An unlikely race on an icy track: a MotoGP bike beats a Formula 1 car!

Who comes out on top on snow and ice? That was the big question answered at the first edition of the ‘Red Bull Ultimate Winter Race Series’. The unique race took place on snow and ice at -17 degrees Celsius on a frozen lake in Eagle River, Wisconsin, with the five competitors racing against each other in a variety of vehicles.

Alongside former Formula 1 driver Patrick Friesacher, who piloted the RB7 show car across the unusual terrain, the line-up also included MotoGP World Championship legend Dani Pedrosa on a studded MotoGP bike, former Formula 1 driver and rallycross champion Scott Speed in a rallycross car, snowmobile racer Gunnar Sterne on a snowmobile, and Pro 4 Truck Racing champion Andrew Carlson in a Pro 4 truck.

Patrick Friesacher schaffte es auf den zweiten Platz

Foto: Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

Sterne, Carlson, Speed, Friesacher und Pedrosa gaben auf Schnee und Eis Gas

Foto: Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

Um gleiche Wettbewerbsbedingungen zu schaffen, gab es verschiedene Kurse

Foto: Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

Ex-GP-Pilot Patrick Friesacher trat gegen ungewöhnliche Gegner an

Foto: Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

MotoGP-Star Dani Pedrosa behielt die Nase vorn

Foto: Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

Der Sieger durfte natürlich auch eine Trophäe in Empfang nehmen

Foto: Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

Die fünf Profis mussten eine anspruchsvolle Aufgabe meistern

Foto: Christian Pondella / Red Bull Content Pool

Patrick Friesacher schaffte es auf den zweiten Platz

© Chris Tedesco / Red Bull Content Pool

To ensure a level playing field, special sections and shortcuts were incorporated into the track, including shorter inside bends for vehicles not equipped for winter conditions and longer stretches for vehicles better suited to the extreme conditions.

Pedrosa took the win on his MotoGP bike; Friesacher, who finished second, commented on the modifications made to the winner’s motorbike: “As it was -17 degrees Celsius, we made a few adjustments to the tyres and the ride height. Next time, I’d use longer spikes like Dani!”

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And the eleven-time GP competitor from Austria explained: “It was tricky. Sometimes you’d go into a bend too fast, end up understeering and lose traction – so you really have to be able to adapt to make those subtle corrections. Everything about the Ultimate Winter Race, from the unique track to the chance to compete alongside these fantastic drivers, made it a special experience.”