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1st of June, 2013 - a great day for Bad Driburg, the Höxter district and expressively for one man, seeing his vision coming reality: |
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Side by side to his wife and the children, Count Markus Graf von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff knees beneath his blue Porsche 911, enthusiastically cheering the crowd of photographers and journalists gathering in front of him. The very first official laps on his race track, the Bilster Berg Drive Resort, will be authorised in a few minutes. |
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The next day, Sunday, was an open day for the public, something like 40.000 spectators and guests, visited the new facilities; everything was well prepared for that. This Saturday, the race track was reserved for the ones mainly involved in its existence. A huge starting grid of classic and modern cars, at the wheel the shareholders of the Bilster Berg Drive Resort, were present, waiting for the green flags to be waved. |
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In the front row, alongside the car of Count Markus Graf von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff, there was the white Porsche K8 Spyder, ravishingly beautifully restored, showing its colourful decoration of its historic sponsor. After its Le Mans races, after winning at Monza, after racing the European Championships from 1995 - 1999, this was the first time this car was running on a German race track. The count's classic 911 was inaugurating the track, joint by the K8 Racing Team's
open sports prototype, which develops more than 750 bhp. |
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During a ritualistic ceremony, the British brought down the Union Jack, handing over the keys to Markus Count of Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff. Priests and pastors sanctified the race track, members of the honorary committees of town and district spoke as well. |
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Gentlemen, start your engines! Two pace cars, equipped with cameras, were guiding the convoy quite a lot of laps around the new track, a well-mixed bunch of dream cars making everybody's heart beating faster. At the wheel of the Porsche K8 Spyder: Ralf Kelleners, Porsche- and Toyota-factory driver. He knows this car well, having raced it in the past. Not only he, the professional, was deeply impressed by the track. Rich in corners, uphill and downhill, it is fitted in full harmony to the landscape. Speaking out later, Ralf called the Bilster Berg a real task, which he will need to learn.
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The architect and designer of the circuit, Mr. Tilke, as well a race driver and responsible for various Formula 1 tracks around the globe, was commenting his masterpiece with just a few, but quite remarkable words, worth to keep in mind: "The Bilster Berg, these are the most salacious 4,2 Kilometres of the world"
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