What the LMP1 drivers said after the 6 Hours of Nurburgring
Timo Bernhard – No.1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid – 1st overall: “At the start I managed to improve to P2 and kept putting pressure on the leader. During my first stint I was next to the Audi two or three times. I even overtook him once but missed my braking point because I was focussed on the GT traffic. That allowed him to pass me again. On my second stint I was the fastest car on track and we could make up some time. The final stint was a lot of work as well. To me this win today tastes especially sweet. It was hard fought, for me it is another one on home turf and it helps make up for the bad luck we had in the first three rounds of the championship.”
Brendon Hartley – No.1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid – 1st overall: “Thanks to Porsche, to the mechanics, the engineers, Timo and Mark – it feels great to be back on the top of the podium. Early stages of the race were good and we overtook the leading Audi in the first pit window because our crew was faster. Then we had some bad luck with the traffic and got a slow puncture that lead to an early stop. With my second stint I was a lot happier. The track was coming to the car in terms of balance. I pulled away from the Audi and then we took the lead of the race.”
Mark Webber – No.1 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid – 1st overall: “I’m very happy for Porsche winning their home race. It was an exceptional performance against strong competition. This is the day of the mechanics of car number 1 who had some tough times recently and it is good points for the constructors’ championship. We had completely different track conditions in the race than we saw before and I was very happy with the performance of our car and our driving. It was a bit of a mixed up race. We lost some time in a full course yellow period when the car in front of me wasn’t going 80 km/h as the regulations say. Then our sister car had a drive through penalty. We had great battles on track with Audi and I was never bothered which of our cars did it, but the most important thing to me was to beat Audi today.”
Lucas di Grassi - No.8 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 – 2nd: “We can be happy with our second place. We made no mistakes and constantly drove at the limit. When you’re on the front row you’d obviously like to win. But today we were lacking the necessary fortune. That’s why positions two and three for our team is okay.”
Loïc Duval – No.8 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 – 2nd: “That we’re obviously well prepared for the second half of the season and fast are positives. Our race was good but we were lacking a little racing fortune. My teammates Olly and Lucas were fast. Unfortunately, we lost a little aerodynamic downforce during the race. Our goal was to stay in front of the number 2 Porsche. We did a good job of defending ourselves. Porsche was simply fortunate on the way to clinching victory.”
Oliver Jarvis – No.8 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 – 2nd: “This second place after a fantastic race almost feels a little like a victory. The whole team deserves a good result. At the beginning, we were really fast and towards the end our lap times weren’t quite as good. We made a strong showing again after Le Mans and scored important points. It’s still going to be an interesting season.”
Marcel Fässler – No.7 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 – 3rd: “The beginning of the race was great fun and went superbly. We were leading but then the aerodynamics at the front of the car slightly deteriorated. That’s why we changed the nose and André was able to attack again. His battle with Neel Jani may have been the best thing that fans have seen this year. It’s nice that we were good again after Le Mans. We’re pleased to take the trophy home but plan to be even better next time.”
André Lotterer – No.7 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R18 – 3rd: “My teammate Marcel started the race superbly. The two of us took turns and in the end it was really thrilling once more. Those were nice position battles. As a team we worked together well today too, which is very important for Audi Sport. Now I’m looking forward to Mexico. Hopefully, Benoît Tréluyer will be fit again by that time so that the three of us can attack again.”
Romain Dumas – No.2 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid – 4th: “I went in the car just before a full course yellow period and lost some time because I had a car in front of me that was slower than 80 km/h. The second full course yellow came at the right moment giving us a huge advantage. Our 919 was good and we wished for a better result but in the end we scored some championship points.”
Neel Jani – No.2 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid – 4th: “Today we could have won that race. In the beginning it was very hard with position fights everywhere. When a full course yellow brought us to the top, luck was on our side – later it worked against us. After the contact while overtaking I got into the Audi sandwich and things got difficult for us. It was nearly impossible to overtake them on the straight. I saved all my boost, but I couldn’t crack them. Then a true bumper-car festival started. But fourth place is better than nothing, and the points are highly welcome for the championship.”
Marc Lieb – No.2 Porsche Team Porsche 919 Hybrid – 4th: “Traffic was really difficult today since you always need a little luck where on track and you’re going to meet the slower cars. Our car was good. I feel sorry for the team because of the drive through penalty. It was one of those situations in traffic in which you decide either right or wrong. I got it wrong when I tried to use a gap. I thought he would leave me some room. It is a shame because we had a fairly good chance to win that race and I also feel sorry for the Porsche colleagues of the number 88 car.”
Anthony Davidson – No.5 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID – 5th: “We finished where we deserved to today; our speed wasn’t enough over the race. We expected to be better and there were moments when we were, but it was not consistent. It was a tough race traffic-wise and I got caught up; I was in wrong place at the wrong time. We will move on from this and aim for better in Mexico, which is a completely different track.”
Sébastien Buemi - No.5 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID – 5th: “We didn’t have the right tyres at the start so we changed the compound and that obviously worked better. We knew it was going to be hard here because we lack a bit of downforce compared to the others but unfortunately it was a tougher race than we expected. Now we have to work hard and get back to the right competitive level in Mexico.”
Kazuki Nakajima - No.5 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID – 5th: “We had a difficult race. Tyre choice was the key and it didn’t work out for us. I think we were anyway a little behind as this track doesn’t suit our car. When I had the right tyres on the car it felt okay and the pace was not bad compared to the others. It was the first proper race finish for our car so at least that’s something to build on. Hopefully we can move forward in the next races.”
Stéphane Sarrazin - No.6 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID – 6th: “It was a tough weekend. Unfortunately we had the wrong tyre compound at the beginning and that affected our lap times. After we changed it was better but we were still not as quick as we wanted to be. It wasn’t the performance we expected and this track proved to be difficult for us even with the new aero package. Now we will work hard to be ready for Mexico.”
Mike Conway - No.6 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID – 6th: “That was a hard race for the whole team. We didn’t have the pace at the beginning and then, when we were looking reasonably competitive, we had an issue with the car. So that was unfortunate for us. The other car had a difficult race as well so it’s not been a good weekend all in all. Hopefully it gets better over the remainder of the season.”
Kamui Kobayashi - No.6 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID – 6th: “I was hoping for a much better result today. We tried our best but things didn’t go our way. Thanks to the mechanics for their hard work to get the car back out after the issue; they did a great job all day. Nürburgring is not a great track for us so I am hopeful we will improve in Mexico and be back at the front again. I know everyone will be pushing for this.”
Alexandre Imperatori – No.13 Rebellion R-One AER– 7th overall, 1st LMP1 Privateer: “It’s good to win again, especially here at Nürburgring. At the start of the race I was surprised by the start of the #4 CLM but I decided to wait and take no risk. We jumped them during the first pit stop. Dominik and Mathéo did great during their stints and the team was really good again when they had to change a rear calliper. When I came back in the car I wanted to push and fight for the win but unluckily car 12 faced problems. After this it was just about bringing the car home.”
Dominik Kraihamer – No.13 Rebellion R-One AER– 7th overall, 1st LMP1 Privateer: “It was a difficult race for all of us. It’s great to finish in front and take the points for the victory. I had two good stints and Alex and Mathéo were once again super. Many thanks to our crew and our engineer to provide us such a good car, and to repair it quickly when needed … “
Mathéo Tuscher – No.13 Rebellion R-One AER– 7th overall, 1st LMP1 Privateer: “I am pleased to be back on the top of the podium, especially after the retirement we had in Le Mans. We are closing a bit on car #12 for the championship. The race was not easy, and when I lost the brakes I was not confident about the final result for us. Our mechanics did a great job to get us back into the race losing a minimum of time. Thank you to them.”
