Interview with Jamie Campbell-Walter, driver of No.96 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage V8.

How is going so far ? 
“ So far so good. It has gone really well so far this season with the last two races in WEC.. People tend to forget that Le Mans is part of the Championship as well as being a huge event in its own right.. you still treat it as a huge race but at the back of your mind it has become part of the championship and it counts for double points of course. Finishing is massively important and a podium is even better.”

So what about your podium chances?
“ Well, in LMGTE Am the limiting factor will of course always be the 'Am' driver. How quick is your 'Am' , how consistent is he and so on. Nobody can make any mistakes, the 'Pro Drivers' included. Our Am is Roald Goethe and he is doing fine, you only need to look at Tracy Krohn's accident in the Ferrari to see what can so easily happen”.

How many times have you been to Le Mans?
“This will be my 7th.. I started in the Lister in 03 and then moved onto Creation. I did have a year off after breaking my back at Monza”.

So you are back here with Aston Martin
“Yes this is my first year with them and you have to say that it is very good team with a very good car, Prodrive do know a thing or two about building competitive cars”.

Word is that you may just have the edge on the Ferraris..
“The Balance of Performance equation does make things very equal.. even so we might just have the edge on power but the Ferraris are a tiny bit more economical and very nimble. I think Porsche might have been playing it cool and sand bagging. They have now got the restrictors they wanted and look where they are.. they are possibly favourites ”

As observers we find it hard to tell the difference between the Astons..
“Look at the numbers!”

What makes the Astons so special?
For a start they have very good downforce... the engines are very strong and it has that very torquey V8 that all adds up to good driveability. On the downside it might not be so quick in the slow corners and we are heavier. So change of direction isn't as sharp as the Ferraris. All the cars are now good to drive.. the manufacturers have spent vast amounts of money on GT racing recently so they are all good. Corvettes are easy to drive at the limit and not the best in any one area but all round they are great.

Are you a happy guy here at Aston Martin Racing?
“Of course I am...Well its Prodrive isn't it! Just look at the infrastructure., they have put in a huge effort for their 100 years anniversary and they want to both classes ..”

Thank you Jamie and good luck ...

 

Interview by Jock Simpson / ACO

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