Following the successful start into the season and taking two race victories at the opening round of the International GT Open in Paul Ricard, Emil Frey Racing is looking forward to its upcoming debut at the Hockenheimring next week. For the first time, the team from Switzerland, which was founded in 2011, will participate in a race at the traditional Formula-1-Racetrack. Despite heading-up the points table in both the team’s and the drivers’ championship, Emil Frey Racing is going to Germany with cautious optimism.
Emil Frey Racing took advantage of a test possibility at the Hockenheimring last week in order to prepare for the next and second season meeting of the International GT Open. Heavy rain and cold interrupted the program during the two days testing. However, the team was still able to test different Set-ups for rain qualifying and races in the wet in addition to getting to know the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO better.
The 4.574-metre-long Grand-Prix-Track, which was re-built in 2002, offers a good combination of high- and low-speed corners and some good chances for overtaking – all attributes, that play into the hands of the Italian racing car.
The weekend at Hockenheim will start on Friday, 24th May 2019 with two free practice sessions. The first qualifying and race will commence on Saturday, 25th May 2019 with the second qualifying and race to follow on Sunday, 26th May 2019. All sessions and races are broadcast live via GT Open.
https://www.youtube.com/user/GTOPENseries
Team Quotes
Lorenz Frey-Hilti, Team Principal Emil Frey Racing
“Unfortunately, we were unable to carry out our test program as planned due to the rain at Hockenheim. We were still given new knowledge about the Lamborghini and will transfer these into the coming race weekend to further work on our performance. We had a strong start to the season and that showed us that we are working into the right direction. We still have to stay focused at work in order to avoid any mistakes. I am optimistic about Hockenheim and think we can deliver another good result, but we must be better in qualifying.”
Jürg Flach, Technical Director Emil Frey Racing
“It will be the very-first time for us to race at Hockenheim. Unfortunately, we could not use our tests last week as well as hoped as it more or less continuously rained during the two days. But we gained relevant data and learned the track, since both Mikael and Giacomo had not been there before. If the race weekend takes place in sunny weather, we will have to work on a fitting Set-up in the training sessions on Friday.”
Driver Quotes Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO #14
Norbert Siedler (AUT)
“I have raced in Hockenheim a few times, the last time was in the GT Masters in 2017. It should be our goal to aim for a podium finish and get into the points twice. Mercedes and McLaren surely have an advantage at the moment and will therefore be our strongest competitors.”
Mikael Grenier (CAN)
“I am very excited about Hockenheim. Last week, I drove the track for the first time during our tests. We have to continue to work on our performance to get quicker as we were not amongst the fastest cars in Paul Ricard. Our main focus will be on the qualifying runs since we have to improve there. We have to continue to work in the same professional way as we have done since the beginning of the year and always get the maximum out.”
Driver Quotes Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO #63
Albert Costa Balboa (ESP)
“I was happy that we managed to test last week before we are heading into the next race meeting. We need more test days to get to understand the car much better. We were strong at Paul Ricard, but we also had a little bit of luck on our side. I drove in Hockenheim for the last time eight years ago and I look forward to returning to this track.”
Giacomo Altoé (ITA)
“It will be the first time for me to race at Hockenheim and I am very excited about it. I think, both Mercedes and McLaren will be our strongest opponents in the PRO-Class, but we are looking good after the tests and I look forward to the next race meetings.”