Matt Howson, KCMG - LMP2 Vice Champion
“The early part of the season was hard work getting the new car (ORECA 05) sorted out and working through a lot of data. It was really exciting to have Nick Tandy and Nico Lapierre in the team because I knew I would learn a lot about them.
“Obviously Le Mans was as magical as it gets. Pole and the win was very special and I will remember it for the rest of my life.
“There was another other real great moment during the season though. It was at the Nurburgring, which came after what we achieved at Le Mans. We weren’t really expecting to do too much at because of the nature of the circuit and it not suiting us. We said before we arrived at Le Mans that if we do well here then we will go on to win the title.
“Nick (Tandy) did an epic lap in qualifying and I was feeling good in the car. The race wasn’t easy because it was very hot that weekend. Nick got a good lead but then fell back as the tyres fell away a bit.
“When I got in the car we were behind the No.26 G-Drive Ligier. I remember thinking this isn’t going to be easy as I was about 10 seconds behind Rusinov. I just settled in and got into the groove. I ate away at his lead and caught him, before putting a nice move on him at turn one. I then was able to make a gap to him before Richard (Bradley) and then Nick again brought it home. Nick was very complimentary about Richard and me afterwards, and that means a lot coming from a driver like him.
“We won the race that we really weren’t meant to win and, at that stage after Le Mans, the momentum we had was brilliant for the rest of the year. As things transpired it wasn’t meant to be in terms of the title, but that two month period from Le Mans to Nurburgring was very, very special.”
John Dagys, Founder and Editor of Sportscar365.com
"As one of the few US-based motorsports journalists covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, this year’s 6 Hours of Fuji stood out to me the most, personally, in seeing Patrick Long and Patrick Dempsey become the first American drivers to win in the championship.
"It came after a hard-fought, mixed-condition race that no doubt suited their Porsche 911 RSR. But it also told a story of overcoming adversity, particularly for Dempsey, who had a few spins early in the race and had to bring the car to the checkered flag. Talk about pressure.
"While the WEC has generated an immense amount of global interest, particularly in America as of late, it’s rewarding to see drivers from your country triumph on the world’s stage, while up against the best of the best of endurance racing. That’s what makes it a magical moment."
