Griffin eager for the win in Estoril – Motorsport.ie
Ferrari GT driver, Matt Griffin, heads to Estoril in Portugal this weekend for the final round of the 2015 European Le Mans Series Championship and is eager to secure a win.
Griffin, alongside teammates Duncan Cameron and Aaron Scott, are currently lying 3rdin the LMGTE class of the ELMS championship with 51 points, only 3 points behind the second place holders, so they will be pushing the number 55, AF Corse Ferrari hard. The championship has not gone as smoothly as expected for the teammates but they have still secured 2 podiums finishes out of the 4 races already taken place.
“The last round of the championship at Paul Ricard didn’t go so well for us. Even though we were right on the pace we were very unlucky and lost time with both safety car periods, leaving us finishing P6 in the race and P3 in the championship” explained Griffin.
2013 saw the Irishman win the ELMS championship with Ram Racing and in 2014 Griffin was back with AF Corse and Duncan Cameron where they came 2nd in the championship. The team are keen to secure 2nd place for 2015 as well.
“While we are mathematically still in the title hunt, being so far behind means that we will need the formula racing car to hit some bad luck, although, I entered the final round last year with an even bigger lead than they have, it all went wrong for us and we ended up losing the championship. Our main focus though will be trying to secure 2nd place in the championship as that brings with it
an automatic entry to Le Mans 24hr which is very important to the team.”
Matt continues; “ELMS is super competitive so I am expecting a very difficult weekend ahead. Almost every GTE car on the grid is capable of winning so the racing will be ferocious. Put into the mix that the weather is looking very unpredictable, it’s going to be an exciting weekend.”
Immediately after the race, Griffin travels to Thailand to compete in the GT Asia Series.
The race weekend commences with free practice on Saturday. Sunday sees qualifying at 9.00 GMT with the 4 hour race starting at 13.00 GMT. Motors TV have live coverage starting at 12.40 GMT, whilst you can also find radio coverage at radiolemans.com.
About Matt Griffin
The 32-year-old, 2013 European Le Mans Series Champion, has made quite an impact on international GT racing in the last couple of years, competing successfully in championships ranging from the FIA World Endurance Championship to International GT Open as well as racing closer to home in the British GT Championship. In the last five years he’s never competed in less than 24 races, all in a Ferrari, and in 2012 raced in 8 different series.
He has also broadened his experience in the last two years, taking part successfully in endurance races in Australia, Malaysia and Dubai.
In all of these he has been behind the wheel of a Ferrari, and has worked closely in testing and developments with the Italian marque’s GT development partner and constructor, Michelotto Automobili.
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