1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: One of the world's great motor races plays out this weekend. 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:04,760 Speaker 1: Lemon at the point of the end has never looked 3 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: more competitive. Brendan Hartley he's one of of course three times, 4 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: once with Porsche, twice now with his current team Tour 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: de Gazu Racing. Anyway, it's been a big build up 6 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: and Brendan Hartley is with us from lamon morning. Good morning, 7 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: I've been watching the build up so far this week. 8 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: It looks sunny and warm and exciting. Are you enjoying it? 9 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, so far, so good. It has been warm. There 10 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: was a bit of a funders on this mort this morning, 11 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:33,919 Speaker 2: and you can never count out of it rain here. 12 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 2: I think every year of coming here for the last 13 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: felve years, there's been rain at some point. But yeah, 14 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 2: we're in good shape. I've got hyper Pole coming up, 15 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 2: which is the session that will set the field for 16 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 2: the race. We're not that confident that we're going to 17 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 2: be fighting for poposition. I think we're focused on our 18 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: race car. I think others have a car that can 19 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: unlock more potential in one lap, But on long run 20 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: pace we've looked competitive. We're in the next We've topped 21 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 2: a few of the sessions. So yeah, there's a big 22 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: twenty four hour race ahead to try and get through 23 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 2: and execute, to try and stand on that top step. 24 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: What is the value of preparation? How much time in 25 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: the car do you actually get and the weather conditions, 26 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: in other words, preparing for every eventuality or because of 27 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: what the races you can't. 28 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 2: I mean a lot of the preparation has gone on 29 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 2: over the last twelve months, more less since the race 30 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 2: had finished last year. So we do simulator sessions, we 31 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 2: do thirty six hour test sessions. We basically test the 32 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 2: car for thirty six hours straight. Yeah, so we come 33 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: here pretty prepared. We're all experienced drivers, incredibly experienced team, 34 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: arguably the most experienced drivers and team. So yeah, a 35 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:45,960 Speaker 2: lot of that prep's done. And then as of the 36 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 2: race week, we started testing already on Sunday. Let's say 37 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 2: there's more or less five to six hours of testing 38 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: over three three days, and that's split pretty equally between 39 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: the drivers. So yeah, we're all pretty prepared going in, 40 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 2: but so all the other teams. 41 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: How do you balance that up? That's such an interesting point. 42 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: See I'm looking at some of the names from Jensen, 43 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: Button and Schumacher, and magnuson. You know some people with 44 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: some seriously if one experience, for example, is are you 45 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: better prepared because you do this all the time as 46 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: opposed to some of these drivers who come in periodically. 47 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: None of the drivers you mentioned coming periodically, so they're 48 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 2: all full season drivers, so that I think there's maybe 49 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: only one I fell in the field that that might 50 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 2: be here only for this race. So the whole grids, 51 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: other than a couple of cars which are the American Championship, 52 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 2: under the same rule set, they are all full time drivers. 53 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 2: They're all every single driver in the field in our category. 54 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: So there's twenty one cars in the hypercar category. They're 55 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 2: all paid professionals, top class drivers. And I would argue 56 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 2: there's you can't find a race and anywhere in the 57 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 2: world where you have so many of the world stop 58 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 2: drivers all in one place. That's exactly. 59 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: Does the if one thing make any difference? If you've 60 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: been an F one, does that does that qualify you 61 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: better than any other form of racing or not? 62 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: Really? It definitely helps in general, if you've if you've 63 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 2: derived from the if you've arrived in form of the 64 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: one that normally for good reason that you've you've proved 65 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 2: yourself in junior formulas and you've you've earned the credibility 66 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 2: to take one of those twenty seats. So generally speaking, yes, 67 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,399 Speaker 2: but it is, it is. It is a different form 68 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,079 Speaker 2: of motorsport that requires a different type of mentality and experience. 69 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: But that being said, to drive the cars as quickly 70 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: as possible around the track at your set required the same. 71 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: At your level in your cars. What's happened to explain 72 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: to people who aren't official artist, what's happened in the 73 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,839 Speaker 1: last few years. I mean the field is stacked now 74 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: with manufacturers that your your category seems to have taken off. 75 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's it's unreal. So you know, five six years 76 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 2: ago you could argue that there was even less than 77 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: five six years you could argue that we're more or 78 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: less racing ourselves. But during that time we were still 79 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 2: pushing and preparing, knowing that this this wave of competition 80 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 2: was coming. And now it's it's a true golden era 81 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 2: of endurance racing. There's always been an incredible competition at 82 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: the front, but there's never been the depth that there 83 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 2: is now. When you've got you know, the likes of 84 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: Ferrari Porsche, Aston, Mard and Persia Cadillac helping. I'm sure 85 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 2: I've missed some. And on top we've got Genesis McLaren 86 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 2: Ford coming over the next two years, so it's it's stacked. 87 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 2: They're all professional teams manufacturers. There's also privateer teams that 88 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: take on some of the manufacturers cars as well, So yeah, 89 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 2: it's incredibly competitive. I think your question was actually how 90 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: and why there's been a rule set change. It's made 91 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: it more affordable, it's made it more interesting, an interesting 92 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 2: platform for manufacturers to develop their road car technologies, and 93 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 2: we're just, you know, expose their brand and racing and 94 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: there's there's no bigger and Lamar. Arguably you could say, 95 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: you know eighty five hundred and Lamar. Maybe you know 96 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: some of the Formula One races as well, but Lamar 97 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 2: is it's a special event and all the manufacturers want 98 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 2: to be here. 99 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: Bamber Dixon and you you've got any time for the 100 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: New Zealand side of the equation or do you all 101 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: stick in your own garage and own caravans. 102 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,559 Speaker 2: I'm just I'm just questioning if Scott's here, I haven't 103 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: seen him, but you might was he might maybe I'm 104 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 2: just thinking about it. I haven't seen him if he 105 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 2: was in the toon and when I raced against him. 106 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 2: But look, we were all friendly. I see it all 107 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: quite a bit. He's in the Cadillac. There used to 108 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: be more New Zealand drivers. It depends on the year, 109 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 2: you know, there's there's a few that come in and 110 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 2: out of endurance racing. But yeah, we're all definitely friendly. 111 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 2: We all know that we're finding the flag and we 112 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 2: all get. 113 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: On fantastic And what's what's your vibe given you've done it, 114 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: given you've won it, do you can you can you 115 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 1: get a feel for where you're at this year or 116 00:05:58,560 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: it'll just unfold. 117 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 2: That's that's the big question. And everyone keeps asking and 118 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 2: a lot of people ask about expectation that you can't 119 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 2: really ever expect anything. We've got a goal. We want 120 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 2: to win, that's that's no question on that. We we 121 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: missed out the last two years. We're fighting for victory 122 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: up until last hours where it's slipped away. That that 123 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 2: that that pain runs steep and everyone's very fired up 124 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: to go for victory. Not going to be easy. It's 125 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: a very tight field. We believe Ferrari might have a 126 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: slight advantage advantage, which is annoying. They've won the last 127 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 2: two years. Right behind them, it's pretty much everyone in 128 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: a tight pack. I think our teams are best at 129 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: executing races, and I'm lucky to have two incredible teammates, 130 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 2: so I'm positive we have a really good chance to 131 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 2: take victory. But there's a lot of things that we 132 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 2: have to do before we can even think about that. 133 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: That top step. 134 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 1: All right, mate, we'll go well, we'll be watching how 135 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: good to catch up to Brendan Hartley, who's with the 136 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: toy De Gazu Racing team and of course three time 137 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: winner of Lemon this weekend and on the motor racing 138 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: front if one in Canada this weekend as well. 139 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 2: For more from the My Asking Breakfast, listen live to 140 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 2: news talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow 141 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.