Zoom on Gulf Racing UK in the GTE category

In order to find out more about the European Le Mans, we have decided to take a closer look at each category in 2015, with a focus on one of the teams.  After the presentation of Massive Motorsport in the GTC category last week, it is now the turn of the LMGTE class with Mike Wainwright of Gulf Racing UK. The manager and driver of the n°86 Porsche 911 RSR talked about his 2015 season and the projects for the future.

For the last two years Gulf Racing UK has been a regular competitor in the European Le Mans Series. After the first year to see and learn, the British team was looking for a good result in the second season; their goal was  to finish in the top two. In order to achieve this, in addition to Mike Wainwright, the driver line up was made of Adam Carroll and Phil Keen (except for the Red Bull Ring where he was replaced by Georges Richardson).

The Blue and Orange Gulf coloured n°86 Porsche 911 RSR started well by winning at Silverstone, the first race of the 2015 ELMS season. The next three races got more complicated, with results not matching the team’s expectations. Gulf Racing UK finished the year on a high note with a third place in Estoril. At the end, the team and the drivers finished 4th overall in the general classifications.

Your 2015 ELMS season : “In terms of where we ended up in the championship, I must say I am a little disappointed. We started well in Silverstone with a win, but then we had some bad luck in Imola.   After that it was a real challenge between us and the Ferraris at every race. At the Paul Ricard round, we were 3rd and looked for a podium finish, but we experienced a tire problem and lost two places to finish 5th. When we got to Estoril, we could not challenge for the title anymore. Our Portuguese week-end was difficult. Of course we had troubles with the weather like any other team. During the race our drivers did a great job and our planed strategy was good, as we eneded the race 3rd and on the podium. Without all this bad luck we could have done 2nd in the championship, which would have been great to have an invitation for Le Mans.

I think this championship is very competitive, and that the mix between LMP2, LMP3, GTE and GTC works very well. In terms of cars on the grid, I think there are too many Ferraris in GTE... of course it’s good to have some, but maybe we could have a better balance.”

Your plans for 2016 : “I think I will go on with racing next year and that we will be competitive in 2016. But what I don’t know yet, is in which championship. In the World Endurance Championship, there is more driving time and more circuits to drive on (in2016 there will be 9 races/circuits in WEC and six in ELMS). But I never raced in WEC because I can’t do all the races. In ELMS, we now also have driving times on Friday, but this is not easy for us. So we will see, but I want to continue racing.”

Your car(s) for 2016 : “We definitely want to enter the Porsche 911 RSR again, but we also have the Aston Martin Vantage that Roald (Goethe) entered in WEC this season. It might be possible to see Roald concentrate more on classic races in 2016, such as Le Mans Classic. We also have the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 GT3 which we had in Silverstone (ELMS) and that finished 3rd. It’s all a question of money. In fact if someone wants to drive this car, the car is available... If we do enter a car in ELMS next year, we will also ask for an entry at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it’s a gamble, we can’t be 100% sure to be on the list. In order to make sure to do Le Mans, we would have to go in WEC.”

Yours objectives for the future: “Our main goal in 2016 is to do what it takes to have an invitation at the 24 Hours of Le Mans!”

Interview made by David Bristol for ELMS in Estoril

Thanks to Mike for taking some time with us.