Given his size of well over 6 feet, he knew that getting into a Formula One cockpit would become a tricky matter ergonomically—apart from the fact that his bank savings were just enough to buy a rusty Alfa Romeo with a Porsche-designed gearbox. The half-German, half-Brazilian focused his career on whatever option would open the door to F1. Next step was studying mechanical engineering, only to find himself thinking that he wouldn't become the next Patrick Head or Harvey Postlethwaite. He opened his approach and became a designer and photographer that started out as press officer for former Formula One team Zakspeed Racing. He went on to become team manager for Walter Lechner's Porsche Supercup team, before switching to writing premium automotive books.