Reactions from the paddock after Saturday’s race at round six of this season’s German GT Championship.
Mirko Bortolotti (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo), 1st overall: “It feels great to finally be back to winning ways. We waited a long time for that, having always come close. Everything came together today and we were able to convert the pole position into a win. I would like to thank the team for the good preparation. Marco did a super job today and defended the lead brilliantly. The last 20 minutes were very tense again, but I knew that my team-mate would do everything in his power to secure the win. It was a perfect day for us.”
Marco Mapelli (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo), 1st overall: “Mirko and the team really earned that win and made it possible. I am very pleased to be involved here. He handed the car over to me in a perfect position and I was able to bring the win home. The last 20 minutes were very intense, there was really a lot of pickup on the track during the safety car phase. However, I focussed on the restart and was able to manage the gap to those behind.”
Christopher Mies (Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS), 2nd overall: “The pickup on the tyres made the restart after the safety car a difficult undertaking for the whole field. Marco defended his position well. We tried twice, but unfortunately it was not to be today. I gave it one last go on the final lap, but we are racing for the championship, so there is no point in risking everything. Second place is a really good result.”
Ricardo Feller (Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS), 2nd overall: “The Lamborghini pulled away quickly at the start, but our start was actually really good. I received a slight shunt in turn 1 – I don’t know where from, but we unfortunately lost a little time. Over the course of the race, we were able to close in on Mirko a little, but unfortunately we were never close enough to mount an attack. I was a little more nervous again in the last 20 minutes, but Chris brought us home calmly and cleanly. I am happy with the result.”
Mathieu Jaminet (SSR Performance, Porsche 911 GT3 R), 3rd overall: “The race was a bit tricky today, although we finished third. I actually had a good start and tried to overtake the Audi, but unfortunately it did not go entirely to plan. After that, I pushed as hard as possible. We had a good car today, but third place was unfortunately the best we could manage. When the cars in front started to pull clear, I tried to manage my tyres. The result was okay, but Michael did the lion’s share of the work today.”
Michael Ammermüller (SSR Performance, Porsche 911 GT3 R), 3rd overall: “At the start, I had a slight lead over the car behind and was able to close in on the car in front. Our pace was really solid today. The field bunched up again during the safety car phase, and it was eventful again after the restarts. Fortunately, I came through it all in one piece. We struggled a little with the carf, but can be optimistic about tomorrow.”
Rolf Ineichen (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo), 6th overall and winner of the Pirelli Trophy competition: “Unfortunately, I did not manage to put together a clean lap in qualifying and always had traffic. That is why we had to start from 20th place on the grid. I made good progress at the start and came into the pits in 13th place. Unfortunately, the stop was slightly too short and we had to take a penalty lap. Franck Perera then did everything right. He was patient, benefitted from others’ mistakes, and worked his way into sixth place. We can be happy with that. We are obviously doubly happy, as the number 63 claimed a lights-to-flag victory from pole position. That is good for the team. We must now make sure we keep this up tomorrow.”
Thomas Preining (Küs Team Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 R), 12th overall: “As far as the car and the pace were concerned, we definitely had the potential to attack and finish on the podium. I feel bad for the team that it did not work out today. However, if I found myself back in the same situation in which I ended up spinning, I would do exactly the same thing. You always need a bit of luck, and unfortunately luck was not on our side today. However, we have such a good team, everyone is working together superbly and the car is lightning quick. As such, I am not at all concerned that we won’t get another chance tomorrow.”
Maximilian Buhk (Mann-Filter Team Landgraf – HTP/WWR), 21st overall: “It was a good race, the car was very good. I was easily able to shake off Maro after the stop. I obviously wanted to take advantage of the safety car phase, and I think it could have worked. However, I would have liked to have come through the chaos with a little less damage. As far as the thing with Vanthoor is concerned, there was not a lot I could do. When you are doing 220 so close to the car in front, and he then brakes surprisingly early, that kind of thing can happen. Although Dries was very fair in front of the sport commissars, they penalised me, saying that they must not only punish the course of events, but also the consequences. And the Audi was unable to continue, after all. It is obviously a bitter blow in the title race, even though there are still 84 points up for grabs. From now on, the individual results are particularly important. However, we will not give up until the wheels stop turning.”
Dylan Pereira (Küs Team Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 R), DNF: “The start was okay. I stayed clear of everything, while the others really went for it and drove very aggressively. As a result, I lost a bit of ground, but that was okay. Then someone simply ploughed into me. There was nothing I could do.”