Zhuhai: Post-race quotes

Race quotes from Zhuhai - Round 9

Winner GT1 : Anthony Kumpen, nr6 GLPK Racing Corvette C5R
"I took a good start by overtaking the GPC Ferrari before the first corner. When I saw Christophe Bouchut and Pedro Lamy in the gravel, I slowed down and I managed to keep the car on track. We weren't the fastest car today, but we were the most consistent. Our Corvette remained efficient during the whole race. Our strategy was good, our Pirelli tyres were perfect, it is a great victory."

Winner GT1 : Bert Longin, nr6 GLPK Racing Corvette C5R
"I did a quite long stint, with consistent lap times. We missed one free practice session on Friday, so it was not easy for us, but after the qualifying session, we found a really good set up, that was the key for us. We stayed very well concentrated during the whole race, we did no mistake. It was a really good race for all the team."

Winner GT1 : Mike Hezemans, nr6 GLPK Racing Corvette C5R
"It is a nice victory. In hot conditions, our Corvette is really good. I have to thank my team and my team mates, everybody did a great job. Pedro Lamy was pushing, but the gap was enough to keep our first position to the finish line. We have to admit that with no weight, on a circuit heavy on brakes like this one, it is an advantage. But we deserved that victory. After Imola, it is good to win again!"

Second GT1 : Pedro Lamy, nr11 Larbre Competition Ferrari 550 Maranello
"Before the start, I knew that our car was really fast. We had a good car to win that race. But the oil problem was terrible for us! When Christophe Bouchut and I arrived in this corner, we could not do anything and went straight into the gravel. I was lucky because I was able to come back on track before the Safety Car arrived. Michelin and Larbre Competition did a great job. We had a very competitive car."

Second GT1 : Gabriel Gardel, nr11 Larbre Competition Ferrari 550 Maranello
"My stint was quite strange. I could not recognise my car. It was not the same as yesterday. I wasn't able to stop it. I had to brake much earlier than before... When I spoke with Pedro after the race, he told me that a switch was disconnected. Pedro did a great job. This second position is good for us in the Drivers Championship. This Championship is long and difficult, with a nice fight. Today, it is impossible to say who is going to be Champion. It is a fantastic finish with four different cars in a position to win"

Third GT1: Michael Bartels, nr9 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC 12 GT1
"This result is the maximum we could reach this weekend. When it was decided to put more weight on the car, everything was already on its way to Zhuhai, so we weren't able to do anything. We discovered a new car this week end. The car was difficult. It was not easy to find the good balance. We worked very hard during the whole weekend, so we are happy to finish third. It was just impossible for us to beat the Corvette and the Ferrari. Well done to them ! I have to say that Pirelli did a great job because we only changed the tyres once. This track is not easy on the tyres and the brakes. We had no problems to prove that we are using the right products. In spite of the weight, our performances in the race were OK. For the Championship, this week end is not so bad. We increased our leading position in the Teams Championship and we scored important points for the Drivers Championship. Both Championships are very close and the last two races are inevitably going to be exciting."

Third GT1: Timo Scheider, nr9 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC 12 GT1
"This race was exciting. Our car was heavy, so we knew before the race that we had to stop 3 times. But thanks to Pirelli, we were able to change our tyres only once and we won a lot of time like that. Finally, it was a good weekend for us."

Winner GT2 : Marc Lieb, nr66 GruppeM Porsche 996 GT3 RSR
"It is really good for all the GruppeM team and for Kenny Chen, the team owner, to win this race and to win the Drivers Championship here. The race was clear, we made no mistakes. We had a good car, as we did during all the season. It is amazing how this car remained efficient and reliable during all the season."

Winner GT2 : Mike Rockenfeller, nr66 GruppeM Porsche 996 GT3 RSR
"During the whole weekend, we were quicker than the other car. We did a strong race, we chose to change the tyres during the last pit stop. We had time to do it, so it was ok. It is really great to be champion before the end of the season when you are fighting with strong competitors as our team mates. It was never easy to win. Congratulations to them, it was a hard fight, but this fight was good and fair."

Second GT2 : Tim Sugden, nr88 GruppeM Porsche 996 GT3 RSR
"The start was good. I was fighting hard for three laps, I was first then I arrived in this corner where Bouchut and Lamy went off. I was lucky to get pulled out of the gravel before the Safety Car arrived. The marshals worked fast because I was pulled out by the same truck as Lamy. After that, I tried to come back. I managed to get to second. The car was good. Well done to Marc and Mike."

Second GT2 : Emmanuel Collard, nr88 GruppeM Porsche 996 GT3 RSR
"My first lap was difficult ! I missed the brake pedal, so I went off. I was lucky to be able to go back on track. Then, I had the same paceas the nr 66 car but it was not possible to catch them."

Third GT2 : Luigi Moccia, nr74 Ebimotors Porsche 996 GT3 RSR
"Our goal was to be on the podium again and we achieved it, so it is great. My first stint was not perfect, but it was much better on the second one with other tyres. I'm happy. The Ebimotors team did a great job."

Third GT2 : Cristian Passutti, nr74 Ebimotors Porsche 996 GT3 RSR
"It was my first time in the FIA GT Championship, so it was difficult. I learnt a lot during the race and understood quite a number of things. I had a great fight with the Noble Group car, but I didn't really know the differences between all the cars so it was not easy. For my first race in this championship, I'm happy. I hope to be back."

Winner G2: Vanina Ickx, nr105 Belgian Racing Vertigo Streiff
"We had a lot of problems with the fuel pump. I did only 30 laps and Bas did all the rest. More than a class victory, it is a victory for the Vertigo Streiff. We did a good work during all this week end, Bas Leinders is the key element for the team, with him we are going further, it is a pleasure to work with him."

Winner G2 : Bas Leinders, nr105 Belgian Racing Vertigo Streiff
""It was a difficult but interesting race for the team. We learnt a lot but we had a fuel pump problem. We changed it, but it wasn't much better after, so maybe it was an overheating problem. We did big improvements on this car. We pushed from the beginning to the end. Now we need a stronger engine to play with the GT2 cars. Working with Belgian Racing is an exciting challenge."

-fia-