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Tandy and team-mate Mathieu Jaminet gained two races within the new GTP class this yr and had a 3rd taken away following a technical infraction present in post-race scrutineering at Watkins Glen.
Porsche has recognized the longer-distance races as the place it must focus its efforts and has made a lot of updates geared toward enhancing reliability with its 963 prototype.
“There’s been heaps occurring with the automobile and at [Porsche’s development center in] Weissach,” Tandy informed Motorsport.com. “It’s principally primarily based round reliability.
“We’re making an attempt to iron out the issues that we’ve present in each software program and {hardware}. Trying again finally yr on the 4 longer endurance races, together with Daytona and Le Mans, we weren’t that nice, had been we?
“That is the very first thing, we have to end these lengthy races, in order that’s been the primary focus. We’re clearly higher ready from a reliability viewpoint. After all, everybody continues to be going to have some points, all of the vehicles are nonetheless fairly new, however it’s undoubtedly a greater feeling now.”
Photograph by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Images
#6: Porsche Penske Motorsports, Porsche 963, GTP: Nick Tandy, Mathieu Jaminet, Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor
After a deliberate take a look at at Daytona final month needed to be scrapped as a consequence of resurfacing work close to the Bus Cease chicane, the 2 days of working final week had been the one probability to check the upgrades forward of subsequent month’s Roar take a look at, qualifying and the season-opening Rolex 24 Hours itself.
“It’s the primary time we’ve run the automobile again right here for the reason that race, so we’ve obtained a season’s expertise and learnings to place into it,” stated Tandy. “The second automobile [the #7] was purely placing mileage to validate stuff, carrying on from what we ran at a personal Sebring take a look at [last month], however it’s not simply up to date elements it’s placing every little thing by the entire course of once more.
“We’re not prepping for a dash race, so that is the proper time for reliability testing, and our automobile [the #6] was extra targeted on efficiency, comparable to tire testing and normal stuff.
“We had a few points, which had been kinda Daytona particular. Right here you run excessive RPMs for a very long time, in order that’s right here and Le Mans-specific, and also you’re additionally on the banking right here for an extended period. The excessive lateral load on the automobile is not like wherever else we go, in order that’s fluid surge and excessive suspension masses, steering and tires.
“So, there are Daytona-specific take a look at factors that we have to be taught.”
Photograph by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Images
#6: Porsche Penske Motorsports, Porsche 963, GTP: Nick Tandy, Mathieu Jaminet, Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor
Tandy revealed that the issues had been “nothing we haven’t skilled earlier than” and the automobile returned to the monitor every time after remedial work.
“We be taught one thing new every single day with this automobile on the monitor,” he added. “A few issues we needed to come again to storage for, which isn’t superb, and it’s the form of factor that can influence your race massively.
“We’re nonetheless not the place we should be, that’s clear, however we’re working to get there. That is the final level to make that call about what will get prepped for race week at Daytona.
“So, no extra messing round after this week – we get locked in on all our elements and software program technique that we’re going to come back and race with.”
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