'Realistically, the aim would be a top five finish': Aditya Patel

ZigWheels (ZW): This is your debut season in the ADAC GT Masters and your results are gradually improving after each round. Nurburgring is a circuit you have raced and won at before, what kind of results can we expect in the next round?

Aditya Patel (AP): Well, realistically the aim would be a top five finish. After Sachsenring, we know we’re capable of being close to the big boys. But yes, pace requires time and experience with the car and with the team. Oh, and a podium finish would be great!

ZigWheels (ZW): The Sachsenring circuit is a smooth and fast flowing one while the Nurburgring circuit is in fact a lot more demanding and more on the technical side. What setup changes will your car need to tackle Nurburgring?

Aditya Patel (AP): Actually, the version of the circuit we use on the Nurburgring is less technically demanding than Sachsenring. While Sachsenring has corners that flow into each other, the short GP circuit at Nurburgring has corners that stand out for themselves. As far as setup is concerned, we will have to fine tune that on the Friday practice session but my guess is that we won’t be running too much wing on the car.

ZigWheels (ZW): How is the ADAC format of racing with one driver behind the wheel for half hour working for you?

Aditya Patel (AP): It’s actually a similar format that they use even for the FIA GT series as well as many other GT series’ around the world. For starters, the pit-stop adds to the excitement as well as strategy and secondly it creates a great rapport between the two drivers driving the same car. Good rapport results in good pace! Being an extremely competitive series with some highly regarded drivers, I’m looking forward to take what I’ve learnt to other series’ around the world to see how I fare.

ZigWheels (ZW): Do you intend to switch back to open-wheel racing or continue with tin-top?

Aditya Patel (AP): Well, If I had to choose one over the other, I would definitely miss tin top racing more than open wheel racing. So yes, tin-tops it is!

ZigWheels (ZW): There are a lot of other Indian drivers who have performed well driving sports cars internationally; do you think it suits us better than open-wheel racing?

Aditya Patel (AP): It all depends on the driver. Single seaters require a lot of time and investment as well as a really good team. Sports cars on the other hand are very closely matched and most of us (not all) probably pick up pace faster than we would in single seaters. But as far as I see it, all our young drivers who have raced single seaters abroad have won races. That speaks a lot about the potential of the drivers.