Giancarlo Fisichella and Gianmaria Bruni had a quite successful season. They have claimed the drivers and team (AF Corse) in the Le Mans Series, have contributed for a large part to the AF Corse team title and the Ferrari manufacturer tile in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. They have been too runner-ups in the GTE Pro category in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and have been winners in the same category at Petit Le Mans. Giancarlo and Gianmaria have kindly agreed to answer a few questions for a crossed interview :
What are your 20 11 best memories ?
Giancarlo Fisichella: 2011 was a really fantastic year. With Gianmaria Bruni and AF Corse we won the Drivers and Teams titles in the Le Mans Series with one race in hand, and it meant Ferrari also took the Constructors. We did the same in the ILMC, taking the Team and Constructor titles. When we set off at the start of 2011, of course our aim was to win as many races as possible and managing to finish ahead of works teams is a reason to be really proud. Among the most exciting races this year I would definitely single out the one at Silverstone where we won the Le Mans Series with a race remaining and the Petit Le Mans, one of the most prestigious rounds on the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup calendar.
Gianmaria Bruni: The best moments of 2011 were definitely the first pole position which came at Sebring in the F430 (ILMC) and the win in Spa (ILMC and LMC) which was also a maiden victory for the 458. And the Petit Le Mans (ILMC) was unforgettable thanks to a well deserved win at the end of a really tough duel with the BMW, especially during the night time part of the race.
What are your 2011 worst memories ?
GF: “From a racing point of view, there were not too many bad memories, because, as I’ve said, 2011 was a really winning year for us. The final stages of the Le Mans 24 Hours were very tough, when our car was gradually losing places because of an insignificant mechanical problem. From a physical point of view, endurance races are very demanding with the heat inside the cockpit being really exhausting and usually, by the end of a 24 hour race, you are very tired psychologically.”
GB : “The Le Mans 24 Hours was definitely one of the toughest moments of 2011, because a problem with our car in the closing stages meant we had to give up on the idea of actually winning, even though we’d been leading for a long time and in the end we had to settle for the runner up spot. All the same, coming second was a good result if one thinks of the quality of those we were up against when a win was absolutely on the cards. Second place in Imola also failed to match our expectations and once again it was a question of bad luck. All the same, when you look at how much we have achieved this year, it’s not actually that bad to be “bitter” about coming second now and again.”
How do you explain your many successes together?
GF : “The secret of our success was definitely the harmony and the feeling that existed between us. Gimmi and I have very similar driving styles, liking the car to have a lot of grip at the front, giving a bit of oversteer. This meant we could find the best set up to suit us both.”
GB : “Giancarlo and I have very similar characters and above all we are friends, as well being two professionals working towards the same goal, namely winning as many races as possible. We know one another very well and we complement each other.”
For Giancarlo, what is Gianmaria’s main quality?
“I like Gimmi’s qualities as a driver, his consistency, his calm, his speed and the professional way in which he deals with even the most difficult situations.”
For Gianmaria : What do you consider to be Giancarlo’s main quality?
“I like the fact Giancarlo is modest, I like his ability to remain calm whatever the situation. Giancarlo is perfectly aware of our potential, that of our car and of the team and he knows how to get the best result possible from any situation.”
What is Gianmaria’s main fault?
“I can’t say I’ve noticed any real faults in Gimmi.”
What is Giancarlo’s main fault ?
GB: I have yet to come across any sort of bad side with Giancarlo.
What do you envy about Giancarlo/Gianmaria?
GF : “I would not talk about envy but about admiration instead, because as a team-mate and as a friend, I can only be happy with what Gimmi has achieved both professionally and as a human being.”
GB : “I admire the way he has put together his career, both in F1 and in GT racing. Giancarlo is a positive role model for me as a driver and as a man.”
What do you like least about Gianmaria?
“I like everything about Gimmi. It sounds obvious, but our strength is based on close ties which push us both to give our outmost for the same goals.”
What do you like least about Giancarlo?
“Nothing, As I’ve said already I have yet to find anything to dislike about him.”
What event would you like to win this year?
GF :” I would have liked to win the Le Mans 24 Hours. Getting to the top step of the podium of the most famous race in the world is the only thing that was missing this year.”
GB : “The Le Mans 24 Hours. Winning such a famous race would have completed an already unforgettable season.”
Whom do you consider to have been your tougher contenders (cars and drivers)?
GF : “The toughest, both in terms of drivers and their cars would have to be BMW.”
GB : “BMW and Porsche definitely provided the stiffest opposition.”
Both of you have been racing in Formula One, could you compare the atmosphere of the Formula One and that of Endurance Racing?
GF : “The atmosphere in endurance racing is much more informal and relaxed than in F1 and there is also much more direct contact with the public. F1 was definitely a very important part of my career (231 GPs contested with 3 wins and 3 poles) and when I started in GT racing I had to adapt and take a different approach to the races. The pace is equally close but you don’t race on your own but in twos and sometimes even threes in the same crew. For me, it’s an honour to have started alongside Gimmi, a driver I consider to be one of the best in the category.”
GB : “There is a closer bond with the fans in Endurance racing than there is in F1. Racing at Sebring or Le Mans in front of two hundred thousand people is an indescribable feeling. You really feel that the spectators suffer and celebrate with you.”
As you have been driving the Ferrari F430 and the Ferrari 458 Italia, can you compare both cars? What are the main differences?
GF : “Compared to the 430, the 458 definitely has better performance and ensures you have a more consistent pace over a long distance, because it wears out its tyres less. The only paradox concerns the engine, because to equalise our performance with that of our rivals, we have to run with an air intake restrictor to reduce the horsepower when compared to the road-going version. Nevertheless, this did not stop us having a truly excellent season.”
GB : “The 458 needs to be driven with precision and requires, both in terms of driving style and in its set-up, a greater degree of attention to get it to the limit and to get the speed out of it. It took us the first few races to understand its potential and to transform it into a really competitive car, as can be seen from its results.”
We do warmly thank Giancarlo and Gianmaria for their kindness.
Claude Foubert