Ready for the premiere in Imola: Matthias Kaiser will step on the gas – Liechtenstein
LE CASTELLET – Matthias Kaiser launched the season in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) in Le Castellet. The Gampriner achieved a top 10 place in the top class LMP2 with ninth place. The second stop is Imola (ITA) on Sunday. He wants to be even more involved with his new driver colleagues Thomas Lurent and Ugo de Wilde on the circuit that suits him.
Matthias Kaiser started again today in the European Le Mans Series, but this time in the LMP2 category (Pro category) and thus in the top class. Kaiser is tackling the new challenge with a new team: Mühlner Motorsport. But not only the team is new, Kaiser also has two new driver colleagues. These are 23-year-old Frenchman Thomas Lurent and 19-year-old Belgian Ugo de Wilde. “We see a lot of potential in these three drivers and we will try to collect as many points as possible with this trio in the racing class that is new for us,” said Bernhard Mühlner, head of Mühlner Motorsport, in the run-up to the season. In addition to the new team and driver colleagues, the Gampriner also has to adjust to the faster car, an Oreca 07 LMP2. The same applies to tires. Instead of Michelin tires, Goodyear tires will be used this season.
The season started in mid-April in Le Castellet (FRA) and Matthias Kaiser and Co. finished ninth. “All in all, it was definitely a solid start to the season for us as a rookie team. Of course, as a racing driver, you always want to be up front. But in the end we have significantly less experience with this LMP2 car than the other teams and we still have to go through a learning curve,” says the Gampriner. “But we were able to complete a clean and flawless race in Le Castellet – only with the pace & we still improve a little.” And this was clearly the main focus of the team in the last few weeks. “We have analyzed the data obtained in France and are now trying to learn as much as possible from it and implement it in Imola.”
Lots of laps on the simulator
Keyword Imola: Unlike Le Castellet, Imola is not a well-known test track and has not been part of the ELMS racing calendar in recent years. “So the advantage of some teams that have been in this class for a long time should be a little smaller,” says Kaiser, for whom Imola is new territory. “I’ve never driven here before, but I’ve already completed an incredible number of laps on the simulator. That will definitely help me.” Since the track in Italy is relatively narrow, it also offers few opportunities to overtake.
With 42 cars starting, this WILL certainly influence the course of the race. “There are three classes together on the track. It will certainly be exciting for us with the fastest cars, »explains the Liechtenstein motorsport enthusiast. “But it will also be crucial that we complete the four hours without making any mistakes.” Basically, the goal in Imola for the whole team is to make a step forward and ideally to achieve a top 8 place or an even better result. “For me personally, a top 5 result would be great,” says Kaiser. “But of course the competition doesn’t sleep either.”
race on Sunday
It remains to be seen whether Matthias Kaiser will launch the launch, as in Le Castellet, or this time Thomas Lurent, who has the most experience with the LMP2 bullet. That WILL be decided relatively quickly and WILL also depend on qualifying.
After yesterday’s journey to Italy, two training sessions are on the agenda today. The official first free practice session will follow tomorrow, followed by the second on Saturday morning and qualifying in the afternoon. The race in Imola will start on Sunday at 11.30 a.m.