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Young Czech guns Erik Janiš and Filip Salaquarda were set to make their debut in Le Mans Series at Spa to earn experience in the sports cars´ endurance races. In their very first race in GT1 class they achieved to adapt quickly to the unknown car as well as to get used to driving in the traffic.

Lamborghini Murcielago GT-R prepared by Reiter Engineering and driven by Peter Kox, Erik Janiš and Filip Salaquarda faced strong opposition of Corvette C6R operated by French Luc Alphand Aventures team, aiming to defend the Le Mans Series GT1 class title. After the tight and attractive fight, the Lamborghini Murcielago GT-R finally finished second.

Peter Kox: „The second place is little bit disapointing for me, because we have had the fastest car and we were the fastest crew on the track, which also ran the fastest lap in GT1 class. We encountered no significant problems, only at the beginning of the race we had some tyre issues, which we managed to fix, and henceforward everything went well. Unfortunately, we lost the race in the pit line: our rivals achieved to make the best of the yellow period. Of course, I have been disappointed. However, I am happy we finished the race and gained points for second place. I would like to appreciate achievements of Erik and Filip, who haven´t  had any experience with GT1 car until the start of the race. Though they drove fast, constantly, flawless and have been getting better and better.“

Erik Janiš: „The six-hours race at Spa was great experience and I have been happy we finished the race. However I have been also little bit disappointed, because we have been able to fight for the win. But our rivals managed to make the best of one yellow period, which occured towards the end of the race: they managed to make the pit stop, to change drivers as well as tyres and to tank fuel. This was crucial for the results. While I was getting familiarized with our car, I achieved to run fast laps and didn´t make any mistake. Eventually, we could celebrate that second place. I would like to thank everyone in the team for an excellent job.“

Filip Salaquarda: „I had a bad luck at the beginning of the race. In my second lap occured yellow period and I drove circa ten laps behind the safety car. I was quite nervous, because there were a lot of cullet on the track. In my first stint we tackled some tyre issues and because of them the car slided. Before my second stint we changed the tyre pressure, not even that time I couldn´t take an advantage of new tyres, because of another yellow period. When the safety car ran in the pit line, there occured a big traffic on the track and I had to get used to it. However, the race wasn´t bad for me and I was gradually improving. In the first stint I thought I had a lot to learn, but already in the second stint I felt much more comfortable at the wheel of GT car. Although driving GT car is very different to driving single-seater, I would like to run GT cars in the future again. However, I would like to test more before another race. At Spa, without any pre-event testing, it was difficult.“

Igor Salaquarda, manager: „For our guys it wasn´t easy because of lack of pre-event testing. They had to familiarized with the new car, which handling has been really different and tougher to the single-seater´s one. They also got used to the traffic on the track. In this regard, the GT1 class is the most demanding category, because the driver need to attend fast protytypes, which take him over, as well as slower cars, which he take over. The driver doesn´t need to drive at the maximum speed, but he need to anticipate. I´ve supposed, Filip and Erik would drive well, but I didn´t know how fast they get used to the Le Mans Series action. I would like to appreciate their achievements. I suppose, they were successful on their debut.“   

Antonín Charouz, manager of Erik Janiš: „Changing the single-seater to GT car is always very difficult. However Erik and Filip have shown, they are good drivers. Unfortunately, the race was affected by frequent yellow periods, otherwise guys could fight for the win. The team appreciated both drivers and I suppose Spa has been very good start to GT races.“

Results of 1000 kilometres of Spa to find HERE

Photogallery:
Photo: BPA/Petr Frýba
For hi-res please click on the photo

LE MANS SERIES 2009 SCHEDULE:

08/03-09/03		Le Castellet (tests)
03/04-05/04		1000 km Barcelona
25/04-26/04		Le Mans (tests)
08/05-10/05		1000 km Spa-Francorchamps
31/07-02/08		1000 km Algarve
21/08-23/08		1000 km Nürburgring
11/09-13/09		1000 km Silverstone