Quotes from Free Practice in Dubai

James Pickford – nr 5 Trackspeed Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup :

“The Porsche is just as we were expecting ! It is a fantastic car, very enjoyable to drive, but we are struggling with downforce in the fastest corners, so we can’t keep a good speed. The track is really good, I love it. There is everything here! Our car is consistent, and with Richard Williams we are a consistent pair, so at the end, we could manage a good result!”

Bradley Ellis – nr 8 RPM Dodge Viper Competition Coupe :

“The car is great here, we need to change some minor details, but I’m sure we will be on the good pace for qualifying. It is my first time here, but I have a good feeling. I’m sure we could do a result. It was a good year for us as we won the British GT Championship with Alex Mortimer, and it will be great to finish with a good result here.”

Jean-Denis Deletraz – nr 15 S-Berg Racing Team Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 :

“This car is really different from what I’m used to driving, it is closer to a normal car, so it is different on the corners – it moves a lot compared to the GT1. But it is great to drive. You really have to push hard in order to get a good time, but this is a fast car. I love this car, I love this track, I love Dubai and I’m really pleased to race with my friend Lloyd la Marca, so it is a great pleasure to be here. There are a lot of cars on track, the race are going to be fun. This is what we are looking for : to have fun.”

Luca Pirri – nr 18 Martini Callaway Racing Corvette Z06R GT3 :

“We are happy as we did our time with very old tyres today. We were working on the set-up for the race, with quite a lot of fuel, for long stints. The car seems to be quite consistent. Everything is under control. So far it is so good.”

James Ruffier – nr 19 Riverside Corvette Z06R GT3 :

“I did a good time, but it is just impossible to do it over several laps. We always have the same problem on this car, the car is tricky and it is very easy to make mistakes with such behaviour. We have not done any testing outside the races; every time, we have to find a good set up during the free practice, but we did not really explore all the set up of this car. But I love this track. It is really fantastic, and it is frustrating, because I can imagine the pleasure you would have behind the steering wheel with a good car here !”

Diego Alessi – nr 23 BMS Scuderia Italia Aston Martin DBRS9 :

“The car is great here, we were expecting that ! Both sessions went very well. I just hope we will not have any problems this week-end in order to finish with a good result. I know the track, the team also knows the track, it is an advantage, but Alex Frassinetti has never raced here before. The car is better here than in Brno, but in Brno it was a strange week-end, we need good result here to forget it.”

Jonathan Lang - nr 31 Team Berlanga Ascari KZ1R GT3 :

“The free practice sessions were quite good… we are really looking forward to the race now ! It is nice to be back in the Ascari, and to be on the right pace. With Rory Bertram we could have a good result. The Ascari has evolved a lot, it is better and better, and now the engine feels strong.”

Gilles Vannelet – nr 38 Kessel Racing Ferrari 430 GT3 :

“The track is just great. Our car seems to be good here, but we need to learn the track as a few corners are really difficult, it is not easy to choose the right line. The Corvettes are really better than us in all the straight lines, so it is not going to be easy. But we are confident : the race will seem very long with this hot weather. We are in good physical conditions; our engine is on the back so it is a little bit cooler than in the cars with front engines. A key for these races is to save the tyres !”

Neil Cunningham – nr 46 Apex Motorsport Jaguar XKR :

“This track is really good, it is a shame we do not have a track like this in England ! I’m very impressed by the track, and also by this Championship which is getting stronger and stronger. The Jaguar is still under development. We are working on it in order to prepare next season. Our goal is to finish in the top 10. We are going stage by stage.”

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