Dries Vanthoor’s Expectations
Dries Vanthoor, Belgian driver and two consecutive overall champion of the Hankook 24H Dubai, is looking forward for Team WRT’s double effort in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS this year. He believes that early-season endurance races and test outings planned after the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will give them the chance to fully unlock the “big potential” of its new alliance with BMW.
“Charles Weerts (co-driver) is still having is school duties as he’s been doing the last few years,” stated Vanthoor. “A big respect for him, because I wouldn’t be able to combine it, but he can.” The testing after [Dubai] and Bathurst will be very important to prepare Team WRT for their Sprint season according to Vanthoor.
“It’s going to be a completely different approach with a different car and a whole different way of handling it,” he added. “But I’m quite sure if we can do the right testing we can learn enough in a short time.”
WRT’s Limited Testing Mileage
Team WRT has had limited testing mileage since the conclusion of last year due to budget restrictions. Vanthoor expressed his excitement about this upcoming challenge: “It’s going to be even more tough than defending it in the last two years, but it makes it a nice challenge for us as well.” He also considered that last weekend’s Dubai enduro was good preparation as it gave drivers valuable seat time.
“We shouldn’t be getting too much into this because it is of course a very different tire but it is good preparation for us,” commented Vanthoor. For him, familiarizing with BMW platform systems such as ABS, traction control or how drive are key elements they need master before full unleash their potential.
“It’s not going to be easy and at moment is difficult,” concluded Dries Vanthoor. “But I feel like there’s a big potential and now on us make sure that comes out.”
Source : sportscar365.com
