Even years after his retirement, Michael Schumacher’s impact and achievements in the sport of Formula One still motivate fans all over the world. Just recently, an 80-year-old motorsport enthusiast got an exclusive chance to steer none other than Schumacher’s iconic Ferrari 310B from 1997 as the spirit of racing was reincarnated for both him and everyone watching.
For every single race-filled season without limits, the Ferrari 310B that Schumacher piloted is now a relic. However, even with race conflicts, particularly one with Jacques Villeneuve, which led to a disqualification from the standings, Schumacher still enjoyed five race wins that particular year, one of which was even the impossible Monaco GP.
At the occasion of the Netherlands, Zech shared such an eagerness to get behind the wheel of the classic car. Those were his words when he spoke with Autosport: “It was fab. What I appreciated most and what moved me was the audience. They rose up and applauded, which was nice to see.”
The love for all that engines represent was revealed by Zech when he anthropomorphized the very dome of the famous Barichello racing helmet and put on a Schumacher replica helmet. This, however, was not just for the aesthetics of it all. “It is my purpose; the main goal is to recreate the situation as it was during the great Schumacher times,” he emphasized. It was like he was passing a torch that had the essence of the great driver- Schumacher.
The occasion also served to glorify the talents of Schumacher as viewers had street circuits in which they experienced the modern F1 racing and not just schumi’s races in the arcades. Fans’ cheers highlighted not only the glorious history that shaped the career of a legendary driver but the emotions that will always accompany one of the greatest drivers to ever grace the sport.
And so, with every spin of the wheels, the 80-yr old addressed the oblivious masses again, reiterating that devotion towards racing is ageless, as he kept the magic of Schumacher alive in the tracks.
