Waiting in the Wings: Emil Frey Lexus Racing „hot“ for Total 24 Hours of Spa

Emil Frey Lexus Racing could not have chosen a better stage for celebrating its debut at the Total 24 Hours of Spa. The Swiss team will race for the very first time with both Lexus RC F GT3 at the 70th edition of the 24-hours classics and will face up to a top-class starter field with over 65 racing machines. The first fair competition took place during the official test day of the Blancpain GT Series last week. As for the region typical changing weather conditions, Spa lived up to its name enabling the team to test different Setups, various settings with the traction control, the ABS and further systems in both the dry and the wet. Emil Frey Lexus Racing looked at additional data from the previous year, where the team secured the first worldwide Pole Position with the Lexus RC F GT3 plus taking a straight start/finish win at the round of the International GT Open. The almost 7-km-long track of Francorchamps features similar characteristics to tracks like Silverstone and Paul Ricard – on which the Lexus team has reached their first podium and the great debut-win at the 1000 km. As a result, the team is looking ahead to the upcoming 24-hours with optimism after finishing the test successfully. “The test went very well and both cars were running reliably without any problems”, says Lorenz Frey, Team Principal Emil Frey Racing. “However, the competitors have not showed their full potential yet and therefore we cannot predict where we will end-up. But taking into consideration the track of Spa suits our Lexus RC F GT3 very well with its fast corners, we should see a good performance. Spa is one of the toughest GT3 races taking place on probably the most spectacular race track there is and everyone in the team is really excited for our first 24-hours race with the Lexus. A victory at the 24-hours of Spa is equivalent to winning the World Championship.” Following the obligatory drivers- and car-parade on Wednesday, 25 July 2018, Free Practice, Pre-Qualifying and the Qualifying sessions take place on Thursday, 26 July 2018. It gets exciting once more with Super Pole on Friday before the 70th edition of the Total 24 Hours of Spa will go underway on Saturday, 28 July 2018 from 4:30 pm. All sessions will be broadcast live via: www.blancpain-gt-series.com/watch-live For more information, please visit www.emilfreyracing.com Driver Quotes Emil Frey Lexus Racing #14 Albert Costa Balboa (ESP) “We managed to get some valid information during the test as we drove in both the dry and the wet. But we are not quite a 100 % where we should be. Now we have to review all data from the test, but the Lexus felt very good. We have strong drivers and a good team and have to use the two weeks leading up to the race to prepare as best as possible.” Christian Klien (A) “The test was ok, both Lexus ran without issues and we can be quite satisfied. Nevertheless, it is difficult to say where we are as nobody has put their cards on the table yet. Generally speaking I think we have a pretty good package and a car that suits the track and felt positive. We are looking forward to the race in any case.” Marco Seefried (GER) “I think, we are well sorted after being able to run in mixed conditions and to see how the car handles on a very wet track and on a drying track. Spa is well-known for this and it was good to find these changing conditions during the test, because we do not have that much experience with the Lexus in the wet yet. The track and the overall package plays in our hands and without suffering any major incidents we should be there with the top guys.” Driver Quotes Emil Frey Lexus Racing #114 Stéphane Ortelli (MCO) “The test was very important for us. We are very strong in some parts, but I did not feel too good in some corners. It was a pleasure taking to the track of Spa with this car. The next two weeks are very important to prepare the car and look at the data of both cars to compare and take the positives from each.” Norbert Siedler (A) “The test went quite well. We don´t know for sure how competitive we are as the others did not show it either, but I am confident that we are well-prepared and can fight with the others.” Markus Palttala (FIN) “The 24-hours of Spa are of course the highlight of the season and it was important, that we managed to get lots of mileage down. The season has been very stressful with the team competing in both the Sprint and Endurance Cup and this was the first time that we got the chance to go testing. We worked productively for the race. Both Lexus drove without any problems and we have found a good Setup. Spa is most likely the coolest track in the world and the 24-hours are by far the most renowned GT3 race you can think of – I cannot wait for it to finally start!”