News
Preview
After two six-hour races, at Silverstone (GB) and Spa (BE), the
On the race track
In addition to the
After the three 919s at Le Mans appeared in three different colours, the two race cars are now white again. This is not the only visible change: around 80 per cent of the bodywork is new. An aerodynamic package for high downforce has replaced the Le Mans low downforce configuration.
Quotes before the race:
Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “We are looking forward to our home race at the Nürburgring very much. The WEC takes on the great heritage of the 1000 kilometre races, in which
Alexander Hitzinger, Technical Director LMP1: “For the 919, preparation for Le Mans was the first priority. The aero package with which we began the season in Silverstone was a targeted compromise on our way to the 24 Hours. Only when this configuration was in place, did we go on to develop an aero package with higher downforce for later. This was initially tested from August 18 to 20 at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona and will go racing for the first time at the Nürburgring.”
Andreas Seidl, Team Principal: “We have been using the weeks after Le Mans for technical development work as well as implementing some structural changes we had planned. For months the team was working to the limits. Thanks to the additional manpower we took on board to prepare and operate the third car in Spa and at Le Mans, we have now been able to set up a test team. This should help to relieve the crew to a certain extend for the rest of the season. There are five six-hour races to come in which we will fight for every single championship point.”
Drivers
Timo Bernhard (34, Germany): “I definitely have strong ties with the Nürburgring. This is because it is close to home but also due to the successes I have enjoyed there. Each of the five overall victories at the 24-Hours there was a milestone for me. Somehow things have often worked out for me in the Eifel mountains. In 2000/2001 I did four
Brendon Hartley (25, New Zealand): “We have high expectations for the rest of the season and the target has clearly moved to the World Championship. We had a successful test at the Nürburgring and the boys and girls in Weissach have been working hard on updates for the race. I personally love the Nürburgring track and considering Mark won there convincingly in F1, and Timo has fond memories of winning the 24-Hours at the Nordschleife five times, I think it's fair to say we are excited and confident about racing there. I'm also sure we will see many
Mark Webber (38, Australia): “I always loved racing at the Nürburgring in F1. I won my first Grand Prix there in 2009 which, of course, was incredibly special for me. The Nürburgring has got character about it, with some old school camber changes and old kerbs. The best part is turns 5 and 6, the fast left which goes into the tight right. It will be interesting to take the 919 Hybrid around there and see how it fares compared to the F1 car. In the Eifel mountains the weather is often unpredictable and you have to be on your toes and make quick decisions to respond to the changing and tricky track conditions. It is also
Drivers
Romain Dumas (37, France): “I’m very much looking forward to finally get into the 919 again after the long break. The track with its many corners and less straights is not going to be an easy task for us. I hope the new high downforce aero package helps us to stand the strong competition. After we have had such a difficult race in Le Mans because of balance problems, the gang from car number 18 wants to get in more good results like we did early in the season.”
Neel Jani (31, Switzerland): “14 years ago, when I was only 17, I had my first race at the Nürburgring and then went there again and again. It was kind of typical for the Eifel region that at the test at the end of July it was rather cold and sometimes wet. Let’s see what we get for the race. For sure the 919 will be well prepared and our car number 18 crew wants revenge for the disappointment of Le Mans. Before we were unlucky at the 24-Hours where we started from pole, we had two good races. We want to fight for the World Championship.”
Marc Lieb (35, Germany): “I really can’t wait to be with the WEC at the Nürburgring. The track has great tradition and for me just belongs to the World Championship calendar. I like the circuit very much and we have had a good test there. It will be an exciting race, because lapping slower cars is relatively difficult. The track layout has lots of corners but hardly any long straights for overtaking. Personally I have very close ties with the Nürburgring. Be it the 24-Hours or product development – the track has played a strong part in my
Fact and figures:
•
• At the Nürburgring 24-Hours on the Nordschleife
• On the 20.6 kilometre long Nordschleife the
• A lap on the track used by the WEC is 5.137 km long.
• WEC rules call for averaging the fastest laps of two drivers in qualifying.
• In normal racing mode (without any safety car periods), the
• Refuelling and wheel changing may only be made sequentially, not at the same time. Only two mechanics may work simultaneously when wheel changing. That takes a lot longer than in Formula One, for example.
• Drivers are normally only changed when new tyres are needed.
• One set of Michelin tyres should last for one to two tank fills.
• The amount of energy that the
• The
• The
• At the fastest part of the Nürburgring the 919 reaches ca. 275 km/h.
• Due to the aerodynamic downforce, and, therefore, the increased load on the wheels, the contact patch of the Michelin tyres can double. Normally they have a width of 310 mm.
• Four sorts of tyres can be used: slick tyres for dry conditions, and a hybrid tyre (no profile either but softer cover) for mixed conditions and wets and full wets for heavy or extreme rain. The full wet tyre manages to push up to 120 litres of water per second out of the way.
• The
TV:
Eurosport covers the race action live from 18:00 to 19:15 hrs CEST. 30 minute summaries will be broadcasted on Wednesday (September 2) at 10:30 hrs on Eurosport and on Thursday (September 3) at 10:30 hrs on Eurosport 2.
LMP1 Schedule:
Friday, August 28
12:00 – 13:30 free practice
15:00 – 15:30 FIA WEC press conference
16:30 – 18:00 free practice
Saturday, August 29
09:30 – 10:30 free practice
14:30 – 14:50 qualifying LMP1, LMP2
15:00 – 15:30 FIA WEC press conference
18:20 – 18:50 Meet the Team for media,
Sunday, August 30
10:45 – 11:15 autograph session (pit lane)
13:00 – 19:00 race
19:15 – 19:45 FIA WEC press conference
All reports on the previous season can be found in our archive.