Augusto Farfus first win in WEC

WECLMGT3Drivers

May 9

After his triumph at Imola, being in Spa, where he will share the #31 BMW M Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 with Sean Gelael and Darren Leung, Augusto Farfus shares his views about the necessary ingredients to win the LMGT3 class in WEC. Stay tuned for the next 3 articles where Augusto Farfus shared some of his busy time looking back at the young teenager flying from Brazil to Italy to live his passion. Next, Augusto Farfus remembers his time in go-karting and formula races, his active involvement in the development of the BMW M4 GT3 and the Junior Team. Finally, we looked back at his success on the Nordschleife as well as in GT World Challenge.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2019. Augusto Farfus with A. Felix da Costa and J. Krohn in the BMW M8 GTE #82 ended 10h, 7 laps behind the class winners (Ferrari #51).

GTE versus GT3

CRR: You have experienced the GTEs with BMW M8 and Aston Martin Vantage and this year the GT3 with BMW M4 GT3. Do you miss the GTE? Or are GT3 as fun to drive?

Augusto Farfus: “With the GTE one had confidential tires and a little bit more tools to play around. There was more support from the manufacturers. The GTE was a factory car versus the GT3 is a customer car. Therefore everyone has the same type of car in GT3. With GTE there was more flexibility. Do I miss the GTE? Yes and No because the level one has reached in GT3 is very high. In GTE there were less cars and the level was very intense but with GT3, when you go to Spa and you race with 70 cars on the track, I also enjoy that.”

CRR: GT3 are leveling the Bronze drivers, as the biggest difference maker between bronze drivers in GTE was the braking skill. Agree?

Augusto Farfus: “I disagree. Yes, ABS makes driving some time easier but the way one uses them can make a difference. That is why there is still such a difference between the Bronze and the PRO drivers.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Imola. Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael, and Darren Leung with BMW M4 GT3 #31 winners of the 6 Hours of Imola.

The role of the PRO in the lineup

CRR: You recently said the PRO drivers will make the difference in GT3 class. The Imola race demonstrated that. But it was under specific weather circumstances. If you look at both Porsche and Aston Martin, one lineup is faster than the other one isn’t? Are you still convinced the PRO will make the difference in dry conditions?

Augusto Farfus: “I think the PRO does not only make the difference during his driving time. But well how the PRO does coordinate and make the Bronze and Silver drivers feel at ease using the car. If I make the car specific to myself, maybe I’ll gain a few tenth but my Bronze driver will lose half a second because having a more difficult car to race. The PRO makes the difference in the way he plays the role of captain of the ship, who understands he is the last one to leave the ship but mainly how well he coordinates with the team. It is useless to set up a car for myself and will not fit for the Bronze and the Silver drivers. The PRO makes the difference by not being selfish and understanding the limitations and the needs of his two co-drivers. In WEC, the PRO does not make the difference in his two hours driving but in the way he gets the coworking with his teammates functioning.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Imola. Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael, and Darren Leung triumphed with Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 #31.

Winning a race is great but the finish line is in 10 years

CRR: What made you win in Imola against Maxime Martin?

Augusto Farfus: “It was difficult as the track was half wet, half dry. Team WRT did a phenomenal call by keeping us on slick. That made an incredible difference for the success of both cars. The tires pressure and set up were a little bit different. In Imola it played on my side when the track was very difficult to drive. It does not mean anything about the drivers as it could easily be the other way around. At our level, one day Maxime would beat me, the other I would beat him. Maxime is the man on wet track. The track, the combination of tire pressure and set up plays into the equation. One may not draw any conclusion on one race. For example, Tom Kristensen, it is phenomenal what he has achieved. He is a legend. I’m sure if you look at his career, there are several races where he has been beaten by a driver but after 20 years of his career, everyone knows Tom Kristensen. So, the finish line is not a specific race, the finish line is in 10 years to see what success one has achieved. In Imola, of course, I had a smile as I did beat Maxime but it is just another race.”