Q & A with Sainz and Stuck

Two-time World Rally champion Carlos Sainz and former sportscar world champion Hans-Joachim Stuck will share a new Volkswagen Scirocco in the Nurburgring 24 Hours with cross-country rally racers Giniel de Villiers and Dieter Depping this weekend.

Q. What is the special challenge of the Nurburgring 24 Hours?

Hans-Joachim Stuck: "At this long and extremely demanding race, the team as well as the drivers have to try and make no mistakes whatsoever. If this were the case, you would end up very far at the front, but the Nordschleife writes its own stories. Precisely this element of uncertainty makes this special event so attractive."

Carlos Sainz: "This is my first 24-hour race, so I'm really eager to see what's in store for me. In any event, it's a great challenge. My test run in the Volkswagen Golf at the four-hour race gave me a little taste of what it means to drive an endurance race on the Nurburgring.

"The 24 Hours is probably even more demanding. I'm pleased to have three strong, professional team colleagues - Hans, Giniel and Dieter - at my side. Hans in particular has such an incredible amount of experience."

Q. How important is experience on the 25km Nordschleife with 73 corners?

HJS: "Experience is an important key to success on the Nordschleife. There are many situations where you've got to overtake slower cars and you need to assure yourself twice that the guy in front has actually seen you and will let you pass. It's better to wait a few turns than having to pit with a damaged car."

CS: "I did have a good opportunity to get to know the Nurburgring in the four-hour race. It's a difficult circuit and the Nordschleife is a real driving challenge. I also think that overtaking manoeuvres are a key factor in the race."

Q. Carlos, you've already driven a four-hour race in a VW Golf. How well did you manage switching from the rally track to the Nordschleife?

CS: "I adjusted from the Race Touareg to the circuit quickly. After all, I used to do some circuit racing at the beginning of my motorsport career and tried to bring back these experiences into my mind. The endurance race went well, however, in traffic it's fairly difficult to find a free lap. This is something I've got to get used to."

Q. How are you preparing for the 24 Hours?

CS: "Actually, I prepared in the same way I normally do for a cross-country rally. I've been following my normal training programme because I want to be in good physical shape. In addition, I reeled off numerous laps on the Nordschleife to memorise the circuit well. I believe I'm well prepared."

Q. Hans, what motivates you to take the wheel yourself again at the 24 Hours?

HJS: "I really enjoy my new job with Volkswagen, so from December to February I thought that driving wouldn't entice me anymore. But when the tests started, I was again infected with the racing virus.

"We tested a few days ago and there's simply nothing better in life than sitting in a racing car in the morning in beautiful weather and working together with great people."

Q. What goals have you set for yourselves?

HJS: "I'm shooting to finish the race with all three Sciroccos, if at all possible, and will try and win the the SP3T class. In the overall classification, a lot is possible."

CS: "I want to cross the finish line and am hoping for a race without major problems, but it will probably not be easy. At such an endurance event, many things happen for which you cannot prepare in advance."

Q. You're sharing the racing car with two other drivers, what role does teamwork play in this race?

HJS: "It's a crucial factor. The four drivers sharing a car need to get on well with each other. If the chemistry in the team is good, everyone can do a superb job. If the drivers are of a similar calibre, that's an advantage - so there's no excessive internal competition. For this race, you need drivers who are cool, calm and collected, drivers who know that you can't win anything here on a single lap."

CS: "Teamwork not only concerns the drivers, though, but the entire squad, because you can win or lose a lot of time at the pits. A perfect organisation is extremely important for a good result. So, it's a good feeling to know that that the professional team of Volkswagen is behind you."

Q. There will be some 200,000 spectators lining the circuit, do you notice this huge audience from the cockpit?

HJS: "Absolutely. You see the many spectators around the Ring, the many campers and tents. Particularly at night you take in a lot of this flair as a driver. After all, it never really gets dark along the Nordschleife, there's always a wedge of light from the many fires in the vicinity of the race track.

"Usually, the smell of the barbecues wafts through the cockpit, as well, and really makes you feel hungry. It's a terrific atmosphere."

CS: "For me, all of this is new. But I can imagine that it's similar to a special stage attended by a large crowd, and that I've always noticed as well. The course of the Nurburgring does resemble a special stage to some extent, because the spectators are relatively close to the action."

Q. Hans, in 1970 you won the inaugural Nurburgring 24 Hours, and you also won in 1998 and 2004. How has the event changed over the past 38 years?

HJS: "Since the 1970s the circuit has been repeatedly extended and modified, many run-off areas have been added, corners widened, in winter they always repair the tarmac at some places. But the race itself has actually changed very little since then. True, today there are more contenders, but the 24 Hours continues to be a popular festival for the fans and offers hands-on motorsport."