Akio Toyoda and Ulrich Bez swap cars at the Nürburgring

I’ve always wondered whether the president of a car company changes cars like shirts, or whether they can really go wherever they fancy on a private jet, or whether it’s true that at their command a complete racing team is assembled and ready to head to any track in the world. But if you are the president of a company and a racing enthusiast, not only can you do all of the above, but you’ll also go to any track as if you were going to play golf with your friends.

You’ve probably heard of Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota, and Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin. Neither Toyota nor Aston Martin have anything to do with each other as brands. But their bosses do have one thing in common: both are racing fanatics. And they haven’t been content with simply driving their respective cars at the Nürburgring; they have swapped cars.

As proof, see the video I’ve left at the end of the post. Akio Toyoda gets behind the wheel of the Aston Martin Zagato V12, while Ulrich Bez takes control of the Lexus LF-A, during one of the endurance events of the German VLN.

Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. While Toyoda was driving through one of the sectors of the Green Hell, his Zagato was struck by another car, crashing into the barriers, much to the despair of the British onlookers.

Being the president of one of the three largest automotive companies in the world makes up for everything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFiztXoJubw

Via | Automotive Addicts