How a jump from the stratosphere gave Baumgartner his shot in motorsport

Extreme sports icon Felix Baumgartner has died following a paragliding accident on Thursday in the coastal town of Porto Sant’Elpidio on Italy’s Adriatic coast.

Baumgartner lost control of his glider and crashed into a hotel swimming pool, injuring a hotel employee in the process. Red Bull, his long-time partner and sponsor, confirmed the news to Austrian broadcaster ORF.

Baumgartner rose to global fame in October 2012 with his record-breaking parachute jump from the edge of space. The Red Bull Stratos project saw Baumgartner board a pressurised capsule in New Mexico, USA, which was then lifted to an altitude of 38,969 metres by a helium balloon.  

Once on the edge of space, the Austrian then free-fell back to Earth at speeds of up to 1,358 km/h, before opening his parachute and lading safely. The stunt, which reportedly cost around €25 million, is said to have generated more than €1 billion in advertising for the Red Bull brand. 

What many don’t know, however, is that following the jump, Baumgartner briefly ventured into the world of motorsport. 

His first public foray into racing came in June 2013, when he rode as a passenger in a Red Bull three-seat Formula 1 car at Le Castellet, with David Coulthard at the wheel and Sebastian Vettel being the other passenger. The experience reportedly left Baumgartner eager to start racing for himself. 

“I’ve always had a childhood dream: to become a racing driver,” he said during a 2014 interview with ServusTV. 

“For a long time, it seemed that this dream would never come true. I come from a very conservative family, my father was a carpenter, my mother a housewife. She grew up on a farm with 13 siblings, so there was neither money nor any understanding of motorsport. 

“That’s why I started skydiving, it was affordable. And now it seems my leap from the stratosphere has become a ticket into the world of racing.” 

Motorsport comes calling  

In October 2013, just one year after his legendary jump, Baumgartner competed in the VW Scirocco Cup at Hockenheim. He was also set to participate in the Race of Champions in Bangkok that December, but the event was cancelled due to political unrest in Thailand. 

#16 Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra: Felix Baumgartner, Christopher Haase, Stéphane Ortelli

Photo by: Paul Tippins

By 2014, Baumgartner was serious about racing. He was invited by Audi to take part in the Nurburgring 24 Hours, piloting an R8 LMS ultra alongside racing veterans Frank Biela, Pierre Kaffer, and Marco Werner. The team finished ninth out of more than 100 entries. 

Following the news of Baumgartner’s death, Kaffer shared a tribute on social media: “My friend, you were one of the craziest and funniest guys I’ve ever met! It was a blast taking on the Nordschleife with you.

“You loved the extreme, always stayed focused, and never skipped a single item on your checklists. I wish your family much strength in this difficult time. And to you, dear Felix – may you no longer need wings to soar in heaven. Rest in peace.” 

Baumgartner described his race at the Nordschleife as “one of the biggest projects of my life”. To prepare for the mammoth race, he trained with Austrian instructor Sepp Haider and competed in several rounds of the VLN endurance series in the build up to the 24-hour event. 

In an interview with Auto Motor Und Sport in June 2014, he said: “Between the third and fourth VLN races, I didn’t drive at all – I just watched videos. I improved by 20 seconds. That’s a lot. I studied my team-mate Pierre Kaffer’s line. He often lets the car roll. Where I would lift and brake, Pierre just lifts… I tried to apply that. It made a big difference. 

“I’m a professional helicopter pilot. At the beginning, you also think: ‘How will I ever fly this thing alone?’ You need good people and a solid foundation of skills. My first test was about letting my trainer, Sepp Haider, evaluate me. The basics were there, and the rest was taught to me.”

Felix Baumgartner after his last stint

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

“If you listen carefully, you can learn anything. That was also true with Red Bull Stratos. Where this journey will lead, I don’t know yet. But I’m definitely willing to go further.” 

A global phenomenon 

Baumgartner often spoke about international motorsport, including the return of the Austrian Grand Prix in 2014 under the leadership of late Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

“First of all, it’s fantastic that Mr. Mateschitz managed to bring a grand prix back to Austria,” he said in an interview with German newspaper Welt.

“Still, I don’t think the race will generate the same attention as my jump. For one simple reason: motorsport appeals to a very specific audience, whereas my event was a global phenomenon. 

#502 Audi Race Experience Audi R8 LMS ultra: Felix Baumgartner, Marco Werner, Frank Biela, Pierre Kaffer

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

“Later, a sheikh from Kuwait told me that he and his whole family had watched the jump on TV. There are few things left in the world that truly captivate people. They long for heroes – and for heroic deeds. 

“What is a hero? A person who does something extraordinary. That can be a firefighter or a paramedic.

“By that definition, I wouldn’t call Formula 1 drivers heroes. They’re professionals, in full control of their cars, practicing their craft with great discipline.” 

Baumgartner was 56 years old. He is survived by his partner Mihaela Radulescu, a Romanian TV presenter, actress, and author. The two had been together since 2014.