24-hour race at Le Mans

The giant among the midgets goes to the limit again

Philipp Steinmayr on the new Honda.

(Bild: zVg)

Philipp Steinmayr also changed his bike because of his size and weight. With more power under his butt, he is now hoping to win the 24-hour classic in Le Mans and win the world title in the endurance series once again. "Physically and mentally, you have to be in top shape," he says.

In basketball, there's hardly anything under 1.90 meters tall at world-class level - in motorcycling it's exactly the opposite. The smaller, the better. Especially as this saves unnecessary additional weight. Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez is about the right height at 169 cm. "They're all dwarves, I look like a giant," laughs Philipp Steinmayr from Wolfern, who won the endurance world championship title in the Superstock class last season on a Yamaha and is also one of the taller and, above all, heavier riders in his category at 182 cm and 79 kg.

"You really notice it at top speed"
"Many of the other riders are smaller and I am also quite muscular, which is extremely noticeable at top speed," says Steinmayr, who therefore changed bikes despite winning the title. "With the Yamaha, you're at a bit of a technical disadvantage because it's the weakest bike in the field in terms of power - and with my build, that wasn't exactly ideal!"

The season begins for Philipp Steinmayr in Le Mans.

(Bild: zVg)

Physically and mentally in top shape
With the new team, aptly named "No Limits", he will now start the season on a Honda. The season starts tomorrow with the legendary 24-hour classic in Le Mans. "Physically and mentally, you have to be in top shape," says Steinmayr, referring to the enormous strain of endurance racing. Especially as each driver in the "threesome" is always on the road for around an hour at an average speed of around 150 km/h. There is no sleep in between. Sleeping in between is out of the question!