Herkules Hill Climb 2023

Mars Orbiter participated in the centennial celebration of the legendary Herkulesrennen race event held April 28-30, 2023 in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, serving as both support crew and safety car operator with a Tesla Roadster. The event showcased vintage automobiles from the 1920s navigating a challenging mountain circuit, with Mars Orbiter providing towing services for vehicles unable to complete the course.

The 4.5 km course was one of the most beautiful and famous race tracks in Germany in the 1920s. Between 1923 and 1927, famous racing drivers such as Rudolf Caracciola, Karl Kappler, Adolf Rosenberger and Carl Jörns competed there with their race cars and motorcycles.

For the anniversary celebration in April 2023, the route had to be led around the park, which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even there, the curves are tight and steep enough to properly challenge the old engines. Among the classic cars that took part were several favourites from the 1920s, including a BMW Wartburg DA3, a Bugatti Type 35 and the winning Simson Supra from 1926. We were honoured to start and accompany the hill climb with a Tesla Roadster – the world’s first all-electric sports car – as a safety car.