DE 
IT 
FR 
Since when have you been a member of the Pistenclub?
I have been a member of the Pistenclub since March 2024.
How did you find out about the Pistenclub?
One day, Wolfgang was standing on my doorstep and rang the bell. "I saw your advertisement, what all do you do?" My answer with a laugh: "Everything!!!" That
got us into conversation and we regularly exchanged ideas until Wolfgang said to me: "Would you like and be up for coming along to the racetrack sometime?"
My answer was very clear: "Yesss! How awesome is that going to be!" That's how I joined the Pistenclub.
What was the first Pistenclub event you participated in?
That was at the Salzburgring. That way, I made use of my home advantage.
How many track days do you participate in per year?
Since I work relatively much and days only have 24 hours, I manage five to eight track days.
Why do you drive with the Pistenclub?
Since I am usually also involved as a helper during the track days, I can naturally combine it perfectly and then also test my converted Audi S3 a little bit.
What is your favorite track?
My favorite track is clearly the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg – that beautiful Austrian mountain air with the absolutely mega-awesome racetrack. Simply wonderful, this atmosphere.
What technical modifications have you made to your car?
Since I have a number of Audis, the question is of course which one I take. Clearly: the red, converted Audi S3 8P track tool. A completely production car that was converted into a racetrack track tool – with suspension, brakes, engine, and interior to reduce unnecessary weight. Since I tinker and convert everything myself at home in my small workshop, the time window is always very small as well.
Are you also active in motorsport outside of our events?
To be completely honest: not really, as I also have two small children and time currently doesn't allow for it. However, my highlight is driving to the bakery on Sundays with my little son Paul (6 years old) and then doing a lap with the converted Audi afterwards. That makes daddy and the little one all the happier, of course.
Do you have motorsport role models?
Yes, of course I do: Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher, and Walter Röhrl.
How did you like our winter driving training?
It was my first time participating, and it was an incredibly beautiful experience.
Please feel free to tell us more about it!
Very gladly. I started, of course, with my winter vehicle, an Audi A3 2.0 Turbo Quattro – anything else is no fun for me and, in my eyes, also has too little forward drive. I arrived in Thomatal in Muhr with sunshine and perfect slope conditions. My plan was to spend four days relaxing, looking at everything, getting the hang of things, and properly moving my Audi Quattro. On the first day, however, at 6:30 AM while entering the circuit, the vehicle key broke off. I had to use all my craftsmanship to somehow get the car started. Luckily, I am a bit skilled with my hands and got my Audi Quattro running again – with a little bit of tools, adhesive tape, and my diagnostic laptop.
I only drive the Audi as a winter car in everyday life, and that's why I absolutely wanted to try it out. I did the first few laps and realized relatively quickly: This is really a lot of fun, and you can move the Quattro extremely well. Thanks to the tip from Wolfgang Schmidt, I naturally got myself extra tires (Hakkapeliitta) to drive around every corner and cone with a lot of forward drive on all fours.
It didn't take too long until I received the radio from the Pistenclub and the tow rope was installed on the back of my Audi. I was then equipped as the "Yellow Angel" on ice and snow for the four-day
event and had my hands full rescuing one or two participants from the snow. I wouldn't have thought myself that I could pull out such large and heavy cars with my old Audi, despite its relatively low weight.
It was a really good experience to be able to join such a beautiful, well-organized event with the Pistenclub. The instructors laid out the track perfectly every day to demand as much driving fun and skill as possible from the participants. The weather god naturally played along brilliantly – it was really cold and often sunny.
Great praise must also be given to the owner and his two sons, who really prepare everything perfectly day and night to have such a perfect track. I was even allowed to take a look into the large workshop of the Korpuly family and was absolutely thrilled by everything they have in terms of machines, tools, and of course expertise. Thank you, Erwin, for your tour of your company premises with everything that goes with it.
I now come to the end of my small report on the winter training: I had mega fun. All in all, a really beautiful event with perfectly coordinated staff from the Pistenclub. Therefore, I hope that I will be able to be there again in the coming years to drive such track days with the Pistenclub.
Now I'm going to work a bit on my summer car, the red Audi S3 track tool, so that nothing stands in the way of the 2026 season. Thank you very much for listening and have an accident-free 2026 season!
We wish you the same! Thank you for telling us about your impressions of the winter driving training.
