Habsburg racing driver Ferdinand: Le Mans and the throne in balance!

Habsburg racing driver Ferdinand: Le Mans and the throne in balance!

Ferdinand Habsburg, the 27-year-old great-grandson of Charles I, the last Emperor of Austria, faces an exciting challenge. Next weekend he will compete in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. Habsburg will drive an Alpine car together with his teammates Charles Milesi and Paul-Loup Chatin. It will be his fifth start at Le Mans and second in the Hypercar class, making him an experienced competitor who has reached the highest level of endurance racing.

Born in Salzburg, Ferdinand showed a wide range of interests from an early age, ranging from music and football to fencing and horse riding. However, he discovered his great passion in karting, where he won the Austrian championship. In 2017, he entered Formula 3 but realized he might be too old or not successful enough for Formula 1. A move to the German Touring Car Championship in 2019 didn't bring him much success, but in 2021 he found his place in the World Endurance Championship, where he won his class in his first Le Mans start. This year it's about winning again for him.

Family history and personal beliefs

Ferdinand is not only a talented racing driver, but also the future head of the Habsburg family. His father, Karl Habsburg-Lothringen, has given up all claims to the Austrian throne, but remains the head of the family. Karl will come to Le Mans for the first time to support his son, something that is quite surprising for the family since Ferdinand, as a racing driver, is in an unusual role for the head of such an important dynasty.

The Habsburgs lost their assets after World War I, meaning they were unable to financially support Ferdinand's racing career. However, his mother, Francesca von Thyssen-Bornemisza of the wealthy Thyssen dynasty, was able to cover his initial costs. Ferdinand has also distinguished himself as a devout Catholic and recently obtained his bus driver's license in order to work with young people.

Charitable initiative and future prospects

A particularly notable aspect of his Le Mans commitment is his charitable initiative: every lap he completes at Le Mans aims to feed a child for a whole year. He also plans to donate his prize money to charity if he wins. This not only shows his sporting ambition, but also his commitment to social issues.

Ferdinand told a remarkable story through his career and family connections. With a challenge like the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans ahead of him, it remains to be seen how he will fare and what new chapters he will open in his exciting journey as a racing driver and as the future head of the Habsburg dynasty.

How Yahoo Sports reports, fans and media are eagerly awaiting his appearance at Le Mans, while others are revealing details about his career Wikipedia can be found.