Porsche factory driver Gianmaria Bruni says he is very motivated ahead of this weekend’s Six Hours of Monza, where the Italian will be competing in his home race, whilst also competing against Ferrari.
Bruni, who previously raced as part of Ferrari’s factory GTE Pro effort, is set to do battle against the Italian manufacturer with Porsche as the two teams fight over the class lead in GTE Pro.
Porsche currently trails Ferrari by 18 points after the Italian manufacturer took a class win last time out at Portimao. It also leads the drivers’ standings, with the pairing of James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi holding a six-point lead over Porsche team-mates Kevin Estre and Neel Jani.
Bruni and Richard Lietz, in contrast, sit fourth with 30 points after a pair of disappointing results in both Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.
Despite the early season setbacks, Bruni says he is greatly looking forward to the race ahead.
“I’m an Italian and I’m competing for Porsche on Ferrari’s home turf in Monza – that’s hugely motivating,” Bruni said. “The event has a very special meaning for me. It may sound strange, but the truth is: although Monza is a famous track in my home country, I’ve not raced there often. I know the circuit, but not much better than many other motor racing venues in Europe.
“The anticipation is high and so are the expectations. After failing to achieve the success we’d hoped for with our number 91 car, it’s now time to bring home maximum points.”
Bruni’s team-mate on the other side of the garage, Kevin Estre, is also excited about the six-hour enduro at the Temple of Speed and mentions memories of his time in the Porsche Carrera Cup as well as the only other time WEC has visited Monza in its current iteration – the 2017 Prologue.
“The excitement is huge for me for various reasons,” Estre said. “I immediately liked the track at my first race there in 2009 with the Porsche Carrera Cup France.
“I also have fond memories of the 2017 prologue there. Thousands of spectators turned up – just to watch the test drives!”
“That was fantastic. What’s more, I think Monza is perfect for WEC races with its different classes. The many straights and the occasional long braking zone make lapping traffic much easier.”
“Plus, Monza is practically a home race for me this year. The circuit is only about 300 kilometres from where I live in Austria. No other racing venue is closer.”
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