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WEC - What the Drivers said at Fuji on Friday

13.10.17

WEC - 2017 6 Hours of Fuji - Pre-Event Press Conference Quotes

Kamui Kobayashi

no7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TS050 - HYBRID

“We have struggled a little so far this season but we have had good pace and speed sometimes but not really a proper result. But last year had the same sometimes but we got a great result here winning the race and this year we expect to have a good chance too challenge .”

 

Kazuki Nakajima

no8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TS050 - HYBRID

“The track here is quite simple in a way and many of us have a big experience racing here, so there are really no secrets. I just hope that the weather will be ok for Sunday and it won’t be as bad as 2013 when we just had a race behind the safety car.

“It would be great if we have a race like last year where we are able to win. It would be great for Toyota Gazoo Racing and also the fans that come here.”

 

Andre Lotterer

no1 PorscheLMP Team Porsche 919 Hybrid

“So far it has been good here but we have to see how this circuit characteristic influences the different concepts because we have seen at Le Mans the faster cars in the low downforce kit. It will be interesting and for sure a tough one.”

“I have never won here and not really had the opportunity so it will be nice to do it here as it will be our last time.”

 

James Rossiter

no26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 07-Gibson

“For me this came quite out of the blue really. Romain actually sent me a message on Instagram to see if I was available, so that was a unique way to end up with a drive. I’ve never driven with the team before and never driven the new generation of LMP2 car before so there have been many new things to take in.

“Yesterday I spent the day getting to know the team and the systems in the car. There have been a lot of new things to concentrate on today.”

 

Keita Sawa  -

no61 Clearwater Racing Ferrari 488 GTE

“I am so proud to be racing here as a WEC competitor.  My company office is here at the circuit, so it is a special feeling for me.  Yesterday I did the track walk and everything is totally different, with the kerbs freshly painted.  Everyone thinks I know the track very well and I don’t need to open my eyes to drive and with the heavy rain, it is just as well I know the track well.

“In the first two rounds at Silverstone and Spa, we did well.  In Le Mans we had a difficult time but we finished.  Then we were leading the championship.  Nürburgring and Mexico was a big problem for us but at COTA we came back on the pace. So we are now in third position in the championship but just six points behind.  This weekend I think we have a good chance to win the race.”

 

Nick Foster

no86 Gulf Racing Porsche 911 RSR

“This is the first season in WEC and we’re a healthy way through the championship.  Obviously from our side we’ve been pulling along.  We’ve moved over to the Dunlop tyres this year without doing much testing, so we’ve been spending our race weekends developing the tyre and developing the Porsche to work with the tyre. So it’s been an interesting technical adventure.

“We picked up our first podium in Mexico, which is very exciting.  For me personally it has been fantastic to be involved in endurance racing, which is where I’ve always wanted to be.  The highlight of the year is definitely Le Mans and getting there after many, many years of watching.  And Mexico stands out as a strong result for us and the high of finally standing on a WEC podium.”