Mike Rockenfeller
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Mike Rockenfeller (born October 31, 1983, in Neuwied), nicknamed "Rocky", is a German race car driver, currently an Audi factory driver competing in the Le Mans Series.
[edit] Career
Rockenfeller began racing karts in 1995 at age of 9, winning the Bambini North state championship. He competed in various local and national karting series in the 1990s. In 2002, he won the Jörg van Ommen Kart Cup Super Series.
In 2001, Rockenfeller moved to cars, and finished 4th in the Formula König championship, winning one race. In 2002, he joined the Porsche Junior team and raced in the German Carrera Cup, finishing 10th, and in a partial Porsche Supercup season. In 2003, he finished 2nd in the German Carrera Cup championship, and made his American Le Mans Series debut at Petit Le Mans, finishing 10th in GT2 class. In 2004, Rockenfeller won the German Carrera Cup and also won two races in Porsche Supercup. At that year he also raced at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 1000km of Nürburgring, and Petit Le Mans.
2005 became Rockenfeller's breakthrough year. He became a full Porsche factory driver and won the GT2 class driver championship title in the FIA GT Championship driving with Marc Lieb for GruppeM Racing. He collected 6 class wins, including the Spa 24 Hours. Rockenfeller also won the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving with Lieb and Leo Hindrey for Alex Job Racing. 2006 saw him race again in the ALMS and Grand-Am series for Alex Job. He won in the ALMS at Houston and finished second in LMP2 class at Petit Le Mans, driving a Porsche RS Spyder for Penske Racing. He also took two Grand-Am wins.
For 2007, Rockenfeller became an Audi factory driver and raced an A4 DTM for Audi Sport Team Rosberg in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. He also participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving an Audi R10. In addition to DTM and having already moderate experience with Le Mans Prototype cars, in 2008 he is also driving for Audi Sport Team Joest in the Le Mans Series. He will also participate the 24 Hours of Le Mans, occupying the third Audi entry with Alexandre Prémat and Lucas Luhr.
[edit] Accolades
- FIA GT Championship GT2 Champion: 2005
- 24 Hours Nürburgring overall winner: 2006
- 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 winner: 2005
- Spa 24 Hours GT2 winner: 2005