Adrian Fernandez: “We Are at Full Throttle Most if The Time so This is A Very Fast Track”
Jun 11, 2007
Adrian Fernandez
Adrian Fernandez will be making his first career start in the world’s most famous endurance race this Saturday – the 75th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fernandez, alongside teammates Haruki Kurosawa of Japan and Robbie Kerr of England, will pilot the Barazi Epsilon-entered #33 Zytek 07S/2 sportscar sponsored by Lowe’s in LMP2 class competition. The field of 55 cars will take the green flag at 3:00 pm local time (9:00 am ET) following a week of activities leading up to the prestigious event.
A successful outing in official pre-race testing saw the #33 Zytek machine at the top of the time sheets with Fernandez posting a lap [3:39.016] that was two seconds quicker than last year’s pole time, a lap eventually matched by the team’s sister car – the #32 entry driven by Michael Vergers. While Fernandez acknowledges that a variety of factors can affect victory in an endurance race, he is cautiously optimistic heading into this weekend’s race following the team’s efforts to date.
Of Note:
Fernandez will be the first Mexican driver in over a decade to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The last was Tomas Lopez in 1991. The last Le Mans win by a Mexican driver was Pedro Rodriguez, one of Fernandez’s heroes, in 1968. Fernandez’s first-ever auto race was the 24 Hours of Mexico in 1981; he last competed in a 24-hour endurance race in 2006, at the 24 Hours of Daytona, where an overheating problem retired the #12 Lowe’s entry at the eight-hour mark. Fernandez is hoping to one day bring his Acura-powered Lowe’s Fernandez Racing team and co-driver Luis Diaz to Le Mans and is using the opportunity to partner with Zytek this year as a learning experience. Lowe’s Fernandez Racing’s Tom Anderson [co-owner and managing director], Steve Miller [general manager] and John Hennek [engineer] were present at the Le Mans pre-race test and will also be attending the race. The #33 Zytek LMP2 07S/2 sportscar is powered by a Zytek 3.4-liter V-8 engine and is run on Michelin tires. Haruki Kurosawa [Ha-roo-key Cur-o-sow-a], 29, from Shizuoka, Japan, had his best finish in two starts at Le Mans in 2004 with a 12th-place result; he has spent the last two years competing in the European Le Mans Series. Robbie Kerr, 27, from Burbage, Leicestershire, England, will be making his Le Mans debut; the former British F3 champion most recently represented his country in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport ranks. Lowe’s Fernandez Racing currently competes in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) with Fernandez and Diaz piloting the #15 Lowe’s Acura Lola to two top-four finishes to date including a second-place run in the 12 Hours of Sebring.
24 Hours of Le Mans Schedule of Events – All Times Local:
Monday, June 11th 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm Sporting Checks and Scrutineering
Tuesday, June 12th 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Sporting Checks and Scrutineering
#33 Entry scheduled for 11:40 am
Wednesday, June 13th 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm 1st Qualifying Practice Session
10:00 pm - 12:00 am 1st Qualifying Practice Session
Thursday, June 14th 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm 2nd Qualifying Practice Session
10:00 pm - 12:00 am 2nd Qualifying Practice Session
Friday, June 15th 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Drivers Parade (City Centre)
Saturday, June 16th 9:00 am - 9:45 am Warm Up
2:22 pm Pre-Race Activities
3:00 pm Start of the 75th 24 Hours of Le Mans
Adrian Fernandez on Le Mans:
What is it like to drive the Le Mans Circuit? “It is just an unbelievable experience. We are going over 200+ mph on public roads in some parts. It is just fantastic and I absolutely love driving it. We are at full throttle most of the time so this is a very fast track. It is also very challenging. If you make one small mistake, you pay big. There are not many race tracks in the world that are as fast as this one and that’s what makes it so special. When I went on the track for the first time, it was on a bicycle and I felt like I went back in time. You can feel the history here. The first time I left the pits, I actually had goose bumps. To drive here is just a tremendous experience.
What are your thoughts on the race? “With the line-up we have with Haruki and Robbie and the Zytek package, I’m very excited about our chances in the race. I think we have everything we need going in and if we take care of the car, I think we can win. I have really been impressed by Zytek; they have done a great job. Our goal in competing at Le Mans this year was to learn everything we could to bring Lowe’s Fernandez Racing here and we are accomplishing that with the help of Zytek. This is one of the most impressive events that I have ever prepared for.
About Fernandez:
Adrian Fernandez, 44, of Mexico City, Mexico, now residing in Scottsdale, Ariz., has enjoyed a professional racing career that spans over 20 years. He is a veteran of a 12-year career at the top levels of open-wheel racing, winning in both Champ Car and IndyCar Series competition with a career record that includes 194 starts, 11 wins and 25 podiums. Fernandez branched out to select NASCAR Busch Series races beginning in 2005 with Team Lowe’s Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, and sports car competition in 2006 with Lowe’s Fernandez Racing. His achievements have resulted in numerous awards including “Athlete of the Year” in Mexico, and he was recognized as one of the 300 most influential people in his homeland by a national magazine in July of 2006.
About the 24 Hours of Le Mans:
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s most famous sports car endurance race. Sanctioned by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (A. C.O. ), the event is held near Le Mans, France, at the Circuit de la Sarthe – an 8.4-mile track which partially utilizes local roads that are open to the public during the year.
About the Zytek Group:
Founded in 1982 to develop and manufacture innovative electronic technologies for auto racing, the Banbury, England-based Zytek Group has grown to comprise five companies – Zytek Systems, Zytek Engineering Engine Technology, Zytek Engineering Vehicle Technology, Zytek Electric Vehicles and MZ Technologies. After purchasing chassis manufacturer Reynard in 2002, Zytek now offers complete packages including chassis, engine, electronics and wiring to a variety of motorsports formulas. It is currently the sole provider of engines for the Formula 3000 series, the exclusive engine and EGS (electrically-operated gearshift system) supplier for the A1 Grand Prix Series and the EGS supplier to all three Acura-powered teams in ALMS competition.
About Lowe’s:
With fiscal year 2006 sales of $46.9 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 13 million customers a week at more than 1,375 home improvement stores in 49 states. Based in Mooresville, NC, the 60-year-old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. Lowe’s announced in January of this year plans to expand into Mexico and open three to five stores in Monterrey in 2009. The company is currently on track with plans to open six to 10 stores in the greater Toronto, Ontario, Canada area beginning in the fall of 2007.
About Lowe’s Fernandez Racing:
Lowe’s Fernandez Racing enters its first season of ALMS competition in 2007 as one of three Acura-powered LMP2 class teams. Driving talents Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz, both of Mexico City, Mexico, will campaign the #15 Lowe’s Acura Lola prototype in the series’ 12 rounds of competition. Lowe’s, the second largest home improvement retailer in the world, has enjoyed much success in the motorsports arena including the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Championship with Jimmie Johnson. Fernandez Racing was formed in the fall of 2000 by Fernandez and motorsports veteran Tom Anderson. The team has won in every racing category it has contested including Champ Car, IndyCar Series and Grand Am competition.
