Report: Race 2 Quotes, Dubai 2007

Shared glory in Dubai

Gilles VANNELET – nr 38 Kessel Racing Ferrari 430, 2nd. 2007 FIA GT3 European Champion: "It is unbelievable, what a feeling ! I lost the French FFSA GT3 Championship a few weeks ago, and I did not want to lose again. It was a crazy week end. Yesterday we came from last to third, and today, after our Stop & Go, I really thought it was finished for us! I made a big mistake as I started too early, so we had a Stop & Go. At this time, in my mind, it was all over. Then the Safety Car came in. So I had nothing too lose, and I drove at 200%. I pushed as mush as I could. I could not let that opportunity go. In the past, I have won the French Porsche Carrera Cup (Gentleman category), and the Renault Megane Cup, but this is my first international title. I want to thank Henri Moser, and all of Kessel Racing for this fantastic season. I hope we will race together again with Henri next year.”

Henri MOSER – nr 38 Kessel Racing Ferrari 430, 2nd. 2007 FIA GT3 European Champion: "It was difficult to see this race from the pit wall at the end ! At the beginning of the race, Jürgen von Gartzen was not too difficult to follow. Then I saw Klaus Ludwig coming back, and then I decided to let him overtake me, because I did not want to take any risks. Afterwards, Jürgen started to pull away, and I was following Klaus but it was impossible to overtake him. So I decided to pit as soon as possible. Gilles left the pits too early, and we had a Stop & Go. When I saw that, I thought it was over. But as everyone saw, it is never over until the chequered flag. When I saw the Safety Car come out, I just could not believe it. It was incredibly lucky for us. Gilles was fantastic at the end. It is great to win this Championship. I did not expect to win, as Jürgen von Gartzen and Luca Pirri are really good drivers. We had really clean driving this season, we never touched each other, we were always fighting together with respect. It was a pleasure to drive this year, and of course to win this Championship. My best memories of the season will be today, and especially the last five minutes, and also the first week end in Silverstone. It is my first Championship title, in my second season of racing. I do not know which way to go in the future, I have to think and take the right decision. Of course I want to continue in GT racing.”

Diego ALESSI – nr 23 BMS Scuderia Italia Aston Martin DBRS9, 1st : "It is really fantastic for us to win for the first time of the season during the last race. We tried from the beginning of the season, but we had a lot of bad luck. Today everything went well. It is really good for us. This Championship is fantastic and it is really hard to win. The end of the race was strange. I keep the tyres warm behind the Safety Car. I took the lead, and I managed to keep that position to win.

Alessandro Frassinetti – nr 23 BMS Scuderia Italia Aston Martin DBRS9, 1st : "The car did not go very well, but after a few laps it was OK. Diego just did a great job at the restart. We do not know if we will manage to race together again, but we will work on it. We hope to be there next year, to win.”

Rory BERTRAM – nr 32 Team Berlanga Ascari KZ1R, 3rd : "We have had a really good week end. Yesterday second, and today third, it is great. The start was going well, but during the first four or five laps I had problems with my tyres and my brakes. It was hard to keep the car on the track. I lost about three places. But the car was getting better and better. I did everything I could, and my team mate did a really good job, that is why we are on the podium today. I hope we will continue this for next year.”

Jonathan LANG – nr 32 Team Berlanga Ascari KZ1R, 3rd: "It has been a really good week end. I really enjoyed it. Rory is a fantastic team mate, we make a good pair and that is what we need. The Ascari was good here throughout the whole week end. I was just going flat out during my stint. After the Safety Car it was just crazy. There was the Ferrari, an Aston Martin, another Ascari… cars everywhere. The Ferrari had a great move to overtake, and I managed to take the third position.”

Jürgen von Gartzen – nr 18 Martini Callaway Racing Corvette Z06R GT3, 4th : "I have quite different feelings about the same race. It was good at the beginning, and everything changed at the restart. We lost the title after the Safety Car. Congratulations to Henri Moser and Gilles Vannelet. They did a really good race. They keep their nerve after the Stop & Go, and they managed to finish in front of us. I’m glad to be here in this Championship. We are second, but we won the Team Championship, which is important for Martini Callaway Racing, and for Corvette. We will try next season to win this title.”

Luca PIRRI – nr 18 Martini Callaway Racing Corvette Z06R GT3, 4th: "Well done to Vannelet and Moser. They led all the season and they deserve this title. They were lucky with the Safety Car. But that is racing. I had cold tyres, so I could not keep my position after the restart. Everybody was pushing, it was complicated. I could have done better. I hope we will get this title next season.”

2007-11-17
Subscribe:   Subscribe with small images:   Subscribe with medium images: