Wolfgang Reip, 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series champion and winner of the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour: "I live like an alien"

In 2012, the Belgian driver won the Nissan GT Academy, beating out 830,000 applicants. At 25, his talent exploded onto the international stage. Unfortunately, an invisible disability—hyperacusis—forced him to retire from motorsport and lead him into a reclusive life. The former driver is a model of resilience and now intends to use his experience to advance medical research.

Published 29/04/2026 à 08:00

Dominique Dricot

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Wolfgang Reip, 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series champion and winner of the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour: "I live like an alien"

© Dominique Dricot

Hello Wolfgang! This is a lovely place. Where are we?

I'm taking you to the lake next to Hélécine Castle, near my home. It's a peaceful place that does me a world of good. The car is a Nissan, a nod to my early days in motorsport. This particular model is an electric Ariya, but it's not mine. For now, the prices are too high. I need a perfectly soundproofed car, for reasons I'll explain later. Road noise, tire noise, and wind noise are louder than the engine in most cars. So, it wouldn't be practical for me to drive an electric car every day.

As a fellow countryman, I would like to point out that your name is quite different from Belgian names.

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