Strakka targeting another podium in Fuji
Photo: Strakka Racing
Strakka Racing team’s third place overall in the 6 Hours of Bahrain was affirmation of hard work and consistent progress by the LMP1 Privateer team. The result also consolidated the British team’s second place in the points chase for the FIA Endurance Trophy for privately-owned LMP1 teams.
Now, however, the all-British driver line up of Nick Leventis, Danny Watts and Jonny Kane have a new challenge on their hands as they approach this weekend’s 6 Hours of Fuji: another new track for them to learn. They will be relying heavily on the experiences and advice of Karl Patman, Strakka Racing’s Assistant Team Manager and Crew Chief, who spent several years working in Japan earlier in his career.
“It was an absolute privilege to visit Japan at such a young age and one that I’ll never forget,” said Karl. “I loved the country, culture and people, and I’m really looking forward to going back, especially Gotemba where I’ve spent so much time.”
Competition for LMP1 Privateer points will be fierce in Japan, with Strakka competing against the two cars from Rebellion Racing, JRM’s HPD-Honda and a returning entry from Oak Racing.
Danny Watts, No.21 Strakka Racing HPD ARX 03a: “I raced at Motegi for Honda Racing in the final round of the 2004 Japanese F3 Championship and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I went back the following winter to do some testing in the Dome F3 car, and over one month I visited every race circuit except Fuji and Autopolis. This will be my first visit to Fuji and I don’t know anything about it except the on-board videos I’ve seen and the work we’ve done on the sim. I had some down time the last time I was in Japan to have a look around and I love the country, I love the people and it’s the one race on the WEC calendar that I’ve been looking forward to the most.”
Dan Walmsley, Strakka Racing’s Team Manager: “Japan is an important event for us, not just in terms of the Privateers’ championship, but because it’s the home of Honda, our engine and chassis partner, so therefore we want to put on a good performance for them and score a good result. It’s going to be a challenge. The conditions can be quite humid, so once again we’ll have to consider not only the attrition rate of the race car, but the drivers too. We’re on a crest of a wave at the moment and since Silverstone we’ve really unlocked the performance of the car and drivers. We may have left ourselves too much to do to win the Privateers’ title, but we’re going to do everything we can to take the fight to the final round in China. We certainly want to finish the season as the strongest scoring Privateer, and we’ve got every chance of achieving that.”
Fiona Miller (quotes from Strakka team press release)
PHOTO: SAKHIR (BAHRAIN), BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, 6 HOURS OF BAHRAIN, SATURDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER 2012, RACE. The No.21 Strakka Racing HPD ARX 03a making a pit stop.
