Mike Rockenfeller (born 31 October 1983), nicknamed "Rocky", is a German professional racing driver and was an Audi factory driver competing in the DTM and the FIA World Endurance Championship. He won his first DTM title in 2013, driving for Audi Sport Team Phoenix. He also won the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Career Early career Rockenfeller began racing karts in 1995 at the age of eleven, winning the Bambini North state championship. He competed in various local and national karting series in the 1990s. In 2002, he won the Jörg van Ommen Kart Cup Super Series.
Porsche Supercup and Le Mans championship In 2001, Rockenfeller moved to cars, and finished fourth in the Formula König championship, winning one race. In 2002, he joined the Porsche Junior team and raced in the German Carrera Cup, finishing tenth, and in a partial Porsche Supercup season. In 2003, he finished second in the German Carrera Cup championship, and made his American Le Mans Series debut at Petit Le Mans, finishing tenth in GT2 class. In 2004, Rockenfeller won the German Carrera Cup and also won two races in Porsche Supercup. That year, he also raced in the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 1000km of Nürburgring, and Petit Le Mans.
2005 became Rockenfeller's breakthrough year. He became a full Porsche factory driver and won the GT2 class driver championship title in the FIA GT Championship driving with Marc Lieb for GruppeM Racing. He collected six class wins, including the Spa 24 Hours. Rockenfeller also won the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving with Lieb and Leo Hindrey for Alex Job Racing. 2006 saw him race again in the ALMS and Grand-Am series for Alex Job. He won in the ALMS at Houston and finished second in LMP2 class at Petit Le Mans, driving a Porsche RS Spyder for Penske Racing. He also took two Grand-Am wins.
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
For 2007, Rockenfeller became an Audi factory driver and raced an A4 DTM for Audi Sport Team Rosberg in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. He also participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving an Audi R10. In addition to DTM and having already moderate experience with Le Mans Prototype cars, in 2008 he drove for Audi Sport Team Joest in the Le Mans Series, alongside Alexandre Prémat. Despite not winning any races, Rockenfeller and Prémat won the title at the 2008 1000 km of Silverstone, after an accident on lap 46 for the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP of Nicolas Minassian and Marc Gené. He also participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, occupying the third Audi entry with Prémat and Lucas Luhr. After qualifying fifth, their entry finished in fourth place overall, seven laps down on winning team-mates Rinaldo Capello, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish.
For 2009, Rockenfeller continues in the DTM with Team Rosberg.
Rockenfeller started the 2010 racing season winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona overall in the Action Express Racing Porsche Riley with co-drivers João Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, and Ryan Dalziel.
In the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rockenfeller was involved in a horrific accident while passing a slower GTE vehicle at 5:49 into the race. Shortly after nightfall, he was involved in a violent crash at the kinks on the straight between Mulsanne Corner and Indianapolis after near contact with the number 71 car of Robert Kauffman. Rockenfeller then climbed from his car and jumped to safety over the Armco barrier. He sustained a small flesh wound on his right arm and was admitted into a hospital overnight for observation.
Rockenfeller took part in the 2014 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona racetheCheckeredFlag.co.uk in the Spirit of Daytona Corvette Daytona Prototype with Richard Westbrook and Michael Valiante.
In 2021, it was announced that Rockenfeller would depart from DTM following the season, whilst also parting ways with Audi at the end of the year. He would go on to finish eighth in the points with podiums at Lausitzring, Circuit Zolder, the Nürburgring, and the Hockenheimring driving for Abt Sportsline.
IMSA
In 2023, Rockenfeller joined JDC–Miller MotorSports for the team's GTP program, driving alongside Tijmen van der Helm.
NASCAR In 2022, Rockenfeller made two starts in the NASCAR Cup Series for Spire Motorsports in the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, finishing 30th at Watkins Glen, and 29th at Charlotte Roval. In the following year, it was announced that Rockenfeller would join seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button to drive the Next Gen Camaro prepared by Hendrick Motorsports for the Garage 56 entry at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. Rockenfeller returned to Cup Series competition that year, driving the No. 42 Chevrolet for Legacy Motor Club to a 24th-place finish at Indianapolis and nineteenth at Watkins Glen. It was later announced he would race at the Charlotte Roval. He finished the race in 29th.
Accolades FIA GT Championship GT2 Champion: 2005 24 Hours Nürburgring overall winner: 2006 Le Mans Series LMP1 champion: 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 winner: 2005 Spa 24 Hours GT2 winner: 2005 24 Hours of Daytona overall winner: 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winner: 2010 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Champion: 2013
Racing record Career summary Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position 2001 Formula König ? ? 1 ? ? ? 109 4th 2002 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany UPS Porsche-Junior Team 9 0 0 0 0 52 10th Porsche Supercup 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC 2003 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany UPS Porsche-Junior Team 9 1 1 1 3 126 2nd Porsche Supercup 5 1 1 0 2 0 NC 2004 Porsche Carrera Cup Germany UPS Porsche-Junior Team 9 5 5 4 9 166 1st Porsche Supercup 5 2 2 2 4 0 NC Eichin Racing-PZ Freiburg 1 0 0 0 1 American Le Mans Series - GT BAM! British American Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 24 14th New Century/The Racer's Group 1 0 0 0 0 Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Flying Lizard Motorsports 1 0 1 0 1 32 43rd Rolex Sports Car Series - SGS TPC Racing 1 0 1 0 0 0 NC Le Mans Endurance Series - GT Farnbacher Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 24 Hours of Le Mans - GT Orbit Racing/BAM! 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF 2005 FIA GT Championship - GT2 GruppeM Racing 11 6 ? ? 10 102 1st American Le Mans Series - GT2 BAM! 8 0 0 0 3 76 7th Rolex Sports Car Series - DP Brumos Racing 1 0 0 0 0 10 85th Le Mans Endurance Series - GT Autorlando Sport 2 0 0 0 1 8 13th 24 Hours of Le Mans - GT Alex Job Racing/BAM! Motorsport 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st 24 Hours of Nürburgring - A7 Land-Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF 2006 FIA GT Championship - GT2 Ebimotors 1 0 0 0 0 3 25th American Le Mans Series - GT2 Alex Job Racing 9 1 0 0 2 80 10th American Le Mans Series - LMP2 Penske Racing 1 0 0 0 1 22 12th Rolex Sports Car Series - DP Alex Job Racing/Emory Motorsports 13 3 4 0 6 380 5th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP7 Manthey Racing 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st 2007 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Rosberg 10 0 0 0 1 11 12th American Le Mans Series - LMP1 Audi Sport North America 1 0 0 0 1 19 20th Rolex Sports Car Series - DP Alex Job Racing 1 0 0 0 0 26 65th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP1 Audi Sport Team Joest 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF 2008 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Rosberg 11 0 0 0 0 6 11th American Le Mans Series - LMP1 Audi Sport North America 1 0 0 0 1 17 26th Rolex Sports Car Series - DP SAMAX Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 11 93rd Le Mans Series - LMP1 Audi Sport Team Joest 5 0 0 0 4 27 1st 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP1 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th 2009 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Rosberg 10 0 0 0 0 4 14th American Le Mans Series - LMP1 Audi Sport North America 1 0 0 0 1 23 24th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP1 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Phoenix Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th 2010 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Team Phoenix 11 0 0 1 1 22 7th American Le Mans Series - GTC Porsche Motorsports North America 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC Rolex Sports Car Series - DP Action Express Racing 1 1 0 0 1 35 29th Le Mans Series - LMP1 Audi Sport North America 1 0 0 0 0 10 23rd 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP1 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Phoenix Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF 2011 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Abt Sportsline 9 1 1 1 2 31 6th American Le Mans Series - GTC Audi Sport North America 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC Le Mans Series - LMP1 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP1 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Audi Sport Team Phoenix 1 0 0 0 0 9 29th 2012 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Phoenix Racing 10 0 0 0 2 85 4th Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Flying Lizard Motorsportswith Wright Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0 16 104th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP1 Audi Sport North America 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd 2013 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Phoenix Racing 10 2 2 1 5 142 1st Rolex Sports Car Series - DP Action Express Racing 1 0 0 0 0 28 47th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 G-Drive Racing by Phoenix 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th 2014 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Phoenix 10 0 1 1 3 72 3rd United SportsCar Championship - P Spirit of Daytona Racing 3 0 0 0 0 76 28th 2015 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Phoenix 18 1 2 1 1 83 10th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro 1 0 0 0 0 13 19th Audi Sport Team WRT 1 0 0 0 0 United SportsCar Championship - P VisitFlorida.com Racing 3 0 0 0 2 89 14th 2016 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Phoenix 16 0 0 0 0 31 19th Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 2 0 0 0 0 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Corvette Racing 3 0 0 0 1 85 14th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Montaplast By Land-Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF 2017 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Phoenix 18 1 0 2 6 167 4th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Corvette Racing 3 1 0 0 2 95 11th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Phoenix Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 16th 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Phoenix 20 0 0 0 2 87 11th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Corvette Racing 2 0 1 0 1 53 16th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Corvette Racing - GM 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Audi Sport Team BWT 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 11th 2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Phoenix 18 1 1 1 7 182 4th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTLM Corvette Racing 3 0 0 0 1 83 18th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 8th 2020 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Audi Sport Team Phoenix 18 0 0 0 2 139 4th 2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Abt Sportsline 16 0 0 0 4 89 8th IMSA SportsCar Championship - DPi Ally Cadillac Racing 1 0 0 0 1 345 17th 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Vector Sport 1 0 0 0 0 0 30th IMSA SportsCar Championship - DPi Ally Cadillac 4 0 0 0 1 1146 11th NASCAR Cup Series Spire Motorsports 2 0 0 0 0 15 37th 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP JDC-Miller MotorSports 6 0 0 0 0 1660 9th NASCAR Cup Series Legacy Motor Club 3 0 0 0 0 39 36th 24 Hours of Le Mans - Innovative Hendrick Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 39th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Pro Audi Sport Team Scherer PHX 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 9th 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Ford Multimatic Motorsports 10 0 0 1 2 2783 6th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP Proton Competition Mustang Sampling 1 0 0 0 0 281 27th 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Ford Multimatic Motorsports 10 2 2 0 4 3077 3rd 2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Ford Racing 3 0 0 0 0 700 22nd European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Proton Competition 5 0 0 0 0 20* 15th* – Not eligible for points.
Complete Porsche Supercup results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 DC Points 2002 UPS Porsche-Junior Team Porsche 996 GT3 Cup IMO CAT A1R MON NÜR SIL HOC HUN SPA MNZ IND IND NC‡ 0‡ 2003 UPS Porsche-Junior Team Porsche 996 GT3 Cup IMO CAT A1R MON NÜR MAG SIL HOC HUN MNZ IND IND NC‡ 0‡ 2004 UPS Porsche-Junior Team Porsche 996 GT3 Cup IMO CAT MON IND IND MAG SIL HOC HUN SPA MNZ NC‡ 0‡ Eichin Racing-PZ Freiburg NÜR ‡ – Not eligible for points.
24 Hours of Le Mans results