This Guy Drove a Racecar across the US to Pikes Peak, Aiming for Mercedes' Diesel Record in 2016

Some do it for the sheer adrenaline of dancing their way up to the sky, while others like to bathe in the fame. But what could possibly determine you to torture your body by driving you racecar across the US to take part in the competition?

With rock-hard suspension, no AC in June and one hour of sleep over 1,800 miles (3,000 km) of mostly highway driving, Andrei Mitrasca, the guy we're here to talk about, did it because he wants to set a new record for the diesel class.

Before driving his SEAT Ibiza racecar from New York to Pikes Peak (the masochistic pleasures of low budgets), Andrei had come some 5,000 miles (8,000 km) all the way from Romania, Europe. In fact, Andrei is the first Romanian driver to have steered his way up PP.

I've known him for almost a decade now and the thing I like most about this guy is that he's never given up on his dream, despite life seeming determined to keep him outside of fireproof clothing.

Before we go any further, I have to explain I'll be addressing his vehicle as Ruxi (you can read it as "Roo-Xi"), the name she's received ever since 2009 when she became Andrei's friend for life.

Ruxi started out in life as a warm diesel hatch. The previous-gen SEAT Ibiza was powered by a 130 hp 1.9 TDI. Andrei's ambition somehow reminds me of the time when the VW Group wanted to demonstrate their Pumpe Düse (PD) camshaft-actuated injectors were superior to the common rail (CR) technology the rest of the industry had adopted.

Make no mistake though - the PD lost to the CR mostly due to refinement and efficiency reasons, but Andrei is here to race and performance is where this kind of injectors shine.

Still, it wasn't meant to be this year and it was all due to the challenges this racing driver has had to face.

Tough luck for the second year in a row, ambitions for 2016

The best example of this is the "limp mode" caprices his 1.9-liter TDI has shown this year.

Now and then when he cornered hard in second gear, the limp mode virus showed up, causing him to lose precious seconds. The problem did go away, but only to return after a random number of turns.

Andrei crossed the finish line though, after remaining immune to events such as the hailstorm that hit this year's race. The weather was so vicious that the 12.42-miles (22 km) course was brought down to a third of that. The worst part is that he had faced similar engine issues last year, during his rookie Pikes Peak experience and thought he had fixed them.

But I've never seen this guy surrendering when it comes to wearing a helmet. Once he got to the top and found out a Mercedes-Benz C250d 4Matic set a diesel-powered production car record, Andrei felt confident he can beat this next year.

The Benz was factory-backed and a pair of SEAT engineers wouldn't be too bad for Andrei, but this is another story for another time.

"Ruxi has around 200 hp and short gearing now, weighing in at 2,535 lbs (1,150 kg). I'll shave some 220 lbs (100 kg) for next year and grab that record!"

Sure, this sounds a little ambitious and perhaps some parts about the "production car" should be clarified, but you haven't met Andrei.

The road to the race was even twistier than the course itself

He came from New York with ten tires inside his sub-compact racecar, with his clothes being spread around the cabin, since there was no room for actual luggage. This isn't Monster Tajima with a support team, it's a guy from Eastern Europe who's been dreaming about racing ever since he was in college and has dedicated his life to it. So we might just see him going under 11 minutes and 22 seconds next year.

With a FWD layout, he's betting his Ricardo limited slip diff and Ohlins three-way adjustable dampers on it.

To soften the wait, here's an interview that shows us what it means to use racing as a way to be alive.

autoevolution: How did it all begin?

Andrei Mitrasca: I was in my early 20s, hooning cars together with a friend, when we went through a situation that could have led to the appearance of a hearse. That's when we decided to channel our speeding urges on the rollcage path.

Of course, I was short on funding, so I had to finish college and build myself a career in the car business before I could get my hands on a racecar.

ae: You seem to have a strong connection to SEAT, can you explain it?

AM: With me, it's always been about SEAT. I sold SEATs back in my hometown, Oradea, then one of the customers hired me as an automotive editor for a magazine. One thing led to another and I ended up as the marketing man for the Romanian SEAT importer.

I was determined to invest all I had into a Leon Cupra, so I could start off with 240 hp, but my boss at the time guided me towards a more sustainable version and this is how I met Ruxi.

I bought the car, which had been used for racing before, and then the financial crisis hit. I lost my job and couldn't find another one on the same level. So I packed my stuff, put my luggage in my racecar and went home.

ae: What about the rest of your life?

AM: after 2010, I decided to leave the country together with my girlfriend at the time. It didn't work out, neither as a relationship, nor as a professional opportunity, so I had to return.

I felt like racing was the only thing that could work out for me, I felt I could drive the proper way and go for victory.

After I came back to Romania, times were rough, but I wanted to keep Ruxi and work with four-wheels around me, so I started by swiping the floors at a car shop. My aunt was doing the best she could to support me, it didn't matter what I ate or at which friend I slept, because I was back in the racing driver's seat.

ae: So how did you pull through?

AM: I was forced to share the car, I drove to the events and back on the racing tires, but I had good results and I was happy. Still, somebody up there in the sky was backing me up. I didn't have any money to invest in the car, all I did was to feed diesel, but it didn't break down.

I've tried many things in my life, from athletics to car journalism and psychology, but it feels entirely different to be a racing driver.

I was 22 when I decided I wanted to race and now I'm 38. [at this point I felt that, despite not saying it, Andrei was pleased with the result of his journey].

ae: Outside the racing shoes, you seem like the kind of romantic guy, is that true?

AM: Yes, you got me. I can say I prefer the old-school approach. And I'm lucky enough to have met the right person to share it all with. We met during a race and she's been all too supportive ever since. Not once has she even hinted about the toll motorsport takes.

It's been four wonderful years together, and I don't think life can get better than that.

ae: Still, what about an upgrade?

AM: Now that Pikes Peak is over for this year, we'll set out to go from two to three "cylinders" in our lives. A child should be on the way.

Back in the day, I wanted to try out each and every car out there. If I could drive the 1.2-liter version of a hot hatch first, I was glad to. Things have changed now. I don't get the same urge to try out ever new car, you know? I want to focus on what's important.

ae: Any special moment from this year's race you'd like to share?

AM: During the technical inspection before the race, the staff pulled their magic mirror-searching move and told me I have some extra rollcage welding to do.

The same thing happened to Jeremy Folley's Evo back in 2012. [As you might recall, Folley's Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution fell off the course three years ago, in one of the most hardcore crashes modern-day Pikes Peak has ever seen. The driver survived, but we're not sure he would've made it without the extra welding].

ae: What have you learned from Pikes Peak?

AM: you see these talented people and their out-of-this-world horsepower monsters at TV, but when you come here you find out that, with the right car, you can take them down.

ae: And your road trip? How was it to drive 1,800 miles in a racecar?

AM: Since I had no trailer, I was forced to. I ended up with a flat butt... but it's OK now [laughs]. Nevertheless, there wasn't too much drama on the road. I hit I70 and kept things steady. With Ruxi being so colorful and full of stickers, I got a few thumbs-up moves on the way. I was glad to see people appreciate her, but I was a bit like a machine myself driving here. I had to be focused.

I couldn't sleep more than one hour throughout the entire trip. The company that shipped my car caused all sorts of delays. They were the worst in the world and I thought it was all over. I didn't think I would make it in time.

This is where Steve Goeglein came to the rescue.

ae: we know Steve for having taken on the Pikes Peak challenge for the 25th time in a row this year. We also know His annual budget is no greater than $20,000 and, together with his crew, they are the longest-running team here.

AM: Steve is the kind of gentleman Pike Peak racer. He works as an engineer, then PP comes, he puts on the racing gloves, gets down to business and then returns to improving the car for next year. He now drives a seriously modified Camaro in the Unlimited Class.

As I said, I couldn't have done it without him. He's shared his Colorado Springs home with me and his Camaro has welcomed Ruxi in its garage. Steve spoke to the organizers about my situation this year and this is how I was able to make it in time. [You can see the two friends together in the image gallery below, which includes both 2015 and 2014 pics].

ae: What was your favorite car this year?

AM: Jeff Zwart's Porsche 911 GT3 Cup [looks like Andrei's preferences stayed within the VW Group].

ae: we really can't argue with a 911 GT3 Cup that's been turbocharged. That's downright badass.

ae: Speaking of the devil (cars other than Ruxi), what would you like to compete in?

AM: I'd love to do Pikes Peak in a Seat Leon Diesel WTCC racer.

ae: If you could bring the course back to its gravel days, would you?

AM: yes [giggles].

As you are reading this, Ruxi now sits in Steve's garage and Andrei, who has returned to Romania, is preparing a stronger effort for 2016 Pikes Peak. But it's the man, not the car, who has my attention for now: "I want to look my child in the eyes and say - go and live out your dream like I did!"