FIA GT1 World Championship - Round Seven Preview Paul Ricard HTTT, France 16th & 17th July 2011
Having achieved an impressive podium result two weeks ago at the Navarra Circuit in Spain, the Sumo Power GT team now head 900kms northwest to the Paul Ricard HTTT (High Tech Test Track) circuit in the south of France for round seven of the FIA GT1 World Championship. And, with the circuit featuring a series of long straights and fast corners, hopes are high for a repeat top-three position for the second event in succession.
That's certainly the case for David Brabham and Jamie Campbell-Walter, who recorded a fourth in the first of the weekend's two one-hour races at Navarra and then went one better in the second. However, with the Championship adopting a policy of handicapping the more successful cars, it means that Nissan GT-R number 21 will carry 10 kilos of success ballast this time round.
Having made his debut with the team in Spain, 23 year-old Dutch driver Nick Catsburg is back again to partner Enrique Bernoldi in GT-R number 20. Navarra was a difficult event for Catsburg, who was certainly quick enough behind the wheel, but lost out in other areas such as the pit stops and has therefore vowed to put what he learnt in Spain to good use in France.
The weekend wasn't much easier for his Brazilian team-mate, who was forced to retire from the first race with an electrical problem three-quarters of the way through. The resulting repairs saw he team work into the small hours of the morning to restore the GT-R back to full strength and, with the results of day-one dictating the starting positions for day-two, Sunday's Championship Race saw Bernoldi battle through the field and into the top-ten.
Ultimately it was Catsburg's drive-though penalty that eventually led to a finishing position of 12th. Therefore, there is a massive determination running through the team to turn around the fortunes of car 20 and see both its GT-Rs in high points-scoring positions this weekend, at a track that is likely to suit the Nissan far better than that of the one in Spain.
The 5.809km Paul Ricard circuit is situated at Le Castellet, near Marseille on the French Riviera. It was opened in 1970 and then developed in 1999 into a high tech test track by F1 's Bernie Ecclestone, which is when HTTT was added to its name.
The action kicks off on Friday with Free Practice and Pre-Qualifying. Saturday sees Qualifying start at 10.40, which is followed by the first of the weekend's two, one-hour races at 16.15. The main Championship Race gets the green light on Sunday at 15.15.
All times listed are CEST (Central European Summer Time). Please subtract one-hour for GMT (UK).
Watch all of the action live on the team's website: www.sumopowergt.comhttp://www.sumopowergt.com/
Team Quotes
Jamie Campbell-Walter (Car 21)"Car 21's crew is really strong and we are seeing the benefits - as you could tell from the result at Navarra. I enjoy racing at Paul Ricard and I'm looking forward to the weekend. Sumo Power GT went well their last year and I see no reason why we can't again this year. Of course, we will be hoping to achieve another podium finish."
David Brabham (Car 21)"I like the Paul Ricard circuit. I raced there in the Opel Lotus series in 1988 and F1 in 1990. I've also tested there many times in preparation for Le Mans. Our good result at Navarra doesn't really change our approach, but it does give us more confidence that we are making the right kind of progress. I thought I could predict when the GT-R would be fast at different tracks, but it's not so easy. However, I feel we will have a strong race this weekend. The incredible amount of hard work by the boys in the team is starting to come together, so we are looking forward to continuing where we left off in Spain."
Enrique Bernoldi (Car 20)"Navarra was bad in every sense, so I've forgotten it already. I like Paul Ricard a lot. I've done many F1 tests there and won a GT1 race at the track in 2009. So of course, I hope to repeat that result this year. I think the circuit will be good for the GT-R because of its fast corners, long straights and flat surface."
Nick Catsburg (Car 20)"Navarra was all a bit new to me and I wasn't 100% familiar with the way things work at Sumo Power GT. I've been thinking about it a lot. It wasn't the greatest race for us and I clearly need to practice the pit stops and focus more on setting up the car. I've driven the shorter version of Paul Ricard - which was very cool to drive - but not the long version. I think it will suit the GT-R better than Navarra, so I'm hoping for a top-five result and to get more used to the team. Le Castellet and the South of France is always a nice place to be."
Hiroki Furuse (Team Manager)"I was pleased with the way the whole team performed in Navarra, even though we only had one of our cars at the front of the field. Paul Ricard is a better prospect for us and it's the second race with Enrique and Nick as team-mates, so we go to France in a better position than we were when we went to Spain."
Andy Barnes (Team Principal)"Jamie and David's result at Navarra showed what can be achieved when everything comes together - even at a track where they said the GT-R would not be so strong. We now need to get both our cars up there and, with Sumo Power GT getting a second place in the Championship Race at Paul Ricard last year, this weekend presents us with a great opportunity to do it."
