Welt record attempt: Marco Hellgrewe drives 100 kilometers backwards!

Welt record attempt: Marco Hellgrewe drives 100 kilometers backwards!

On June 4, 2025, Marco Hellgrewe, a 50-year-old officer in the Bundeswehr, plans a spectacular attempt to set up the world record in reverse with a truck. For this he will drive over 100 kilometers with a fully electric Eactros 600 at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. The current record, which has been kept in the USA with a diesel truck at around 89 kilometers since 2020, is to be surpassed. Hellgrewe not only has experience in dealing with commercial vehicles, but had already set up his own record with a reverse ride of 64 kilometers in 2008.

The record attempt takes place on a race track, which is designed with 14 tight curves for cars. The speed during the experiment is expected to be between 10 and 20 kilometers per hour. After the record attempt, the truck will drive backwards on public roads under the police yield. The finish is in the new Global Parts Center of Daimler Truck in Halberstadt, which will open on July 10th.

The drive to electromobility

The decision to use an electric truck like the EACTROS 600 for the record attempt underlines Hellgrewes Engagement for electromobility. After his first record trip, he followed the technological advances in this area. Hellgrewe has not only improved his driving skills, but also a strong interest in the possibilities that electric vehicles offer.

Rainer Müller-Finkeldei, head of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks Product Engineering, is enthusiastic about Hellgrewes Initiative and highlights the pioneering spirit that is behind this project. In addition, the record attempt has a charitable aspect by supporting the Verein Blicki e.V., which is committed to traffic safety training at schools in Halberstadt.

a change of view of the driver's profession

The record attempt is also made by the professional professional-per driver image e. V. used to promote more appreciation of the driver's profession. Hellgrewe wants to emphasize the importance of professional truck drivers and strengthen their role in society.

In contrast to Hellgrewe's attempt to record, the world record of the Rimac Nevera, which acts in a completely different segment at 275.74 km/h. The electrical sports cars have caused a sensation in the world of speed, which illustrates the width of current developments in the field of electromobility. While Hellgrewe focuses on a rather pragmatic goal, the Rimac Nevera remains a symbol of what electrical vehicles can also do in extreme conditions.

Overall, Hellgrewe's project is not only an impressive sporting record attempt, but also a statement on the future of electromobility and the appreciation of the driver's profession.

The entire campaign promises to become an exciting event, and the inspection that it throws on electromobility could resonate, far beyond the day of the record attempt. This could be the start of many other initiatives in the area of ​​sustainable mobility.