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Stuttgart. The
Each of the three cars’ starting numbers has a certain meaning for
Racing a third hybrid prototype is a serious operational challenge for the young Weissach-based team. It underlines
Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “The speed of the second generation of the 919 Hybrid was convincing at the season’s opening race at Silverstone. This doesn’t go only for qualifying, but also on the long runs progress was visible and allowed us to keep in the lead with a one-two for one and a half hours. The third 919 Hybrid for Spa is an entirely newly built car for Earl, Nick and Nico. Handling three such complex cars and nine drivers will be challenging for the crew around Team Principal Andreas Seidl. All three 919s will compete in the same aero configuration, which is the same one we raced in Silverstone. Regarding the demands of the hybrid management in the 8-megajoule class, we are constantly learning. Generally speaking, Spa’s track layout should favour our car.”
For the crews of car numbers 17 and 18, who compete in the entire WEC season, championship points scoring is the target for Spa. The crew of car number 19 has a different task: After comprehensive testing, they now have to get used to all the racing procedures, will experience the excitement of their LMP1 race debut and get ready for Le Mans, the season’s highlight.
Timo Bernhard (34, Germany): “For two reasons Spa is going to be a special race for me. First of all it is not far from my hometown of Bruchmühlbach-Miesau, so we can expect many German fans. And secondly I will be racing with a special helmet in Spa in memory to Stefan Bellof, who died there 30 years ago. I am doing this because I have a lot of respect for him and I like to remind everyone about his exceptional abilities as a racing driver. Talking about the event, in Spa the track is always the star. The layout of this circuit, that has been embedded naturally into the landscape, hasn’t changed a lot. It has become much safer, but its character has remained untouched. It is a difficult track and requires precise set-up work. It is a place where good team work can make all the difference.”
Brendon Hartley (25, New Zealand): “I will never forget how amazed I was when I came to Europe and saw the Spa circuit for the first time. I think it is a track every driver gets excited about. Corners like Eau Rouge are unique and fantastic. Spa should favour our car a lot more than Silverstone, and I can’t wait to race there.“
Mark Webber (38, Australia): “Spa is one of my favourite tracks. It’s one of the classics on the calendar with a lot of character, and it’s a real thrill to drive there because it’s very fast and you can really let the 919 hybrid have its legs The weather always plays a factor around there, as you could have it raining at one end of the track and dry at the other, as it’s such a long lap. Eau Rouge is one of the most famous corners in the world and it’s much steeper than it appears on TV. Silverstone didn’t turn out the way we would have liked, but we have a lot of good potential and want to get a good result in Spa.”
Romain Dumas (37, France): “Last year with the old car we were very fast in Spa, and with the new 919 Hybrid it will be even better. Now with the higher downforce, this year Eau Rouge and Radillon should be flat. Endurance racing has a great heritage in Spa and there is normally a good crowd. One of my best memories from Spa is when I won the 24 hours in 2003 together with Marc Lieb.”
Neel Jani (31, Switzerland): “After a good season’s opening round in Silverstone, I can’t wait to race in Spa. I hope for more thrilling fights for the lead as I enjoyed them in England, and the fast Belgian track should suit us. Last year we took the maiden pole for the 919 in Spa and were leading for quite a long time early in the race. Certainly our target is to lead this time at the end of the race.”
Marc Lieb (34, Germany): “Spa is one of my absolutely favourite circuits. The high number of fast corners on this natural race track have a unique flow. In Spa I experienced the first highlight of my endurance career when I won the 24 hours with Romain Dumas. Having three 919 Hybrids to handle for the first time is challenging for the entire team. I think we are well prepared and can look forward to it.”
Earl Bamber (24, New Zealand): “From last year I have very fond memories of Spa. It was great fun to win the
Nico Hülkenberg (27, Germany): “I am totally excited about what the coming weeks and the Spa weekend will bring. Of course I know the Grand Prix circuit pretty well and have raced there many times. But endurance racing is completely new to me and I’m really thrilled about seeing how everything will develop. I approach these challenges with an open mind, I want to have my experiences and, of course, I want to do a good job for
Nick Tandy (30, Great Britain): “I have raced many times in Spa. In single seaters, in the
- The FIA WEC season’s second 6-hour-race will start on May, 2 at 2:30 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST).
- TV station Eurosport will broadcast the race on the same day between 6:30 and 8:45 pm (CEST).
- The challenging Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps lies in the mountainous Ardennes region in the south of Belgium. The lap length of 7.004 kilometres is above average and the track features several high-speed sectors. The hybrid drivers are especially stretched on the long uphill sections. The daunting compression of Eau Rouge and Raidillon fills racing drivers of all categories with awe. Because of the track’s length it might well rain on one part of the circuit while other parts are still dry – a particular feature very similar to Le Mans.
- In 2014 the winner did 171 laps.
- In 2014 Neel Jani and Marc Lieb clinched the first of now five pole positions for
- In the race Dumas/Jani/Lieb came fourth, Bernhard/Hartley/Webber 23rd.
- After the first of eight WEC rounds Dumas/Jani/Lieb hold second position in the drivers’ table with a total of 18 points. Bernhard/Hartley/Webber gained a bonus point for pole position in Silverstone and rank 10th.
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