In contrast to the palpable buzz surrounding the Porsche LMP1 team’s hospitality in the Silverstone paddock, the scene over at factory-supported GTE outfit Dempsey-Proton Racing was one of relative tranquillity. Richard Lietz likes it that way, this most understated of champions preferring to go about his work with the minimum fuss and attention.
The Austrian has become an intrinsic part of Porsche’s GT programme over the past decade, with three class victories at Le Mans to his name, but it was in 2015 that Lietz finally achieved the accolade every driver dreams of – becoming a World Champion.
“The championship is really special because I know how hard we worked for it,” said Lietz, the first driver to break Ferrari’s stranglehold on the FIA World Endurance Championship GT Drivers title. “After three years, it was not something that was handed to us as a present, we really had to fight for it. We also had the speed to win races, and it is nice to know that you are not just able to win if the others make mistakes.”
Though tainted slightly by not winning the title with regular co-driver Michael Christensen, who missed the Spa 6 Hours to cover for Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy at Laguna Seca, Lietz found enormous gratification by prevailing over old rivals Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander, two drivers he holds in the highest regard.
“It was really nice to fight against them because even before the WEC there was the ILMC and Le Mans Series, where we raced basically against the same guys and the same team,” Lietz reflects. “They have always been strong competitors and we have a very high respect for each other because it’s always been fair with them. That makes the championship more special for me and the team.”
With Porsche diverting their resources to a new car coming in 2017, there was some doubt over whether Lietz would be able to defend his title this season, but a semi-works deal put together with Christian Ried and Patrick Dempsey meant that it could come to reality.
“I know the team from the LMS years with Marc Lieb and they are fantastic people, but as a group we have to grow together,” he said. “To do really well in the championship you maybe need more years, but we have a car working really well, so everything is possible. If we could get the championship or close to fighting for the championship, it would be amazing.”
James Newbold
