Report: Race Quotes, Dubai 2005

First GT1 : Gabriele Gardel ? nr 11 Larbre Competition Ferrari 550 Maranello
?I did the middle stint, which was good. We were quick enough to reduce the gap with the other Maserati cars, and then, we were lucky because we got the safety car, which helped keeping the leading cars compact. I have to thank Pedro for his wonderful race at the end and the team which did not make any mistakes. You have to be proud of being in this team. It is the second year in a row that I have won on this circuit. We came here competing for the title and I am just one point behind the leading drivers in the classification. Everything is still open until the last race of the Championship.  I would like to share this moment with Pedro?.  
Second GT1 : Michael Bartels ? nr 9 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 GT1?First of all, I would like to excuse my team mate Timo Scheider who is on his way to Malaysia for tomorrow?s qualifying in the A1 Grand Prix Series. Today, he drove two very good stints. It was one of the most exciting races we saw in the FIA GT Championship. When you look at the first stint, all the Maserati cars were together with the Corvette while the Aston Martin was pulling away. Pedro [Lamy] was storming from the back. When looking at the lap times, you could expect the n° 11 would be fighting for the victory, which happened. Considering that we are carrying 150kg of handicap and FIA weight, I think that the car is still performing. I did not expect to finish in second position. I have to thank Pirelli and Maserati for delivering very performing material. I also have to thank the young structure of Vitaphone Racing Team which achieved a great goal to win the GT1 Teams Championship in its first season. We will have an incredible finale with a very close point standing in the Drivers Championship and we should all look forward to the race in Bahrain?.  
Mike Hezemans, nr 6 GLPK Carsport Corvette?We couldn?t keep up with the Aston Martin at the beginning.   When there was sand on the track, we lost a bit of speed. But when he was about ten seconds away,  the tyres and the car were really perfect, and just at the end we just missed out a little bit as all the cars came back out on the track with new tyres. We were a little bit unlucky with the safety car but that?s racing !? 
Third GT1 : Bert Longin ? nr 6 GLPK Racing Corvette C5R ?I did the middle stint and it was very important for me to keep second place. I was looking at the times and my direct competitors were 5 to 7 seconds behind me. We were unlucky with the safety car as we were probably one of the only cars which could manage the race with two pit stops. In my stint, I pushed the drink button on my steering wheel but the spray of water came out of my helmet. For one lap, I could not see too much as in fact, it was raining in the car ! Finally, I gave the car back in the second position so I was happy? 
Third GT1 : Anthony Kumpen ? nr 6 GLPK Racing Corvette C5R?It was close at the end as I was fighting with three cars ! But in fact, we only set the 8th fastest time in the race, so we were not really on pace during the race... By finishing third, we can say that the team did a great job. We did the fastest pit stops in the race and won 8 seconds in the second pit stop ! In Bahrain, the other cars will have more success ballast, so we hope to finish with a win!?  
Winner GT2 : Emmanuel Collard - nr 88 GruppeM Porsche 996 GT3 RSR    ?We had a really close fight with the nr 66 car from the start. I was quickest at the start but then I made a mistake and brake too late. I lost the first place. I stayed behind Marc [Lieb] for the whole stint. It was a really good fight. Marc?s car had a water pump problem and had to retire. Our end of race was smooth?.  
 
Winner GT2 : Tim Sugden - nr 88 GruppeM Porsche 996 GT3 RSR?I did not really have much to do in my stint. When I started it, Mike [Rockenfeller] was ok for two laps and after that, his problem came. We were so far in the lead that it was just the case of being careful with the car and not making any mistakes. It was easy really. We will take any win anywhere we can get it. With Mike and Marc having won the Championship, and with 5 races won each, the only thing we can hold onto is that we want to win one more race than them?.  
Second GT2 : Donny Crevels ? nr 90 Spyker Squadron Spyker C8 Spyder GT2 R?Jeroen has just left to Malaysia to race in the A1 Grand Prix. We had an excellent race today. The team is working very hard for next year, trying to have another engine in order to be more competitive. We did a good race, we controlled it. We were lucky that the nr 66 Porsche retired. The second place was the best we could reach for this race?.  
Third GT2 : Chris Buncombe ? nr 89 JMB Racing Ferrari 360 Modena ?What we were hoping for was to get the car on the podium. Obviously it worked not bad with the nr 66 Porsche falling out. I started the car and struggled a little bit after the first ten laps but then I managed to maintain a constant pace. We had a long driver change under the safety car which cost us time. But we are very pleased to be on the podium. I loved the circuit and the car as well. The car is very different to the Maserati but very enjoyable to drive?.  
Third GT2 : Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis ? nr 89 JMB Racing Ferrari 360 Modena ?It is my first podium in the FIA GT Championship and I am very happy with the result. My stint started well but it became scary when I flat-spotted a tyre. I struggled to get the car back to the pits. Then the safety car came out and we got stopped at the pit exit for a lap. It all went well in the end and we can not complain? 
Third GT2 : Mauro Casadei ? nr 89 JMB Racing Ferrari 360 Modena ?I wish to thank JMB Racing who gave me the opportunity to race this competitive Ferrari 360 Modena as well as Chris and Albert for a fantastic weekend. My stint was not so good as we had a radio problem. I was afraid not to have enough fuel and for the last 40 minutes, I was going slowly, like a taxi driver. We had trouble with the tyres but then, here we are on the podium !?  
First G3 : Jonathan Sicard ? nr 132 Jonathan Sicart Ferrari 360 Modena ?I had a marvellous weekend for my first race in the FIA GT Championship ! We hope to be back next year !? 
First G3 : Ange Barde ? nr 132 Jonathan Sicart Ferrari 360 Modena ?I would like to thank my team for preparing a good car. I was pleased to race here in Dubai for the first time. At the start of the weekend, we were not sure to go until the end of the race, but we did and we are really happy !?  
First G3 : Carine Sicart ? nr 132 Jonathan Sicart Ferrari 360 Modena
?I am very happy to have participated in the FIA GT Championship as it is not our usual category. I would like to thank all our team who helped us win this race but also all FIA GT drivers who were very kind with us. I hope that we did not get in anybody?s way?.  
First G2 : Bas Leinders, nr 105 Belgian Racing Vertigo Streiff?The differential broke, which was quite sad, as we were running quite well and our speed in the race compared to qualifying was quite good, but unfortunately we didn?t finish.  But we?ll be in Bahrain. The car did really well in the GT Festival but the competition is rather different this year. If we can finish around the 12th position, that would be outstanding, and I think it is also realistic.  But you never know, it?s the last race of the season, and strange things can happen, which we might be able to take advantage of.? 
4th GT1 : Thomas Biagi, nr 10 Vitaphone Maserati MC 12?It was a very close race, but this is the third time this year that we have lost time during safety car procedures, after Magny-Cours and Istanbul.  So I?m a bit disappointed.  Our performance is very good, but the safety cars are not nice for us !  We are happy to still be in with a chance of the title, it is good to still be in contention at the very end.?   
7th GT1 : Liz Halliday, nr 14 Lister Storm?Everything was good, the tyres were great and the car ran really well.  We?re pleased to get seventh after a good run, and to finish in the points.  Now we?ll have to see how Bahrain goes. The circuit is really great, one of the best I?ve driven.  It?s difficult, and quite demanding, but I really enjoyed it.? 
DNF : Marc Lieb, nr 66 GruppeM Racing Porsche 996 GT3 RSRWe had a problem with the heating sensor ,and had to bring Mike in, otherwise it would have caused big damage to the engine.  The start was good.  I lost the lead to Emmanuel [Collard] but I managed to get it back on the first lap, then we had a great battle.  It was a really good first stint, very fair and a lot of fun.  We had 25 kg more than the other car, and quite happy with our performance, but unfortunately we didn?t finish today.  We?ll just have to do it in Bahrain.? 
DNF : Christophe Bouchut, nr 17 Russian Age Racing Aston Martin DBR9?It is a pity, as I am still chasing my first win of the season, and now there is only one race left.  We had a good lead ? it?s true that we had a good car and we are two good drivers in the car so that was an advantage, but something broke ? we don?t know what exactly yet. But it?s disappointing, although it?s true that we are not fighting for the Championship. Still, after our problems in Zhuhai, and now this with only eight laps to go, you begin to wonder.  We have everything in place to win, so we?ll have to wait for Bahrain.  I have a slight advantage of having raced there in the GT Festival, and I am looking forward to going back.?

 

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