Race engineer of VeM #90 has high expectations for the remainder of the season
Success in simracing is not only about the drivers on track. Speed and consistency help for sure, but ambitious teams all have someone on their pitwall who can help drivers on track, either with fuel and tyres strategy or by giving them some informations about traffic and other cars’ laptimes. VeM #90 is no exception to this and today we are happy to hear from Davide Carè, who follows VeM’s drivers in every race here and on e-Racing Series. The team has performed very well in the first part of the championship, collecting two podiums and now sitting in third place in the LMGTE standings with 34 points. However, Davide says sky is the limit for his drivers and has a clear goal for the next rounds: a race win.
Hello Davide, and welcome to this interview. After three races VeM is in third position in the LMGTE standings, behind Wave Freem and Pescara ADG. Is this surprising to you or were you expecting these results coming into the season?
«Thanks for inviting me! I’ll tell you, that’s surprising just in a small part, because even though you didn’t expect to be in a position, you need to fight to keep going there! So I was surprised by my drivers, they showed they can be fast, but we still need to improve!»
VeM got its first point in the 8 Hours of Suzuka (P10), then two consecutive podiums. What is the team’s objective for the season?
«Maybe it’s like aiming to the infinite sky, but we’re workin’ really hard for achieving better results! And what’s better than a podium? Exactly! A victory, and still, what’s more important than a victory? I mean, hard work is fine, but without an important goal, we can’t go on, so we’ll do our best to win a race!»
VeM is sitting in P3 in LMGTE standings after finishing P10 in Suzuka and collecting two podiums in Watkins Glen (P2) and Road America (P3)
Next race is the 12 Hours of Daytona. Up until now one of the strengths of VeM seems to be teamwork, as every driver in the lineup has been involved and has raced very well. With longer events coming towards the end of the season, do you consider this an advantage?
«Teamwork is as important as fuel for an engine, you can have either a good or bad teamwork which changes your result, but it’s of course clear that if you don’t have a teamwork, you won’t get anything! I’ll say I always loved long races, they can show you’re not just a team but also a group of friends, time flies when you have fun, doesn’t it? So yay! That’s an advantage!»
Starting from Round 2, you and VeM have been involved in EES on Assetto Corsa Competizione as well. Is the approach to events the same on both simulators or are there any differences?
«The only difference is the simulator itself, and of course the line up! Exactly like in rFactor 2, we have the same goal, same dreams, and same will to give our best, as max as we can».
Four drivers lineup for VeM: Salvatore Battaglia, Mattia Crupi, Gennaro Deiulis and Andrea Zampini all got some driving time in the first three races
As a race engineer following your drivers’ races has become easier and easier with live streamings, timings and so on. If you could choose, what would be your dream feature in order to be able to have even more control from outside the track?
«There’s just one thing I’d love to have in the future. I wish I could have had the possibility to join as a spectator during the events. My personal idea is to provide an extra place in the server for just one pit wall. Since 2017 this has been my only request, maybe one day I’ll be able to get it!
On a side: that’s something connected to the sim itself, there’s a reason why it didn’t happen obviously, but you know, dreams are contagious!»
Davide, we thank you for your time and wish your team good luck for the 12 Hours of Daytona and the remainder of the season!
«It was a pleasure, I’m so glad you invited me, thank you so much! See you on track!»