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Top 8 Putin moments: From Harley-riding bad boy to Formula One driver

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is known for his displays of athletic prowess and daring feats, as well as the occasional croon before an audience. His visit this week to a Russian youth camp did not disappoint. Here are some of his most notable romps throughout Russia.

Formula One race car driver

Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/AP/File
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin drives a Renault racing car at the race track outside St. Petersburg, Russia, in this Nov. 2010 file photo. Putin tested his capacities as a Formula One driver.

  • By Stephen Kurczy Staff writer
  • Ariel Zirulnick Staff writer

He's galloped and flown, and now Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has zoomed. In November 2010, Mr. Putin put the pedal to the floor of a Formula One race car, reaching 150 m.p.h. on a track outside St. Petersburg. He drove a yellow Renault and wore a helmet emblazoned with a double-headed eagle.

A fan of car racing, Mr. Putin last month helped with Russia's bid to host its first Grand Prix race in 2014 – the same year that Russia will host the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Never shy to promote his feats, he told reporters after the Sunday drive: "For a first time, it was good." News agency RT was at the track to video Putin's performance:

YOUTUBE LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvINFJXko7g&feature=player_embedded

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