2014 FIA WEC LMGTE AM Drivers Champion Kristian Poulsen returned to endurance racing with GMB Motorsport after a gap of seven years and is one race away from becoming the 2022 Michelin Le Mans Cup Drivers’ champion with fellow Dane Kasper Jensen.
With an advantage of 17 points over their teammates Jens Moller and Gustav Birch, the no55 Honda NSX GT3 just has to take the chequered flag on Sunday morning for Poulsen and Jensen to win the title after GMB Motorsport secured the team title, and the automatic entry for the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans, in Belgium last month.
We spoke to Kristian Poulsen about his season with GMB Motorsport and what the strategy is for this weekend with regards to the championship.
Q: What have been the season highlights for you so far?
Kristian Poulsen: “This season has been fine and it’s nice to be back after seven years with a new Danish team. We're leading the championship, so, yes, it's been really fun.”
Q: You have 17-point advantage and just need to finish the race to take the drivers title with Kasper. Will this affect the way you approach the race on Sunday morning?
KP: “I think want to do it like the other races, do the best we can and hope for the best. It’s been a bit strange with this championship this year because most of the time when the bronze drivers are in the cars there seem to be a lot of safety cars and then there's not much racing. So, hopefully, we get our dream race here for the last race and all drivers can have some track time.”
Q: GMB Motorsport have already secured the team title and the automatic invitation to Le Mans next year.In the development of the team, how important is this championship title?
KP: “It’s really important, it’s the whole reason why it was started, to get to Le Mans as a Danish team with Danish drivers.It was really, really important and, with that, we succeeded.”
Q: You've already raced at, and won, the 24 Hours of Le Mans with an all Danish team in 2014. You've got a lot of experience with that track.
KP: “It’s been a while, 2014 was a long time ago.I was there in 2012 and 2013, also with a Danish team and it's always nice with all the Danish fans and the support that we get from a small country like Denmark.So, it's really nice.”
Q: Portimão is a very challenging circuit, what are your thoughts on the track and what is your favourite corner (or corners)?
KP: “I like the whole circuit, it’s really fun to drive. Last time I was here was in 2009, so it's been a while but it's really fun to drive and is one of my favourites.
“There are a lot of up and downs, blind angles and high-speed corners. You have to be careful with the traffic, especially with LMP Cars that are so much faster than us. So, I think if you can stay out of trouble and you'll be fine here.”
