GT World Challenge Europe Sprint
Spa 24: Phil Quaife preview
PHIL QUAIFE TO MAKE SPA 24 HOURS DEBUT WITH CRS RACING BRDC Rising Star Phil Quaife will make his Spa 24 Hours debut this month having been confirmed as part of CRS Racing's driving strength at the FIA GT Championship's blue riband event. The ...
Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:39 PM
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PHIL QUAIFE TO MAKE SPA 24 HOURS DEBUT WITH CRS RACING
BRDC Rising Star Phil Quaife will make his Spa 24 Hours debut this month having been confirmed as part of CRS Racing's driving strength at the FIA GT Championship's blue riband event.
The 23-year-old Kent-based driver has starred for the British team in the FIA GT3 European Championship this season driving a Ferrari 430 Scuderia and will now step up to their GT2-spec Ferrari F430. He will share driving duties in the #56 car with fellow CRS Racing regulars Chris Niarchos, Tim Mullen and Chris Goodwin.
"I think we've got a very strong line-up and I'm delighted to be part of it," said Quaife, who scored a class victory in the Dubai 24 Hours earlier this season. "Chris Goodwin has competed in all the major events and raced at a very high level during his career. Chris Niarchos and Tim Mullen are former British GT Champions and also have a winning pedigree in the F430 in the FIA GT Championship. Importantly, they also finished on the GT2 podium together at Le Mans in 2006, so they know exactly what it takes to be successful in a high-profile 24-hour race.
"CRS Racing is one of the very best teams on the grid and the Ferrari has proved its reliability and competitiveness in 24 hour races, not least at Le Mans this year where the car filled all the podium places in GT2."
Although this will be Quaife's first appearance at the Spa 24 Hours, the former Porsche Carrera Cup GB Pro-Am champion has several 24-hour races under his belt and has competed regularly at the iconic Belgian circuit during his career.
"Spa is one of my favourite tracks," he enthused. "I have raced there in the Porsche Supercup and in Radicals and I love the place. It's a fast, challenging circuit and very rewarding for a driver.
"I've raced in six 24-hour races in the past in karting, Britcar and at Dubai so I feel I'm more than ready both mentally and physically for this challenge. I actually worked as a mechanic at the Spa 24 Hours a couple of years ago so I know how demanding the race is, even though this will be a different experience completely."
Phil briefly sampled the GT2-spec Ferrari in CRS Racing's pre-season test at Paul Ricard, but won't get another opportunity to put the 430 through its paces until free practice at Spa.
"It shouldn't be a problem as I normally adapt pretty quickly to new machinery," he said. "I only got to do five laps at Paul Ricard, but it's given me an idea of what the car is like. With four drivers, track time will be at a premium during the week of the race, so I just need to maximise my time behind the wheel and learn everything I can.
"This is a great opportunity for me and I feel more than ready to meet the challenge."
-credit: philquaife.com
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