Round 8 Post Race Press Conference

Christian Hohenadel - nr101 Callaway Competition Corvette Z06R GT3 – Winners
“I got stuck in the traffic at the start. I think the cars around me slept a bit in the start, and I got stuck behind the Lamborghini and Marco. Then Diego came up on the left side and I ended up 7th on the first lap. Having the safety car and managing to save the tyres for a bit was key to my stint I think. I think we went very good. I got stuck behind Albert von Thurn und Taxis. I was quite a bit faster, but I didn’t want to wear out the tyres so that Daniel had a good set. We waited and Daniel did a perfect job, to get from 4th to 1st.”    

Daniel Keilwitz - nr101 Callaway Competition Corvette Z06R GT3 – Winners
 “Things are looking really good for us. We’ve been lucky every time. Christian wasn’t pushing too hard and saved the tyres so I could push at the end and get in front again. It was a perfect race for us. Things were down to the tyres. I don’t know how Mike pushed with his tyres. I saw that Joakim was breaking earlier in the corners than me, so I went around the outside. It was also fair for him, he wasn’t blocking so hard on the inside.”

Mike Parisy - nr16 Graff Racing Corvette Z06R GT3 – 2nd place
 “I had a very good start. And then I saw the Ferrari on my left at the last moment, so I tried to take it in the corner. I had the first position after Marco was faster than me in the first lap. During the safety car I tried to keep my tyres hot, and at the beginning of the second start, I took the first position. It was very difficult in the car, but it was better than yesterday. I kept 1st place. The fight was very hard, but I was proud of my race. The team, Graff Racing, did a very good job. It’s difficult for us, because the second driver of the other Corvette is very fast. We’re going to try to keep the second position. We’ll see. This operation hasn’t been good for us this weekend, but we have to be present to be strong and we’re going to continue to work with Joakim to improve.”

Joakim Lambotte - nr16 Graff Racing Corvette Z06R GT3 – 2nd place
 “It was very hot in our car. Mike did a great job, as usual. I’m very lucky to be with him. I’m a bit disappointed that I wasn’t able to keep the 1st position. I think the Callaway car was better than ours today. I was following them. I didn’t know how to save the tyres, and the setup could have been better, but they were faster . I think it was a very fair race. It’s a bad operation for us for the championship, but at least we’re on the podium. I’m very proud of all my team. We were showing that a new team in the FIA GT3 can win. And I want to congratulate the Callaway Corvette car.”

Marco Holzer - nr61 Prospeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R – 3rd Place
 “I made a little mistake at the start. I was in first gear and I was still on the limiter at the green light, so I had to shift into second. Then I lost the position. Before the back straight, I overtook the Corvette again. Then I was in the leading position behind the safety car. At the restart, I meant to accelerate, but at the end of the straight, the Ferrari was at my door and that surprised me. It was really quick. Then he went to the pit, and I was following a Corvette, and making a good speed. But they also ran a very good speed…I’m very happy after Jarama, to get a 2nd podium. Paul did a fantastic job, as did the team. I’m really happy.”

Paul Van Splunteren - nr61 Prospeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R – 3rd Place
 “It was really close, and my problem is that I’m sometimes too polite in racing. That’s what my friends tell me. But we did the fair thing, and I didn’t’ want to hit him, or have the risk of running both cars off. Especially after Jarama, the first race incident. Maybe I could have pushed through, but in the end, the Corvettes are really difficult to catch. I drove my lungs out to catch him and to approach him in the last lap. It was fun, it was great. I’m very lucky to have Marco as a team mate, because he always puts out a fantastic race. The car was great, until the end. We were afraid of the tyres, because of the temperature. But the car felt good. We had a good set for the hour. It was great fun and I’m enjoying the fact we’ve made it to the podium. But this is about it with our car. We just cannot get past the Corvettes. ”

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