (Audi driver since 2009)

1996–2002 Kart
2002 1st German ICA Junior Kart Cup
2003 Formula BMW ADAC
2004 Formula BMW ADAC
2005 1st ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup
2006 2nd Seat León Supercopa
2007 10th Porsche Carrera Cup, 8th 24 Hours Nürburgring
2008 1st Porsche Carrera Cup, 6th Porsche Supercup
2009 2nd Porsche Supercup, VLN (Audi R8 LMS)
2010 1st Porsche Supercup, ADAC GT Masters
2011 1st Porsche Supercup, 5th Porsche Carrera Cup, ADAC GT Masters (Audi R8 LMS)
2012 1st Porsche Supercup, 1st Porsche Carrera Cup, 1st 24h Spa (Audi R8 LMS ultra), 1st GT Class 24h Daytona, ADAC GT Masters (Audi R8 LMS ultra)
2013 2nd GT class 24 Hours Daytona (Audi R8 GRAND-AM), 6th FIA GT Series, 6th ADAC GT Masters, Blancpain Endurance Series (each Audi R8 LMS ultra)
2014 1st ADAC GT Masters, 1st 24 Hours Nürburgring, 1st 24 Hours Spa, 6th Blancpain GT Series (each Audi R8 LMS ultra)
2015 2nd FIA GT World Cup Macau (Audi R8 LMS)
2016 1st GTD class 24 Hours Daytona (Audi R8 LMS), 5th LMP2 class FIA Endurance World Championship WEC, 3rd 24 Hours Spa (Audi R8 LMS), 23rd DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM)
2017 1st DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 3 wins, 3rd 24 Hours Daytona
2018 2nd DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 7 wins, 1st Nations Cup Race of Champions
2019 1st DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 7 wins
2020 1st DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 15th ABB FIA Formula E (Audi e-tron FE06)
2021 ABB FIA Formula E (Audi e-tron FE07)

www.rene-rast.de; facebook.com/ReneRast33; twitter.com/renerastracing (@ReneRastRacing); instagram.com/renerast; twitch.tv/renerast