By Tarek Ramchani
Joonas Lappalainen is one of the eighteen full season drivers in the newly formed Audi Sport TT Cup. The young talented driver from Finland had an impressive debut with new behind the wheel of his #45 Audi TT racer nt the opening round at Hockenheim.
We were pleased to have an interview with Joonas Lappalainen. A very interesting Q/A about his 2015 season in the Audi Sport TT Cup and more.
You can follow Joonas Lappanainen news and updates on his official Facebook page and his official Twitter account.
This is part 2 of the interview. Part 1 is here.
What about the idea of doing selected endurance races with the Audi R8 LMS ultra?
Doing selected endurance races with the R8 LMS ultra would be awesome if I got the chance to do it: it has been my dream to get to drive in endurance races like 24h of Nurburgring, 24h of Spa, 12h of Bathurst.
Looking at Audi's full factory racing in FIA WEC/Le Mans and DTM, which one do you prefer?
This is a hard question, as both the WEC and DTM Audis are extremely strong. If I had the chance to choose between these two great options, I would go for the WEC. I see the WEC as the coolest and most developed racing series there is now, sorry F1. The multi-class racing is very interesting and requires much more mental strength and the processing of the current situation from the drivers. Also, the LMP1 cars are getting faster and faster, and the field for the class is also growing by every year and I believe the races will be even more interesting in the future.
On the other hand, If I would get the chance to drive the DTM rather, I would be thrilled to race there too, as the cars are extremely fast and the series is known for its competitiveness: one day you might win, the next you might be fighting at the back, as it depends on so small factors and the fact that the pack is very closely matched.
Who is your favourite driver?
My favorite driver is André Lotterer. After I saw him perform at Le Mans in 2013 and 2014, I could not just do anything else but admire him. Not only is he one of the fastest drivers out there, the way he pushes himself to new heights every single lap even though he might know the track wholly, is just amazing. Also, he has the right amount of aggression while driving, which senses that he is there to win.
What is your favourite racing circuit?
9. No doubt in this question, Spa-Francorchamps. Simply said, it is a wonderful track with fast corners, long straights and rapid elevation changes, everything a racing driver wants from a track.
What are your targets for the near future in motorsport?
I am aiming to become a professional racing car driver in the next few years. At the moment, I could not think about a better place to be than the Audi Sport TT Cup, as Audi offer successful drivers a chance in the higher ranks in motorsport. My aim is to rise through the TT Cup to the next level and then see where it will take me.
Photo credit: Audi Media
