Marcel Fässler: Steadfast Swiss

When Marcel Fässler arrived at Audi in 2010, he brought international experience from DTM, GT and LMP racing. However, he only made a real breakthrough in his career under the sign of the four rings. The Swiss driver demonstrated his abilities with three Le Mans victories and a World Champion title within just four years. He has been a steadfast element in the Audi Sport team for six years now.

“You can have a great party here in the evening,” said Marcel Fässler in his relaxed manner when he visited team mate André Lotterer in Tokyo for the first time some years ago while they savored the nightlife in the Japanese metropolis. The comment almost comes across like a joke. However, it was meant seriously, the pulsating Asian capital reflects a strong contrast to Fässler’s homeland. Born in 1976 in Einsiedeln in the Schwyz region, the racing driver has remained loyal to his rural home to this day.

With his wife Isabel and four daughters, the Audi driver lives in Gross, a district of the municipality Einsiedeln with around 1,000 residents. The picturesque idyll at Sihlsee embodies a piece of pure Switzerland. And as natural as his home is, Marcel Fässler has retained his authentic character. He is the first Swiss to have won the
24 Hours of Le Mans, and is the first automobile World Champion to come from the Alpine country. However, this success has not gone to his head. His family keeps him on the ground. At home, he is surrounded by a perfect training region. Canoeing on the Sihlsee, mountain bike tours through the wilds, crossing mountain passes on his racing bicycle, jogging on the mountain paths or cross country skiing along the trails, which pass his house – Marcel Fässler lives in the middle of a gigantic, natural sport arena.

“After the hectic and physical effort of a race weekend, it is important to recharge your batteries at home in peace,” says the professional athlete. “I can’t do this anywhere better than in my Swiss home together with my family.”

Profile

Date of birth: May 27, 1976
Place of birth: Einsiedeln (CH)
Place of residence: Gross (CH)
Marital status: Married, four daughters
Height/weight: 1.78 m/78 kg
Le Mans starts: 9 (3 wins)

Sporting career

1985-1994 Karting
1993 3rd in Winfield Racing Drivers School, France
1995 3rd in Formula Renault Campus France
1996 3rd in French Formula Renault, “Rookie of the Year”
1997 11th in French Formula 3 Championship, 1st in Formula Campus Invitation Race, Macau
1998 4th in French Formula 3 Championship
1999 2nd in German Formula 3 Championship
2000 4th in DTM
2001 4th in DTM
2002 4th in DTM
2003 3rd in DTM
2004 9th in DTM
2005 11th in DTM
2006 4th in European Le Mans Series, 2nd in Spa 24 Hours, Le Mans 24 Hours
2007 1st in Spa 24 Hours, A1 GP series, European Le Mans Series, Le Mans 24 Hours
2008 4th in FIA GT Championship, International GT Open, two races in the American Le Mans Series (Audi R10 TDI), Le Mans 24 Hours
2009 1st in International GT Open, 3rd in Spa 24 Hours (Audi R8 LMS), Le Mans 24 Hours
2010 2nd in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R15 TDI)
2011 1st in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 TDI), Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (Audi R18 TDI), 3rd in Nürburgring 24 Hours (Audi R8 LMS)
2012 1st in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 1st in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 1st in WEC Silverstone (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 1st in WEC Bahrain (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 6th in Spa 24 Hours (Audi R8 LMS ultra)
2013 1st in Sebring 12 Hours, 2nd in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC, 1st in Spa 6 Hours, 1st in São Paulo 6 Hours, 1st in Shanghai 6 Hours, 5th in Le Mans 24 Hours (each time in Audi R18 e-tron quattro)
2014 1st in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 2nd in FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro)
2015 FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 3rd in Le Mans 24 Hours (Audi R18 e-tron quattro)

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