LMP1
Marcel Fässler (#1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro): “It’s good to be back on the top spot of the podium again. It was a race with a large number of incidents. We were fortunate and had no problems whatsoever. That’s why in the final phase we hardly had any more pressure from behind and were able to bring victory home. We all did a good job. I’m sorry for the #2 Audi but that has brought us a bit closer to the Championship.”
André Lotterer (#1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro): “It was very important for us to recover as many points as possible. Of course the priority was to have an Audi win. We managed that even though it was a very difficult race for car number 2. It’s a shame that the Toyota retired because it wasn’t quite as thrilling anymore afterward. The whole team did a great job. We can be pleased.”
Benoît Tréluyer (#1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro): “We’re very happy after things didn’t go so well anymore for our car number 1 most recently at Le Mans. Obviously, we benefited a bit from the misfortune of the others today as well. That’s why I didn’t have to take as many risks in traffic and was driving with a safety cushion. A big ‘thank you’ goes to my team-mates, the mechanics and the engineers for their first-rate job.”
Loïc Duval (#2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro): “I think we weren’t the fastest today. We’ve got to analyse that. It’s a shame that we were unfortunate with the safety car period in the beginning. In addition, I lost the right rear wheel after my first pit stop. When I returned to the pits again afterward the speed sensor wasn’t working and I was a bit too fast in the pit lane. After having to sit two stop-and-go penalties we had no chance of a better place anymore. In the end, we were fortunate to have still finished as the runners-up. If Toyota had fielded a second car today it would have become difficult. In total, it was a good race for Audi.”
Tom Kristensen (#2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro): “This race result shows how much detailed work was done in the winter. Last year, we were beaten here by Toyota but this year we showed strong performances. Of course it’s a shame that the Toyota retired so early. Unfortunately, there were several circumstances that prevented number 2 from being able to win today. After unfortunate situations behind the safety car and two time penalties it was almost a small stroke of luck that we still managed to finish in second place. And the Championship remains interesting.”
Allan McNish (#2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro): “After a good start for our two Audi cars our competitor Toyota unfortunately retired. I was easily able to control the race and I built a bit of an advantage. But then the tables unfortunately turned. A wheel came off and two penalties followed. Afterward, it was only about safely scoring our points for the Championship. Congratulations to Audi on winning on this track.”
Nicolas Prost (#12 Rebellion Lola B12/60 Coupé-Toyota): “It’s a fantastic achievement to finish third overall. We’ve won many races in the FIA Endurance LMP1 Trophy as a Privateer with a lot of fourth place overall finishes. It’s good to reach the podium this time. The podium was our aim before coming to Sao Paulo and it’s nice to get it. The team have worked very well all weekend, it’s a great result for us.”
Nick Heidfeld (#12 Rebellion Lola B12/60 Coupé-Toyota): “I am really pleased with this podium here at Sao Paulo. We have been able to work on different set ups with the car since we had no competition in the Privateers. We have learned a lot about the car and that is another good side from this weekend. Driving with other drivers and working with the engineers that have been on the sister car in the first half of the season provided new perspectives for us. After the Toyota was out, I had a clean race and took more attention while overtaking cars than usual. This podium is a great reward for the team that have lifted their level in the past two/three years and will give us more motivation for the remaining races and next year.”
Mathias Beche (#12 Rebellion Lola B12/60 Coupé-Toyota): “I am deeply happy with this result. I want to thank my teammates who did a great job during the race and the whole Rebellion Racing team. I had a problem with the padding behind my Hans so the team took the option to shorten my double stint to only one and Nico took over from me. I went back into the car after him to finish the race and enjoyed crossing the finish line in third place. We stayed out of problems on the track and adapted our pace through the race. The WEC is a big commitment for a Privateer team, this result proves that the team was right to maintain their effort in the FIA WEC until the end of the season, this result is rewards that decision.”
Bart Hayden, Rebellion Racing Team Manager: “The whole team is delighted at achieving an outright podium in the FIA World Endurance Championship at Interlagos, a track with great motorsport history. It’s also nice to bounce back after a disappointing Le Mans and to see that the team has a great spirit and determination to succeed. We changed the driver line-ups from earlier in the season and the guys have gelled well and the work ethic has been very high. The “fly-away” races are a challenge for any team, so I’m really happy that we’ve achieved this great result here in Brazil. It’s been a real team effort with great support also from TMG for our Toyota engine and from Michelin with the tyres; together we’ll celebrate this success!”
Stéphane Sarrazin (#8 Toyota TS030-Hybrid): “I am very disappointed for the team; I am very sorry. I was doing my race and I was lapping the LMP2 car in a normal place. He lost control of his car and crashed into me. What can I do? I did my very best to get the car back to the box but it was impossible. It’s a very bad day for us. I am so disappointed because we thought we would be part of a great fight today.”
LMP2
Mike Conway (#26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 03-Nissan): “It was good. At the start I just wanted to gap the Pecom car as I knew they’d be a threat and managed to use the traffic to build a gap. The car was good and I wanted to be as easy on the tyres as I could – we seemed able to double-stint them without too much trouble – and then handed the car over to these guys. I just want to say a big thank you to the team, as we’ve had a faultless day.”
Roman Rusinov (#26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 03-Nissan): “It was important for us to control the race from the front. The two safety cars in the first half made it tough to call as you have to decide if you will alter your strategy at that point. I had my helmet on and then off again three times! Our package was very competitive all weekend and with the great work from all of the team we finally hit our mark and we are very happy to come away from Brazil as the winners.”
John Martin (#26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 03-Nissan): “Regardless of the result [of the Le Mans-exclusion appeal] it’s pretty clear what we have to do, which is to try and win every event from here on in. It’s still mathematically possible to win the title and today’s result helps – obviously it doesn’t help that the 35 car came second, but the 24 car finished off the podium, which is a start – but it makes it easy for us; we just push the whole time as we have nothing to protect.”
Simon Dowson, G-Drive Racing Team Manager: “At last! I’m happy to bring G-Drive its first win in LM P2. The two cars were quick this weekend and the #25 was unlucky, experiencing a few issues. The Oreca chassis worked well, the car was easy to drive and kind to the tires. We proved this by being able to double stint with the Dunlop tires without a time loss. After that we just had to stay out of trouble. Mike, Roman and John deserved this win and the car ran faultlessly. Now, we need to keep this momentum for the rest of the season.”
Bertrand Baguette (#35 OAK Racing Morgan-Nissan): “The start of the race was spoilt by the safety car, which came out between Nicolas Minassian in second place and me. We lost a lap and we had to push very hard to pull it back. Ricardo Gonzalez did a great job setting very good times. Martin Plowman was consistent during his two stints and I went as fast as I could while saving fuel at the end. We finished forty seconds behind the winner so if the safety car hadn’t got mixed up in things… If you look at our position in the championship it’s been a good day for no. 35, and even though I’m disappointed for no. 24, I hope we’re going to continue in the same vein.”
Nic Minassian (#49 Pecom Racing Oreca 03-Nissan): “We had a solid race, with a car and Michelin tires that were competitive, but we lacked a little something to take the fight to G-Drive Racing. They were untouchable this weekend. Nonetheless, we took home important points in the championship. There are still four rounds left this season and we’ll do everything we can to take the title!”
Alex Brundle (#24 OAK Racing Morgan-Nissan): “After a tough qualifying session we were determined to move up the time sheets. Olivier drove a fantastic first stint and I did my best after that. Nos. 35, 49 and us were close together throughout almost the whole race. Unfortunately, our hopes of clinching a good result were dashed by the mechanical problem. Despite this we scored points so we’re still in with a chance in the championship.”
LMGTE-Pro
Gimmi Bruni (#51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia): “It was a very good race from the start and I hope everyone enjoyed watching it. We had a good start and I took the lead after four laps, but it was always a close battle and we had to put in a qualifying lap for every lap of the race. Especially at the end Darren was very quick and for my final stint, 42 laps, it was very difficult to keep him behind as they had a very good car. But I’m very happy, because after Le Mans – which was a very bad race for everybody – we have come back and I am very happy for me, for Giancarlo and for all the team. Unfortunately, we lost the sister car, #71, in a bad way, but my emotion at the moment is that I will try to enjoy the win because after Le Mans I was very down with what happened to Allan; so I am very happy and want to dedicate this victory to all the people in Maranello and for sure to Allan Simonsen.”
Giancarlo Fisichella (#51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia): “We knew before the race that our pace was good and that tyre consumption was good, and it’s been a fantastic race. Gimmi had a great start and we kept the Aston Martin behind us for the whole race. It was so close, but the mechanics did a fantastic job – especially in the pitstops – and we drove, like Gimmi said, a qualifying session for the whole race without any mistakes, so I’m really proud about what we’ve done today.”
Darren Turner (#97 AMR Aston Martin Vantage V8): “The start wasn’t great. It really should have been a restart and as a result I lost a lot of places but I carefully worked my way up to second. After that the battle for the lead was on and we pushed and pushed for six hours to try to get past that Ferrari. Not one lap of that was easy. There were no mistakes from either of us or the #51 drivers, so to finish with just 1.4 seconds between us is amazing. We had great pit stops from the team and Stefan, as usual, was incredible. We’re now leading the championship at the halfway mark, which is a great place to be as we head to the Circuit of the Americas for the first time.”
Jörg Bergmeister (#91 Manthey Porsche 911 RSR): “That was quite an eventful race. Unfortunately we were lacking some speed on the straights compared to the opposition. Unluckily, when overtaking I was hit by an Aston Martin. This cost me some time – an entire lap in fact. Still, considering that our qualifying was not exactly perfect, third place is a conciliatory result.”
Patrick Pilet (#91 Manthey Porsche 911 RSR): “We couldn’t do much better today. We drove a flawless race, but we simply lack a little top speed. Moreover, we also fell victim to several incidents. We can live with third place. I’m pleased for the team who worked very hard for this.”
LMGTE-Am
Jamie Campbell-Walter (#96 AMR Aston Martin Vantage V8): “It’s really good to win the first race of the year here at Interlagos. For Stuart and I it feels like just rewards, we’ve had a few unlucky races this year. We raced here together in 2007 and finished third so to come back and win is brilliant. It’s also great for Roald [Goethe], as a car collector, to win a race with the #96 Vantage GTE. Many thanks to the team and everyone involved. It’s a fantastic result for all of us.”
Stuart Hall (#96 AMR Aston Martin Vantage V8): “Yes, it is great to take a win in the WEC. This win is for Roald; it’s a shame he’s not here to celebrate it with us. He’s been so supportive to Jamie and I and we owe this to him. The car has been fantastic today and I’ve enjoyed every minute of the race.”
Davide Rigon (#81 8Star Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia): “It was a sensational weekend, not only for the final result but also for myself as it was important to prove that I can be competitive on a world stage. Going to a completely new track with a car I’ve never driven in an official event and to finish on the podium is really incredible. Everything went well. We proved that we had good pace in free practice and that was confirmed in the race. Unfortunately, pole escaped us by the blink of an eye. During the 6H our Ferrari didn’t give us a single problem and I pulled to the maximum. I have to congratulate the whole 8Star team.”
Paolo Ruberti (#88 Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 RSR): “The outcome of my Brazilian exit is certainly positive: the car was really perfect therefore the quickest time of our category in qualifying and the fastest lap of the race came relatively easy. The podium concluded the weekend with a further satisfaction that will add motivation to us for the coming race in Texas.”
