Greaves Motorsport left Brazil with a top four LMP2 class result following an action packed Six Hours of Sao Paulo.
A new driver line-up for the team saw Christian Zugel, Bjorn Wirdheim and Gunnar Jeannette drive equally strong stints in the Zytek-Nissan, running as high as third place before a safety car period effectively ended the team’s chances for a victory.
The class leading duo gained an advantage on the rest of the LMP2 field during the safety car, meaning Greaves had to settle for fourth place, the same result they achieved in the 2012 Brazilian event, maintaining fourth in the FIA World Endurance Championship standings.
“It was a very eventful race, the team did their usual tiptop job and so did the drivers in difficult conditions,” said team principle, Tim Greaves. “Christian had one of his best races with us, probably only second to Le Mans 24 Hours last year. We haven’t finalised the driver line up for Austin yet, but if we could find the funding for Bjorn he would be very high on our list. He did a great job in a car, a track and a Championship that were all new to him. Gunnar’s return to Greaves Motorsport (he drove with us at Le Mans in 2008) was successful, especially considering his personal circumstances. He was in some pain during the race from his “Skyfall” adventures where he broke his leg in a freak, but potentially terminal, accident. He gritted his teeth and ignored the discomfort throughout the race, running at a good pace. It is a real pleasure working with all concerned.
“So much for the positive, the first Safety Car intervention again ruined the race for all LM P2 cars except #26 and #49. All the others lost the best part of a lap, just as happened earlier this year at Spa. The Officials seem to fail to recognise the damage this is doing to the reputation of the FIA World Endurance Championship, particularly when we are in competition with other series for budgets. It is a 6 hour race and with radio communications at the level that they are it would be simple to give the cars disadvantaged a “wave by”. All the Officials say that it is the same for everyone but that clearly is not the case. Well if our customers vote with their feet as a result of this arbitrary factor we will all be worse off.”
