If you were a member of aristocracy, what passions would you pursue? Perhaps it may come as a surprise that Nicola, Countess of Dönhoff, is passionate about racing. She came across motor racing when she was a small child. Since then many things have changed, but the German aristocrat’s passion for racing classic cars is stronger than ever. We've been connecting with people pursuing their passion and we spoke with Nicola to discuss all things racing.
Although Nicola’s passion for racing stemmed from her father, the classic car gene has failed to pass down to the third generation. “I have two sons; they surely don’t care. I have a husband and he doesn’t care about racing either, so I’m really on my own here.”
I love the smell, the sound of metal grinding against metal, when you shift gears…
A Woman in a Male-Dominated World
Nicola’s passion about cars is not something that everybody understands. "People say I’m crazy… 'That a woman, with the kids at home, gets herself inside one to these ancient-prone cars and starts going around curves like crazy'", but she doesn’t let other people’s opinions stop her from doing what she loves. “I do believe these cars are great for women. It fits me perfectly at least,” she grins.
Racing still is a man’s world. There aren’t many women around. It’s a pity, but that’s the way it is.
Racing the Mona Lisa
The car aficionado races an aluminium body Alfa Romeo GTA. Only 500 units of this beauty were made and it still has its original body, adding up to a 6 figure value. For the countess, this means racing her Alfa is a constant game; trying to find the balance between pushing the car to its limits and avoiding harm to her or her precious car.
Many people would question why she goes through with racing such a costly motor, but to Nicola, it’s simple. “Sure, you could make a replica of a classic car and race it, but it would be like going to the museum and looking at a fake Mona Lisa. You’ll want the real Mona Lisa”
[My car is] a piece of art, a really well made piece of craftsmanship.
Do you also have a passion for classic cars? Every week we host several Classic Car auctions with hundreds of stunning motors waiting to find a new owner, so why not explore our auctions and who knows? Maybe you’ll find your own Mona Lisa! Catawiki is a great platform not only for buying, but also for selling. You can register as a seller for free and try it out for yourself.