Gorianstrasse is a small, dead-end street in Salzburg’s Riedenburg neighbourhood, around halfway between the old city nestling at the foot of the Hohensalzburg fortress and the airport on the western outskirts. There, in a new-build block, Roland Ratzenberger bought a two-storey apartment with beautiful views of Untersberg mountain from the terrace.
For 29 years now this has been the home of Roland’s parents. Rudi, his father, soon turns 91, while mother Margit is 86 – but with a memory some much younger people would envy.
“Roland was travelling the world as racer, but he always stressed he would have a residence in his hometown. That’s why he bought this apartment. He took it over one week before Imola,” Rudi recalls. And he adds: “Firstly, we were reluctant to move in. Then we decided not to sell or lease it but to use it ourselves.”
The Ratzenberger family had lived on the eastern side of the city, close to the road that leads to the lake district. It was there Roland (born 4 July 1960) and his younger sisters Elisabeth and Gabi grew up.
“Roland was fascinated with cars from his kindergarten days,” Margit
