WHAT THE DRIVERS SAID: Lone Star Le Mans Race Press Conference

Robert Kubica – no83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P - Hypercar

“We opted for a bit different strategy on the tyres. I think it was giving us a better understanding of what we could play in the later part of the race, also for Yifei and Robert, and I think it was the correct choice. I was quite confident this would work. And, yes, it did work. I think we had good pace, we were, at least from my side, managing the tyres. I think the key point was, of course, we had a small issue during the first stint with the tyres. So, we had to react to it. That's why I went in front of Antonio. I had to push and try to solve the issue, which I managed. 

“Then we had to change the tyre strategy, which, of course, in the second stint, there was a lot of talking what we should do, what is the best? I try, of course, to give my ideas. It's never easy, because, once you have your plan, once you know everything is going in the correct direction, then suddenly things are reshuffling. We opted for a very safe strategy with Yifei with four hards, which, from the pace point of view, we knew this will not be probably the fastest way, but the safest way to bring us back to the, let's say good points for the end of the race with the tyre strategy. 

“It looked pretty easy from outside, but I have to say, within my second stint, I think I was like 15 minutes on the radio while driving. We always try to do, to do our best for also teammates, and this was definitely a teamwork and is a big one. I think after Le Mans, where we kind of felt, probably the win slipped our hands because of retirement.

“This is something special, and it has been a tough race. Also it has been a good seven days. I'm coming back from ELMS, where I won at Spa. It’s third time in four times racing at Spa with an LMP2 car. So, it is a good feeling.” 

Yifei Ye – no83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P - Hypercar

“As Robert mentioned, we had some small issues in the early part of the race, which meant that in order to not compromise the last part of the race, I had to manage the double stint, which, for sure, was a challenge. But thankfully, you know, before I jumped in the car, Robert had put the car in a decent lead with decent gaps to the car behind. I knew that with the tyre strategy we were on, I will be caught by the others. 

“So, the difficulty for me was just to manage the pace over the double stint and to make sure that we can stay in a good position, you know, for Robert Shwartzman to try to push for the victory.

“Our car was working very well today, although, I would say probably some other cars had the edge over the race stint but, I think at the end today, we made a good race without making mistakes, and I was able to give the car in the lead of the race to Robert Shwartzman, and at the end, he did a super job to bring back victory to the team. I am just very proud of the teamwork we managed to do.”

Robert Shwartzman – no83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P - Hypercar

“When we started the race, when I went out, Toyota managed to undercut us; they were really on it. Let's say their pace was really strong, so when I was behind them, I tried to just stay close.

“At some point in the middle of that stint, in the first stint, I received some info that there is something going on with Toyota, that maybe they did an infringement. I have to stay close, because we don't know what's the penalty going to be looking like.   I still was doing all my best to be as close as possible, because I knew that if there is even a slight chance of a drive through for them, that they're going to be behind. 

“In the end, they took the penalty and in the second stint, the only target I had was just to keep the car on track. It was really difficult, especially the last laps, where I start really to lose the grip. The car was quite hard to drive; it was like drifting around. I was happy that at the end, it was a good result and we finally took the win.” 

Ian James – no27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3

“I’ve really got to pinch myself, you know, to be here on American soil, to be part of this work is just an amazing achievement and a dream for the three of us and the team, and we've been knocking on the door all year. 

“So, to come here, you know, luck just went our way. The team were faultless in the pit stops. These two just drove amazingly and to bring it across the finish line first is a very proud moment to stand up there with the American flag and the national anthem.” 

Daniel Mancinelli – no27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3

“When I left the pits, I was just focusing to gain some gap behind us, and the team has been perfect in the pit stops. Strategy was great and I gave 100% to get some gap. And then Alex finished the work perfectly, bringing the car under the chequered flag first position. It's so proud for us winning in front of our fans here in America and as a US team. 

"I'm very proud to be also the first Italian driver to be in an Aston Martin car in a world championship race; this championship is so amazing and thank you so much.

Alex Ribera – no27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3

“First of all, my all the credit goes to the entire team, a flawless execution on all levels, all phases of the race. They just did a phenomenal job. And a big shout out to my two teammates here, both of them just drove phenomenally. I mean, Ian’s performance both yesterday and today and Danny getting that gap and making my life a lot easier at the end of the race,

“Once I got in, it's always difficult to judge how much you want to push, because you always have to take care of the tyres around here, and we knew at one point we were going to double stint the tyres. So with Klaus Bachler, once we got through that pit stop, and he did put the tyres and we didn't, that gave us a little bit of a margin where, after that, we just had to manage the gap and begin it home. I would say the team deserves the win due to their flawless execution.”