Serguey Zlobin, SMP Racing # 37 Orecan Nissan: “Step by step, today was not bad, but not very fast. We took the decision for a P2 car late but had to go for it because it is important for us to keep pushing Russian racing. We took the car, an ex-AF Corse reserve car, to Vallelunga only last week but it was very short test because we didn’t want to use to much of the engine life. The car was fantastic this morning, but I need more laps. Next year we hope to have two LMP2’s in the ELMS but this year we will now finish the season and Shaitar and Ladygin will try to win the GTC championship.”
Co-driver Mediani “Vallelunga was just a shakedown, the consideration here is to drive without mistakes and get as much experience of the car as we can. It is a test day in effect for our programme because the opportunity came so late. I told Serguey [Zlobin] we shouldn’t do it because we wouldn’t be ready but then he decided we had this opportunity so we should use it. We are the very young hope of a new generation of drivers. Well, actually we met in Russia 14 years ago but we are still very young…” (said the man born on 21 September 1968).
Benoît Morand (Morand Racing team principal): “We really want to go for a podium because after a fifth place at Le Mans, which was just fantastic, we know we have the package now. We have to be realistic though and it will be tough because there are seven fast cars here. We’ve delivered the results now after our bad luck at Silverstone and the whole team has delivered well. Le Mans was a very difficult race but we are now focussed back here on the championship and we will try to fight for it, although we know with no points at Silverstone that will not be easy.”
Jonathan Hirschi (#18 Murphy Prototypes Oreca 03 Nissan): “I hope I have a bit more luck with this race than the last one. It is a big opportunity to do a good job with this team, we can have a good result. I don’t want to say I want to win because the level is really high. The HVM car just wasn’t there at Imola, they are a great team but we had brake and damper issues and since they put the Lola on smaller restrictors it has been nowhere. I mean if you look how well it went at Ricard before the smaller restrictors… Since then it has been nowhere, even at Donington with three good drivers. I have experience of Orecas but each team has its little differences, but the first feeling from today was great.”
Co-driver Brendon Hartley “I am really happy with Jonathan Hirschi joining us, I raced with him last year and he was quick so we have a strong line-up. But then there are six others who have strong line-ups too. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, it is nice to have that competition. We’ve both had a good run and the car was quick. We’ve always shown the speed we have, but we’ve had a few issues in the previous races. The Zytek has been a bit too quick for us in qualifying but on race day we’ve been just as quick or the quickest, so even if we aren’t on pole I’ll still be confident for the race in the afternoon. Imola was tough for that first 45 mins and I was trying several times to get past into the lead but I think it could be the same here, it will be exciting and I love that kind of racing. We do rely on the GT traffic and reading it to find our opportunities, so whilst overtaking will be hard here working that traffic and managing the risks will be really important for a good result.”
Simon Dolan (#38 Jota Sport Zytek Z11SN Nissan) “Track temperatures in the morning were 55 degrees C but I was pleasantly surprised. On the simulator it felt like it was going to be horrible but after a full hour in the car and once you have got your head around the undulations it is actually pretty good. It was a bit oversteery, which is odd for the Zytek, but we’ve made some changes. It is a short track and it will be difficult in the traffic because in a straight line we are not really any quicker than the GT cars and everyone is braking as late as they can for the slow corners. It is nice to get all the seat time in session one and I don’t see it as a hindrance at all because it won’t hold Oliver [Turvey] back” (And indeed it did not).
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