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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Q&A With Tom Kimber-Smith
Three-time Le Mans class winner discusses new GT program in CORE autosport’s Porsche 911 GT3 RSR...
Tom Kimber-Smith has landed a prime drive in the American Le Mans Series with CORE autosport. (Photo: John Dagys)
The ALMS GT category got even stronger on Tuesday with the news that CORE autosport will field a customer Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the highly competitive category this year.
READ: CORE Expands to GT, Fields Porsche
While the car’s debut is not expected until the third round of the season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, drivers Patrick Long and Tom Kimber-Smith have plenty to look forward to, including helping the two-time and defending PC class champions come to grips in the production-based ranks.
SPEED.com caught up with three-time Le Mans class winner Kimber-Smith to get his thoughts his new deal that will see the Englishman compete full-time in the States.
Q: How did this opportunity come about with CORE?
KIMBER-SMITH: I was able to develop quite a good relationship last year with them. The reason why I went to CORE was purely through Alex [Popow]. I got to know Alex through Peter Baron. That's how the whole connection got started.
I've built up a very good relationship with [team manager] Morgan [Brady]. We have the same objectives and work in the same manner. They're a fantastic team and have an incredible workshop.
We kept in contact late last year and we both said we wanted to work together again in the future. But at that point, there were no deals to be done.
Around the week before Christmas and just after, I was pretty much stuck with no drives. Since the Dubai [24 Hours], I've signed with CORE, been offered WEC, ELMS and GRAND-AM drives. I've actually had to say no to quite a few things now. Just a few weeks ago, I would have been jumping at every single one of them!
Q: What are your expectations with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and also teaming with one of the most successful GT drivers in the business, Patrick Long?
KIMBER-SMITH: I've never driven the Porsche. The only GT2 experience I've got is with the Panoz. Trust me, if you could drive that thing, you could drive anything! That was a brutal car.
Since then, I've been doing some GT3 and GT4 races, along with prototypes of course. I've been told that the Porsche is quite different to drive. But having Patrick on board, I couldn't have asked for a better coach. I can learn a lot off him. I don't think there's anyone quicker than him.
That was a vital thing for me signing with CORE, with having Patrick as my co-driver. I think it sends out a clear definition of what the team is trying to achieve. They're learning and they want to win. That's what we're going to try and achieve this year.
Q: Are you looking forward to racing in America on a more full-time basis?
KIMBER-SMITH: Yes for sure. America is where I want to be. The European stuff is good fun but I think I enjoy the American lifestyle and the races much more.
If it all plans out really well, we'll consider moving my family over here. I know there's a busy period during the year, where we may have a long holiday here. But I really can't wait to get started.
Q: What are your goals for this year?
KIMBER-SMITH: For me, it's always to win. But I think we have to be realistic. If we won a race this year, it would be brilliant. As far as CORE autosport's concern, it will be about learning as much as possible and have a fairly successful year.
It's going to be quite hard for them as they'll be running the PC car alongside the GT program, which is a completely different way of preparing for the race. But CORE is such a fantastic team that I'm sure that if everything goes right, we'll have success in the GT this year.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
READ: CORE Expands to GT, Fields Porsche
While the car’s debut is not expected until the third round of the season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, drivers Patrick Long and Tom Kimber-Smith have plenty to look forward to, including helping the two-time and defending PC class champions come to grips in the production-based ranks.
SPEED.com caught up with three-time Le Mans class winner Kimber-Smith to get his thoughts his new deal that will see the Englishman compete full-time in the States.
Q: How did this opportunity come about with CORE?
KIMBER-SMITH: I was able to develop quite a good relationship last year with them. The reason why I went to CORE was purely through Alex [Popow]. I got to know Alex through Peter Baron. That's how the whole connection got started.
I've built up a very good relationship with [team manager] Morgan [Brady]. We have the same objectives and work in the same manner. They're a fantastic team and have an incredible workshop.
We kept in contact late last year and we both said we wanted to work together again in the future. But at that point, there were no deals to be done.
Around the week before Christmas and just after, I was pretty much stuck with no drives. Since the Dubai [24 Hours], I've signed with CORE, been offered WEC, ELMS and GRAND-AM drives. I've actually had to say no to quite a few things now. Just a few weeks ago, I would have been jumping at every single one of them!
Q: What are your expectations with the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and also teaming with one of the most successful GT drivers in the business, Patrick Long?
KIMBER-SMITH: I've never driven the Porsche. The only GT2 experience I've got is with the Panoz. Trust me, if you could drive that thing, you could drive anything! That was a brutal car.
Since then, I've been doing some GT3 and GT4 races, along with prototypes of course. I've been told that the Porsche is quite different to drive. But having Patrick on board, I couldn't have asked for a better coach. I can learn a lot off him. I don't think there's anyone quicker than him.
That was a vital thing for me signing with CORE, with having Patrick as my co-driver. I think it sends out a clear definition of what the team is trying to achieve. They're learning and they want to win. That's what we're going to try and achieve this year.
Q: Are you looking forward to racing in America on a more full-time basis?
KIMBER-SMITH: Yes for sure. America is where I want to be. The European stuff is good fun but I think I enjoy the American lifestyle and the races much more.
If it all plans out really well, we'll consider moving my family over here. I know there's a busy period during the year, where we may have a long holiday here. But I really can't wait to get started.
Q: What are your goals for this year?
KIMBER-SMITH: For me, it's always to win. But I think we have to be realistic. If we won a race this year, it would be brilliant. As far as CORE autosport's concern, it will be about learning as much as possible and have a fairly successful year.
It's going to be quite hard for them as they'll be running the PC car alongside the GT program, which is a completely different way of preparing for the race. But CORE is such a fantastic team that I'm sure that if everything goes right, we'll have success in the GT this year.
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Monterey
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