Preview WEC Silverstone : double Le Mans winner Porsche travels to Silverstone leading the points
Pre-race quotes WEC Round 3, Silverstone / Great Britain
Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser (Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars): “After the close fight at Le Mans we’re ready to take on the next challenge. Our aim is to defend our lead in the points. Silverstone enjoys a long tradition and holds a very special place in the hearts of drivers and motor racing enthusiasts. We’re up against tough competition, but we’re perfectly prepared. At Le Mans, the Porsche 911 RSR once again underlined that it can handle huge stresses and is reliable.”
Pascal Zurlinden (Director GT Factory Motorsport): “The high grip level at Silverstone puts special demands on the setup of the 911 RSR. Intuition and finesse are needed here. Only those who opt for the right setup will be in a position to fight for victory. We were among the frontrunners to the end at Spa and we scored a double victory at Le Mans – it should continue like this at Silverstone.”
Richard Lietz (Porsche 911 RSR #91): “Our podium result here last year indicates that the track suits the 911 RSR. And this was reconfirmed at our last test here. The new track surface, however, is really aggressive, so we’ll have to keep an eye on our tyres. Traditionally, loads of fans flock to the racetrack. I can’t wait to finally go racing again after Le Mans!”
Gianmaria Bruni (Porsche 911 RSR #91): “Richard and I will do our very best to get the most out of it for Porsche. I’ve won twice at Silverstone and I’d now like to achieve another victory in England. During the summer break I worked on my fitness in Italy so that I’m perfectly prepared to take on the next races.”
Kévin Estre (Porsche 911 RSR #92): “After the Le Mans win we’re heading to Silverstone feeling very confident. Thanks to our second place at Spa and victory in France, we’re leading the championship. To retain our lead, however, we need to keep earning points. Due to the corner combinations, the tyres are put under immense stress, especially at high temperatures. We need to keep this in mind.”
Michael Christensen (Porsche 911 RSR #92): “The Silverstone circuit suits the 911 RSR. In the past, we’ve achieved great results there. I’m expecting to fight for a top spot again this year, although the competition is very strong. After the Le Mans win I contested a few races in America, but I still managed to recharge my batteries. I’m ready for the next WEC races.”
Jörg Bergmeister (Porsche 911 RSR #56): “I’m heading to Silverstone feeling very optimistic. Our pace was good at the previous races in Spa and Le Mans. The only thing that was missing for us to finish at the front was a little race luck. We’re hoping to finish on the podium in England.”
Matt Campbell (Porsche 911 RSR #77): “I know Silverstone from last year when I contested the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. It’s great fun driving the Porsche 911 RSR here, especially due to the high speeds and the corner combination in the middle sector. After the maiden victory at Le Mans for Dempsey Proton Racing, we’re travelling to England with a great deal of self-confidence.”
Julien Andlauer (Porsche 911 RSR #77): “I’m very much looking forward to the race. Our goal is to bring the spirit from the races at Spa and Le Mans to Silverstone. I competed in Silverstone for the first time with the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup this year and managed to gain some impressions of the racetrack. It’ll definitely help me. To prepare for the race I turned laps of the circuit in the simulator and I watched videos of the 911 RSR from last year.”
Matteo Cairoli (Porsche 911 RSR #88): “This circuit suits me. Passages like Becketts are very fast and technically demanding. Khaled, Giorgio and I had a bit of bad luck and we now want to reverse this trend. Our good qualifying result at Le Mans showed that we can be very fast.”
