4 Hours of Dubai – Vincent Abril: “A perfect start to the weekend”

Vincent Abril performed convincingly in qualifying for the 4 Hours of Dubai with AF Corse, setting the same time as pole sitter Ben Barnicoat in the first session and the fourth fastest time, just 0.066 seconds behind Jonathan Adam in the second. “We had a perfect start to the weekend, the Frenchman told us, with a big smile, after the double qualifying session. I always felt deep down that this car suited me, I have confirmation of that. I experienced a complicated end to last season over the last three races in DTM. Of course, these are only qualifications and on a raceEndurance It doesn't mean much, but it puts things in place in your head. »

A performance all the more remarkable since Vincent Abril did not ride in a Ferrari 488 GT3 since October 2020. “I hadn't driven this car for two years and we didn't have a test day before coming here. Despite everything, we are competitive. » A personal satisfaction and relief which erased a possible disappointment of missing pole position by nothing in Race 1. “We made the right choices for qualifying and I honestly have no regrets for Q1. With the same time, I could always say that there is always an element where I could have done better, but with our preparation and what we did, I had the best lap possible. The regret is more in Q2 where I think it came down to the driving and I was a little too careful with the track limits. »

With this pace and this second position for Race 1, the crew of the AF Corse n°17 ​​obviously hopes to finish the job at the Dubai Autodrome. " Everything can happen, nevertheless tempers the French pilot. These are long races, with a lot of racing events, but I am really very happy on a personal level. We worked well with the team, without focusing on what others were doing. We had enough work on our side. The mindset we have with the guys is spreading to the team around us and we have already exceeded expectations. Now we have to be clean and try to go all the way. I never come for anything other than victory, but you have to be realistic. There are many teams that are well-established in the championship, or even in theELMS or the family WEC. There are still some unknowns and we have to stay focused.”

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Meet at 13:30 p.m. French time for the first race of the 4 Hours of Dubai. Live live video on AUTOhebdo.fr.