This page contains archived information and may not display perfectly

WEC - What the drivers said after the Race

16.07.17

WEC - 2017 6 Hours of Nürburgring - Post Race Quotes 

WEC, 6 Hours of Nurburgring, Motorsport

Find here all the pictures from the 2017 WEC 6 Hours of Nürburgring

Timo Bernhard – 1st

No.2 Porsche LMP Team Porsche 919 Hybrid

“I had a good start and it was close fighting with Kamui and Andre. Advantages for one or another only came in traffic. Of course none of us wanted to risk too much in the first hour of the race. In the end it is a fantastic day for Porsche, recording a one-two race win on home soil. Either Porsche could have won today. – it was very close from the straight right through until the end.”

 

Earl Bamber – 1st

No.2 Porsche LMP Team Porsche 919 Hybrid

“I had a good couple of stints – kept a steady pace and took no risks. The car’s balance was really nice throughout – the guys gave us a great race car today. I had to take avoiding action when an LMP2spun in front of me but that was my only slight drama. It’s been nice Sunday afternoon drive.”

 

Brendon Hartley – 1st  

No.2 Porsche LMP Team Porsche 919 Hybrid

“I was really happy with my first stint. I took over from Timo and came out right behind the sister car but got ahead within a few laps. The car was feeling really strong initially and I took the lead from the Toyota and pulled a good gap. But halfway through the stint we lost some performance, maybe caused by pick up.”

 

Neel Jani – 2nd

No.1 Porsche LMP Team Porsche 919 Hybrid

“I got in to second but due to traffic lost that position to Brendon and chose not to defend too much. I unlucky with traffic but that improved enabling me to attack, allowing me to have a nice clean but intense fight with the Toyota and Brendon. I got into the lead which I maintained despite a little tyre degradation.”

 

Andre Lotterer – 2nd

No.1 Porsche LMP Team Porsche 919 Hybrid

“Initially I had a very good start and was on the better racing line but then Timo got ahead in Turn 1. During the first stint, Kobayashi, Timo and myself were all at the same speed and it was a lot of fun going through the traffic. It’s been a good day for Porsche with both cars really strong, exchanging the lead many times. Maybe our car could have taken the race win but we worked as a team with the championship in mind.”

 

Nick Tandy – 2nd

No.1 Porsche LMP Team Porsche 919 Hybrid

“I had a couple of decent stints and I brought the car in for Andre in the lead which was good. It was tough out there as the Nurburgring track configuration makes for a busy time behind the wheel. A double stint is hot work and pretty physical. We found that rubber debris caused some problems today which caused a fluctuation in the car’s performance.”

 

Mike Conway – 3rd

No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID

“It’s always good to be on the podium but we’re not really happy today. There are some positives to take from the weekend; qualifying was good for us and we showed strong speed early in the race. But we dropped off as the aero balance changed. Porsche was very strong today so congratulations to them. I am looking forward to the next races when I am sure it will be better for us.”

 

Kamui Kobayashi – 3rd

No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID

“At the beginning of the race it looked okay. We had good pace during my first stint; we were leading and setting strong lap times. Then later in the race the balance wasn’t right and we couldn’t fight. To be honest, we expected a hard race here after Friday practice and that’s how it turned out. But we got a reasonable amount of points so we will try to improve for Mexico.”

 

José María López – 3rd

No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID

“Even though it was a difficult race, we finished on the podium and that’s the first time for me in WEC. We were surprised on Saturday to get pole position after a great job from the team but we expected a hard fight today. In my second stint it was really hard with the tyres. For sure we wanted more so we will keep working to come back stronger in the next races.”

 

 

James Calado – 1st LMGTE Pro

No51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE

“This is a great result, especially considering our result in Le Mans.   We worked pretty hard the last few days working on a set up that was a bit different from normal.  We were really happy with the car, it was good, well balanced.  The race was good, a clean six hours, no major issues.  Alessandro did a great job as well, his first WEC win.  I hope together and with the team we can continue this course and we will see where we are for Mexico.”

 

Alessandro Pier Guidi – 1st LMGTE Pro

No51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE

“I am really happy to score my first win in the WEC with Ferrari – it’s fantastic.  I hope it is the first in a long story and we will try our very best to do this again in the next race.”

 

Oliver Jarvis – 1st LMP2

No38 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07-Gibson

“I think today was one of those perfect races, the drivers did a good job, the team did an outstanding job all weekend and everything went right and we won it in a dominant fashion.  We came here to stamp our authority after Le Mans and to show that we are here to win the world title in addition to the 24 Hours of LE Mans that we have already achieved.  But we have a few races to go and we want to win some more.”

 

Ho Pin Tung - 1st LMP2

No38 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07-Gibson

“Since the first race in Silverstone, which we also won, we’ve made some really good steps with the team and the car and everything is gelling so well together.  The result at Le Mans was amazing and we were very dominant here today. All three drivers during their stints managed to increase the gap.  We seem to be on the right path but there are a lot of others trying to do the same so we have to keep on working.  Looking forward to Mexico.”

 

Thomas Laurent - 1st LMP2

No38 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07-Gibson

“It’s just a dream to have three wins in my first four WEC races. The race today was really good, the car was also really good.  We had an issue with a light so the bodywork was changed during one of the stops.  A big thanks to the team and my teammates.  I am still learning a lot from these two amazing teachers.”

 

Christian Ried - 1st LMGTE Am

No77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR

“I am really happy to win the race here at home, especially as we had a lot of friends, guests and sponsors here today.  A big thank you to the team, they did some great pitstops.  Marvin and Matteo did a great job – it is really nice to be back in first place.”

 

Marvin Dienst - 1st LMGTE Am

No77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR

“The weekend didn’t start out the way we wanted to so we are really very happy with the result today. I am German, it is my home race and it is my first win in the WEC.  It’s amazing so far this season.  We had a really tough battle today and the second time I went out I immediately got past the Aston Martin and then he was pushing like crazy.  It was not easy for me to hold him back but in the end we had a really close win here in the Nürburgring.”

 

Matteo Cairoli - 1st LMGTE Am

No77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR

“I couldn’t be happier with this first win.  I have to say a massive thank you to the whole team and my teammates who did an amazing job once again.  Now we are really looking forward to Mexico and we will fight hard to score another win.”