Andrea Caldarelli has claimed last weekend his first win, in the SUPER GT, behind the wheel of the bran new #37 Team Tom’s Lexus RC F. He was partnered by Japanese Daisuke Ito and it was too the first win of a Lexus RC F. The young Italian driver, 24 years old, has kindly answered a few questions for Endurance-Info :
Andrea, it was your first win in SUPER GT. What are your feelings about it? Did you expect it?
“Of course it was very nice feeling. To win in SUPER GT you have to be perfect during 2h of race, so you cannot do any small mistakes, and so when you finish a perfect race, you are really proud of what you have done.
We were expecting to be fast after the test results of winter, but as I said to win a race in SUPER GT is always very difficult, everything has to be done perfectly.”
“You have a new car, the RC F, which seems to be much quicker than the SC430? What are the main differences between both cars? Are they very different to drive?
“Yes there is a big difference. We believe we are about 3secs faster than last year. Mainly coming from the downforce level. We have also carbon brakes and the way of driving is more similar to a formula car. Then there is the turbopowered engine, which requires also different way of managing the throttle.”
Tom’s is the only two cars team in the GT500 category Do you think it is really an asset? Do you work closely with the #36 line-up?
“We work closely sharing datas but sometime we decide to take different directions according to driver’s feedback. So of course it is good to have 2 cars, as you can test more solutions.”
What can you say about your partner Daisuke Ito?
“This is my second year with Daisuke. He is very nice guy to work with. I have to say at the beginning it was difficult to communicate due to language barrier, but we understand each very quickly now. He also came to my house in Italy and spend some time together.”
What are your favourite circuits in Japan? Those who are fitted best to the Lexus?
“I think Fuji speedway is my favourite track, maybe also because we have been always very quick there with Lexus and Toyota. However Autopolis is the craziest one!”
Can you say some words about your life in Japan? How much do you appreciate it?
“The life in Japan is very different by comparison to Europe. However this is my 4th year and I really appreciate many things of Japan, which I believe is an amazing country.”
Will you have some other programs than SUPER GT this year? If so, which ones?
“At the moment not yet confirmed, however as SUPER GT has some long stop time, I would like to keep doing something in between.”
Do you hope some day to drive a prototype like the Toyota TS040?
“Yes of course, especially because I feel a bit part of that project, as when Toyota started in 2012 in LMP1 project I was following closely the program.”
What are your expectations in the 2014 SUPER GT? Do you think you could claim the title?
“Of course after winning the first race we have score good points, however the SUPER GT championship is very long and many things can happen. Our goal is of course to get championship and we will try hard for it!”
