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Daytona

Red Bull - KTM - FKG

04/02/2001

Red Bull Porsche

Friday

Red Bull drivers Luca Riccitelli and Dieter Quester see no major concerns ahead for tomorrow. The team is running on new Dunlops and Dieter did want to mention that this had introduced some measure of uncertainty into the equation. But he wasn’t worried about the choice, in fact, he saw real potential for the future of the team in European competition.

“We have no major problems. We are very pleased with the Dunlop tires. We had our choice of Dunlops or Yokohoma and I think we did the right thing choosing the Dunlops. First of all, there was a possibility we may run either Michelin or Dunlop in the FIA GT, because Michelin was thinking about not running there. Now I think they are. But the Dunlops are made in Germany (no, Fort Dunlop, Birmingham, England, Dieter Ed.) and I know their engineer for 25 years. I just think it is easier for us to use them.

“I don’t think there is really an advantage for the Yokohomas against the Dunlops. I think they are very close. The question isn’t which tire is quicker. The question is, over 24 hours, which tire is more reliable. That is when we will find out.

Last year, Luca charged back from mechanical difficulties in the closing moments to bring the car home second, just 50 seconds behind the leader, despite a loss of one hour to drive shaft repairs.

Luca: “The car is running very well. The feeling for the race is a good one. Everything is running well for the moment. It is a long race and anything can happen. We must finish first before we can see where we are at the end.

“I have a good feeling with this car as I have driven it so often. I know I can go 100% with this car and that is good for me. The set up is a little bit different from last year. There really isn’t enough time to work the right way on the car with just one hour to share with four drivers. But the car is in good shape.”

Didn’t he prove just that. Out of a massive Porsche entry of 27 cars in the GT class, Luca was on the ‘Porsche Pole’. Alas, he was only third fastest in class, more than a second behind the Mosler and the now five litre BMW M3. The difference is, the Porsche will be around at the end....won’t it, Hans Jorg? Isn’t this the view the rest will see?

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