Bradley expecting more from KCMG
Richard Bradley says there is more time to come from the KCMG ORECA-Nissan.
#47 KCMG ORECA 05: Matthew Howson, Richard Bradley, Nicolas Lapierre
Eric Gilbert
Bradley and the entire KCMG team endured an eventful day at Le Mans.
The Hong Kong-based LMP2 pace-setter finished the day atop the ultra-competitive class times. However, the day began with the car grinding to a halt on the Mulsanne Straight and Bradley being unceremoniously trucked back to the paddock, as he explained to Motorsport.com.
A “surreal day”
“It was a bit of a surreal day, all-in-all,” said a wide-eyed Bradley after the first qualifying session.
“When we stopped at the start of free practice with a water pressure issue, my heart sank. The team told me to stop the car and then I got back on a flat-bed truck.
“I was still in the cockpit communicating with the team while the truck went across some farmland and an old rickety bridge on the inside of the circuit as we made our way back to the pits. It was bloody bumpy in there!”
Bradley, who has spent much of his career in Asia, where he lives, was the revelation of Wednesday’s running as he peaked on a 3m38.032s in the new ORECA 05-Nissan LMP2 coupe.
More to come
Bradley confirmed to Motorsport.com that he believes there is more time in the KCMG ORECA-Nissan.
“We know there is a chance it could be a washout weather wise tomorrow,” said Bradley.
“We decided to go for it and put on some new tyres and run on a reasonably low fuel-load. I actually got held up on my quick lap and lost at least half a second so there is more to come. Everything is just clicking at the minute for us.”
“After the issue was cured in free practice, we concentrated on race set-up and performance but then we saw the forecast and thought tonight could be the night for us – and it was.”
Bradley, along with fellow British team-mate Matt Howson, has emerged as a growing force in the LMP2 category and the 23-year-old believes there is much more to come from both him and the team this year.
“I feel good and after a full years’ experience in the WEC I feel I am coming of age as a driver. I am using the knowledge I have gained and I’m hoping it will get better and better for us.
“We are working well as a team, we have great engineers and mechanics and we know we can challenge right at the front with the package we have.”
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