Mugello DMSv Press Conference PDF Print E-mail
Written by Xosé Estrada   
Friday, 13 November 2009 18:07

Roland Ehnström, Race Winner

DMSvIt is very satisfactory for me to have won this race because it was a bit unexpected to be honest. It wasn't even in the original team plan for me to race at Mugello, because it is not really a track that suits my driving-style, but after Björn had problems with the graphics in Rouen, he decided not to do any more races until he's upgraded his computer, and this meant I had to step in as race driver in this event.

In our team practice sessions during the week before the race, it was obvious that I had far worse tire wear than all my team-mates - including the Corvettes in DMSv Green. I had to make some quite radical changes to my driving, which is normally a bit on the wild side, and really focus on smooth, clean lines, in order for my tires to last anywhere near half-distance of the race. I also had to build a setup that allowed my to go fast without going sideways. I am proud that I managed to do this without losing very much speed at all - perhaps I should always drive this way?

Anyway, in qualifying I concentrated really hard and drove an outright personal best laptime of 1:49.2, which put me squarely on pole-position. Then in the first stint I tried to pull away in the beginning, but I got only a 3-second gap, and for a while I was a bit worried that Rami would close back up to me with better tire wear. But I fought hard and kept this gap at three seconds until the pit-stops at the end of lap 22. There I made a slightly faster stop and opened up the gap by another couple of seconds, and then pushed hard for one lap to get the fastest lap of the race (1:50.2), before going into tire-saving mode. This worked much better than expected, because I could reduce the tire wear by some 30-40%, while still keeping the gap absolutely stable to Rami. After a few laps I was even beginning to pull away slightly, while I was still saving tires. That's when I felt that the race was won, and I could relax to the end and just enjoy the ride - a wonderful feeling!

Excellent result for DMSv Red in this race, congratulations Fredrik on yet another podium finish! We now have a nice little lead in the championship, and next up is our home track: Anderstorp, Sweden!

Fredrik Tackman, 3rd

Wooohoooo! What a race!

Qual:5-6 tenth off the ultimate pace by Roland to nr:5 on the grid.

Race: Was really concerned to have Jack just behind me thinking of the topspeed of the corvette, I had god fortune into T1 at the start when he was so close to pass me but didnt.

Followed Marcin the whole 1st stint and took a bit earlier pit stop to try get pass him in pits,he pitted the lap after and we had a drag race to T1 whrer i managed to sneak by him ,then we had a good fight for a couple of laps when traffic gave me a little breather with a few seconds,tryed to save my tires and not panic when Marcin came closer and closer (thinking,he must kill his tires trying to catch me).

At the end Rami had a couple of incidents that gave me the chance to pass 2 or 3 laps from the end,had a VERY hard time keeping him behind but succeded to get the 3rd place at finnish .

Grats to Roland for a rocksolid 1st and to Mike aswell.

Thanks to the raceengineers at DMSV and to the orginizers for nice work (heard it was much hours to get the servers going).