Before San Luis, Argentina Race - What the Drivers Say.... 01.12.2010: Enrique Bernoldi nr2 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12 "I've not raced at San Luis before but from what I've heard it is an amazing track, with a great atmosphere because the events there attract big crowds. I'm looking forward to the event as it is

Enrique Bernoldi
nr2 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12

"I've not raced at San Luis before but from what I've heard it is an amazing track, with a great atmosphere because the events there attract big crowds. I'm looking forward to the event as it is another race in South America and being South American I can say we are very passionate about motorsport and we show our emotions, as the crowd did in Interlagos when Xandi and I were winning the race. 

It will be a tough race and I've heard the track is a real drivers circuit and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of racing there."



Darren Turner
nr7 Young Driver AMR Aston Martin DB9

"Thankfully I have been able to use the Base Performance Simulator to learn this track as I haven’t been there before.  From what I can see it is more like a street circuit: not much run off and lots of concrete walls!  It’s an interesting track with a good mix of fast sections and tight and twisty sections. 

I think the Aston will go well there, as long as we stay away from the walls. Tomas and I want to try to get up to second in the driver’s championship. Unless the Maserati container gets lost en route to South America I don’t think anyone can touch them for the lead. It has been nice to win a few races this season."



Marc Hennerici
nr13 Phoenix Racing / Carsport Corvette Z06

"I've never been to San Luis; I've only spent a half day in the simulator trying to learn the circuit.  I think it is going to be really difficult, it's a really tough track; really fast where you can destroy the car at every corner.  With an extra 20 kilos from Brazil in the car on top of the 10 kilos from Spain it is going to be really hard to finish in the top three in the world championship, but we will try our best."



Christopher Haase
nr24 Reiter Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-SV

"The circuit is usually very fast, very challenging, a natural circuit and not designed by computers! From what I have read and heard about the circuit I think I will like racing here very much. In terms of car set-up I think we will go more to the “hard” configuration. Our objective for the weekend is to win!

Although we had a lot up and downs this season it took a long time until we understood how the cars works and how we get the speed out of it. I’m totally dissatisfied with this season but I’m already looking forward to the next one!"



Michael Krumm
Nr23 Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R

"It looks like a very difficult circuit, with high-speed corners and walls instead of run off areas. Also, many of the corners seem blind. All-in-all this looks like a very difficult circuit, but it will be a great challenge and I look forward to it. It will require a combination between good down-force and enough straight line speed. It will be a difficult compromise to make.

Also, the track surface looks like low-grip, so mechanical grip will be important there. The plan is to stay out of trouble, without collisions. Avoiding any mistakes will certainly be the key in San Luis. Again the objective is to collect more points. This season we’ve had lots of up and downs. We’ve had some promising podium finishes as well as DNF's. Unfortunately we have not been able to win a championship race so far this year, but overall we were making good progress with the handling of the car and I feel that we are going in the right direction.

With this being the team's first year, it has been a very impressive performance so far. No matter what the end result is, running 3rd in the Teams’ Championship is certainly more than we could have hoped for. The potential of the team is definitely there and it is only a matter of time when we become regular contenders for race wins."



Peter Dumbreck
nr23 Sumo Power GT Nissan GT-R

"I have driven San Luis on a racing simulator and it seems like a great circuit. It's like an old fashioned track and not like one of the modern F1-style safety layouts. There is no room for error, as the track is lined with walls, so focus and staying mistake-free will be very important. It is also a very long lap, so will take a lot more learning than the shorter tracks we have visited this year.

 Although there are some very fast stretches, I think a high amount of down-force would be good to stop the car becoming nervous in the heavy braking areas and through the medium and high-speed corners. In several races this year it has been very clear that, if you can stay out of trouble on the opening couple of laps and avoid contact with other cars, you can finish in a good position within the championship points.

And that has to be our goal.  It has been a good first year for Sumo Power GT. We have had two wins and a string of podiums. We have all made mistakes and been unlucky at times, but we keep learning and becoming stronger. As well as for these final two races."


- Jeff Carter -  photo SRO