I sit down in the Bugatti pavilion for a short interview with Rainer Dörr, the man behind the Dörr Group – possibly Europe’s biggest performance car dealer. A Bugatti Tourbillon is parked right next to the little area we occupy. Out front, a Veyron Vitesse, a one-off Veyron La Finale, the equally unique Chiron Profilée, the Galibier prototype, and a Bugatti Mistral are lined up, flanking the fantastically dramatic Bugatti Bolide, also on display here. I can see them all through the tinted windows of the only air-conditioned building on site – the main reason why we’re having the interview here today.
I met Rainer and his entire family briefly the previous day, and it immediately struck me how modest they are, considering the scale and magnitude not only of this event – which spans two days on the famous Hockenheimring – but also of the brands they sell and represent. Bugatti, Pagani, Aston Martin, McLaren, Lamborghini, Dallara, Pininfarina, BAC, Singer, Czinger (not a typo), Morgan, KTM, Rimac, Triumph, and Gordon Murray Automotive, to name just a handful. An impressive portfolio, especially as, at a glance, one wouldn’t be able to distinguish Rainer, his wife Evelyn, and their three sons – all of whom are actively involved in this six-dealership operation across Germany – from the hundreds of employees and interns running around the grounds. As Dörrr team members assured me throughout the day, “It really is a place where all are treated like family,” and as we start talking, I immediately sense there’s no pretense here. The man is humble and approachable – no showing off, no need for special treatment – just a genuinely grounded person.
Let’s rewind a bit though, as this interview came much later in the day. A day in which I witnessed hot laps from not one, but two Bugatti Bolides – one in the capable hands of the current custodian of the Pearl Collection, who had just taken delivery of the car and received driving tips from none other than Andy Wallace himself. Add to that the 830 hp, naturally aspirated V12 Lamborghini Essenza and the Pagani Huayra Evo R Roadster screaming down the main straight, and if it’s not clear yet: this isn’t your average track day. Seeing these monsters battle it out on track – with the Bolide reeling most of them in like they were tuned-up Kia Ceeds – was something else entirely. Then throw in Michael Schumacher’s 1997 Ferrari F310 F1 car, David Piper’s 917 Porsche, and the McMurtry Spéirling into the mix - the latter generates so much downforce it could literally drive upside down - and you’ve got a recipe for a day in which no one even glances at “regular” McLarens, Lamborghinis or Aston Martins.
The stationary exhibits weren’t exactly second-tier either: two Aston Martin Valkyries, one Valhalla, a V12 Speedster, theMcLarens F1, P1, W1 and Speedtail, an F40, a Totem, and a pair of Zenvos. The latter, along with McMurtry, are two brands that might soon be added to the Dörr Group portfolio, as Rainer later informed me. This event isn’t just an opportunity for customers to push their cars on track, but also a chance to see what other manufacturers are working on, buy certain rare collector cars, and test-drive most of what the Dörr Group offers.
Back at the Bugatti stand, Rainer Dörr tells me how this event started in 2021, when he wanted to return to his own roots – which lie in motorsport. He was a motocross competitor before transitioning into racing and making his debut at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring in a 140 hp BMW 318 (a “schnaps idea” he had with a friend). He still holds fond memories of the brand – his car journey began with his father owning a BMW workshop. That passion for speed still runs deep: his youngest son Ben currently races a McLaren in DTM. That marque, in fact, holds particular importance for the family – the group’s story began with McLaren in 2011. “Our dealerships are scattered across Germany, each representing a different brand,” Rainer explains. “I wanted to get all of my customers together at least once a year, so they can see what the Dörr Group really is, enjoy themselves driving, and of course, network. They all share the same passion.”
I ask what cars he owns or drives, imagining a garage filled with exotic rarities matching the tone of this spectacular weekend. But the answer is as understated as the man himself. “I don’t own any special cars,” he says. “If I’m visiting a customer interested in a Lamborghini, I take a Lamborghini. If it’s an Aston Martin client, then I take an Aston. But for daily use I only drive my company BMW-Alpina diesel. It’s fast, comfortable, and most importantly, I can drive between all our dealerships without having to stop for fuel. That saves me a lot of time, which is crucial – I do over 120,000 kilometres a year.”
As this track day felt like something pulled straight from a dream, I ask Rainer about the dreams of his customers. Any special requests or memorable stories? “Yes, one comes to mind,” he says after a short pause. “A Pagani customer was taking delivery of a car in full blue carbon fibre. The badge on the side was also entirely blue, so he asked whether the lettering could be made silver. ‘No problem’ replied Horacio, then took the badge to the workshop himself, filed the paint off the letters and gave it a quick polish. Five minutes later, it was done.”
And what about his own dreams? After all, we’re Classic Driver – does Rainer Dörr have any vintage icons he still pines for? “No, nothing really,” he says. Then he stops. “Actually, there is. The BMW 507. I love that car, especially the way it looks. I owned one once, but they don’t drive very well – and I’m a driver, so I sold it. Maybe one day I’ll get a BMW M1. Or the E30 M3.”
Our time is up, and we’re asked to join the “Hero Lap,” in which around 200 cars lined up on track for a final tour – the most spectacular traffic jam the planet has likely ever seen. A parade of Paganis, Lambos and Bugattis rolling alongside a Countach rally – a send-off that felt like a dream within a dream. As I made my way to the airport, the sight of regular cars passing by felt almost surreal. For a brief moment, the ordinary had become alien. And I couldn’t help but wonder – how long would it take before the spell broke?
