This Audi R8 survived hurricane damage then drove to the Arctic like it was nothing
Published on Jun 09, 2025 at 12:03 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Jun 06, 2025 at 12:23 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Audi R8 has been a headline-grabber over the years.
From serving as a movie star to breaking the mould, the R8 is a true icon.
One owner decided to put it through a different kind of test recently.
In fact, he decided to drive it all the way to the Arctic.
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By now, the story of the Audi R8 is probably very familiar to you.
It very quickly became beloved and admired for a variety of reasons.
Its engine, for one thing, was lauded for its incredible performance.
Audi’s 4.2-liter, FSI V8 engine found itself placed in the middle of the supercar.
The R8 also helped to completely change the discussion around Audi.
The model helped to bring the brand to a newer, younger target audience across the globe.
As such, a man from Ohio decided to buy an R8 and push it to its limits.
He decided, in fact, to take it to the Arctic Circle.
Mitchell Kohrmann is a 33-year-old tattoo artist from Ohio.
He bought himself a 2010 Audi R8 in May.
This particular R8, however, had suffered substantial flooding damage in Panama.
Mitchell’s YouTube channel covers the entire restoration process of his R8.
In a recent interview, Mitchell Kohrmann outlined his ambitious journey.
With his R8 now recovered, Mitchell set his sights north – very far north, in fact.
To that end, Mitchell found himself plotting a road trip from Ohio to the Arctic Circle.
He plotted his journey using the Dalton Highway, a 414-mile gravel road in Alaska.
Mitchell explained how – and why – he decided to use an R8 for such a rugged journey.
“The R8 is [the most exciting car] I could still trust to make the journey.”
“I figured if I made the journey in a 4Runner or something, it wouldn’t be as memorable or ambitious.”
Mitchell recalls that a number of car fans in Alaska were in awe of his white R8.
“I heard from a lot of people that the R8 is their dream car, yet they’ve never seen one. I ended up giving out a few rides, and I’m sure it made their day.”
Mitchell found himself driving the first 200 miles of the Dalton Highway to get to the Arctic Circle and back again.
And a stray rock completely busted his water pump, almost ruining the trip.
Luckily for Mitchell, he was able to coast miles back down the mountain road.
And it brought him back to the sole gas station for hundreds of miles.
Thankfully, he was able to get his car towed and fixed, making his way back home to Ohio.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
