Massive Attack
The story of Massive Motorsport began last August over a glass of wine at ‘chez Møller’ where old friends Casper Elgaard, Kristian Poulsen and Simon Møller and his brother plotted what Møller describes as a progressive ‘Danish family team.’
“We sat down and worked out what we would ideally like to do and the ingredients came to us very quickly,” said Møller. “We went to the final round at Estoril to have a look and then we acquired the Aston Martin Vantage GT3. We have had some good testing here at Ricard last month and also at Imola last week. So far so good but we are taking things very gradually and setting like aims all the time.
Møller’s experience in racing is scant. Some historic racing in Europe with a BMW 2002 TI is his only competition and the Dane is under no illusions of the progressive steps he has to make in this giant leap in to the ELMS GTC class.
“Kristian and Casper have been fantastic. I am learning and learning all the time. It is a long term commitment for us,” continued Møller.“We will, if we get an entry, go to Le Mans when are ready but I cannot say when that will be. We are building a good platform here and we deliberately want to create a good family feeling in the team. I am not especially nationalistic in the sense of flying Danish flags all the time but we are all proud to have a complete Danish team and even one from where we all live (in Aarhus).
Massive Motorsport have a close collaboration with Aston Martin Racing, with renowned data engineer Evert VanDoorn in attendance this week.
“Aston has been great and we already have a nice relationship and partnership going. We are just minimising as many variables as possible at present. Personally, I am working hard with my personal trainer and focusing hard to do the very best I can and learn as much as is humanly possible.”
New frontiers for BMW Team Marc VDS
Bas Leinders was studying the times in the BMW Team Marc VDS pit when DSC caught up with him today.
“It is a new challenge – the first time a BMW has raced in this configuration (LMGTE) and in the ELMS. We did the race at Estoril with the GTC spec Z4 which of course was on Michelin tyres. It is the first time this car has raced in Europe so we have a lot of work to and to learn a lot about it.”
Leinders also confirmed that the chassis was a former BMW spare test car.
Jesse Krohn (pronounce Yes-ehh) is an interesting addition to Andy Priaulx and Henry Hassid in the car this season. DSC understands that the three will be partnered all season despite a clash with the Nürburgring 24 Hours in May in which Krohn was initially planning to race in.
And how about this fact fans? Jesse Krohn is without a shadow of a doubt the only racing driver to have ever lived in both Benidorm and Skegness. Life will now surely be an anti-climax for him!
“He is a BMW young driver and very talented,” said Leinders. “I saw his results in the ADAC Masters, in the GT3 class in 2012 (with Lambda Performance) and also last year in the BMW M235i Racing Cup car. Also Markus Paltalla was his coach and said good things about him too. For me when we needed a good silver driver he became the perfect choice.”
With a new structure and compound for the LMGTE ELMS tyres this year, how does Leinders see the development of the Z4 in GTE spec going from a vehicle dynamic points of view?
“For us it is difficult because we obviously used Michelins last season at Estoril in the GTC class. Now with the GTE BMW Z4 and the differences it will be interesting to see how we can work with the tyre but ultimately it is the same product for everyone. It will also be interesting to see what the BoP adjustments might be. Obviously what the Z4 has lacked a bit in the past is top-line speed.”
Priaulx, is arriving overnight from the US and will drive the car tomorrow.
