Quifel-ASM team: The Algarve – a year on

The 2010 season began with the Le Castellet 8 Hours. Was it a difficult race for you?

Olivier Pla: “In fact, our 2010 aero package wasn't ready until the very last moment. We had to sort it out at the circuit.”

Miguel Amaral: “We couldn't find the right setup in either practice or qualifying. We were good in the race but I lost three laps in the pits after contact with another car, and that dropped us back to sixth place.” 

Olivier Pla: “In my last stint the steering column broke and we had to retire. The awarding of double points opened up a big gap right from the start, which it'll be difficult to close.”

Then at Spa you had another tough race for other reasons, but you won…

Olivier Pla: “The car was much better. Zytek did a lot of work to solve the problems we'd had at Le Castellet.”

Miguel Amaral: “In qualifying we were not as quick in terms of top speed as the Strakka Honda or the RML Lola, but the car's balance was much better.”

Olivier Pla: “The conditions in the race created opportunities that we seized. When I saw that it was raining on the formation lap, I said to myself that we could pull off a coup. I had a few problems in the drizzle on my slick tyres; then I took the lead fairly quickly and I opened up a big gap before the red flag.”

Miguel Amaral: “After the restart I did the final two-and-a half hours. It wasn't easy as at the end of the race it was raining on a part of the circuit. We kept on slicks and we managed to stabilise the gap to our rivals. A great victory!”

Is this year's LM P2 category the most competitive ever?

Olivier Pla: “This year we're doing six-hour sprints! It proves that everybody's doing a great job whether it's Honda, Judd or Zytek.”

Miguel Amaral: “Today, it's so competitive that two or three laps spent in the pits make you lose a lot of places, but it makes the battle more fun!”

The particular feature of the LM P2 category is that it combines professional and gentlemen drivers. How do you work together?

Oliver Pla: “I've got the job of setting up the car with our engineer, Alan Mugglestone. I help Miguel as much as I can and we spend a lot of time working on the on-board cameras and the telemetry. At Spa, he was one of the quickest gentlemen drivers.”

Miguel Amaral: “Olivier is very professional and when I'm behind the wheel I adapt to the setup chosen with Alan. I look at the telemetry and I talk about the lines I should take. I do my best while knowing that I couldn't pull back a second and a half or two seconds.”

What are you expecting from this home race?

Miguel Amaral: “The Portuguese media follow us with a lot of interest as there are few drivers with international careers in our country. The public's very curious. Besides, I like the Algarve circuit as I find it very exciting.”

Olivier Pla: “It's a very interesting track with a lot of up-and-down sections and blind corners. Last year, as it was the team's home race we knew we couldn't screw up! My aim is to win whatever the country or the circuit.”

What does the rest of the 2010 Le Mans Series hold for the Quifel-ASM team?

Olivier Pla: “After our retirement at Le Castellet, we're eighth overall in the general classification despite our Spa victory. I'm not really giving a lot of thought to the championship. I'm taking things on a race-by-race basis without giving anything away.”

Miguel Amaral: “We're trying to score the best result we can in each race. We've got nothing to lose so we're really going to push.”  

Olivier Pla: “We'll evaluate the season after Silverstone.”

Are you both very busy in the coming weeks?

Olivier Pla: “Besides the Quifel-ASM team I'm working with Veritas on the development of a super car, which will be presented at several events in Europe, Abu Dhabi and Malaysia.”