Win at Hockenheimring season finale
Jeffrey Schmidt, Hockenheim expert. Once again, the Swiss Lechner Huber Racing driver showed his class on his favourite track and notched up his second win of the season in the first race. Schmidt has already finished on the podium six times in a row at the Hockenheimring, and three wins now make Jeffrey Schmidt’s relationship with his home circuit extra special. The Swiss driver again turned in a faultless performance at the season finale in the Porsche Carrera Cup. After an impressive victory in the first race, Schmidt was forced out of the second race by the actions of another driver.
Jeffrey, everything went like clockwork on Saturday. Terrific start, strong pace and victory in the race. How does that make you feel?
I lined up in third place on the grid, got away to a great start and immediately overtook the two race leaders on the outside on the first lap while running through the hairpin. This was a brilliant manoeuvre, really on the limit, but I pulled it off. I subsequently controlled the race from the front to secure the win. It was, of course, especially nice, since a lot of guests and sponsors were at the track. It meant a lot to me, being able to celebrate the win with them. I took my seventh podium place in a row and will remember the 15th of October as one of the best days of my life ever.
You made an equally strong start to Sunday’s race but retired on only the second lap. What happened?
My goal for the second race was again quite clear, to win. I was one of the fastest there and quickly realised that only me and Sven Müller had fresh tyres. We both got away very well off the line, and I again overtook him on the outside. There was then a contact on the approach to the hairpin on the second lap that had major consequences for me. I spun at 270 km/h as a result and went into the crash barriers. The other driver was totally out of order in his actions and way over the top. The whole right side of my car was totalled. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the ending I’d hoped for, which made me feel very sorry for all those who came to cheer me on.
How do you personally rate your season in the 2016 Porsche Carrera Cup?
We’ve shown that we’re very fast. I was on pole three times, secured two wins and achieved five podiums. Unfortunately, though, I was fairly unlucky this year. I was involved in a lot of crashes that were not my fault, which resulted in a DNF each time. I was also plagued by bad luck. In spite of all that, I finished fourth in the championship, which shows just how fast we could have been but for the retirements.
Following on from the Hockenheimring, you’re now off over the pond to Austin. How do you expect to do in the Supercup season finale?
More than anything, I expect to take each of the two races as they come and go all-out on the offensive in both of them, since I’m not in contention for the Supercup championship, unfortunately. Still, the last two races of the season are always something special. I will definitely do my best to round off the Supercup season with a decent result.
