James Walker has spoken of his optimism ahead of his return to the
Daytona 24 Hours, the opening round of the newly-merged United SportsCar
Championship. The Jerseyman, who last raced around the fabled
banking in a Porsche in 2011, joins Fall-Line Motorsports in the GTD class,
racing an Audi R8 LMS alongside the factory-contracted Oliver Jarvis.
"It was really good, it was a bit last minute, I found out on
Christmas Day actually, so that was a nice present," said Walker at the
Autosport International. "The test was interesting, the car was
completely new to me, it was a bit up in the air with the regulations for the
new Tudor Championship but the Audi GTD is fantastic, quite difficult to drive,
there's no ABS and no traction control. I'm very impressed with the
team, Fall-Line are very well run, they've got a two car team in the
Continental series as well, so it's an impressive set-up.
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| Walker will campaign this Fall-Line Motorsports Audi R8 LMS at Daytona in the competitive GTD class. |
"We had two days of really cold temperatures, hopefully it
won't be like that when we go back for the race but it could be in the dark. It
was very productive, the feeling in the paddock is really good with that new
merger between the ALMS and Grand-Am, the timing is really good to go back, to
be there at the start of something is great.
"We hadn't really seen each other since 2006 when we
did Formula 3 together, but I got on well with [Jarvis] really well, his
experience in that car is really valuable and my pace against him was good, so
hopefully we'll keep improving for the race, but it’s going to be tough, the
Porsche's and Ferrari's around the banking are looking very, very quick."
Walker's deal is for the one race only, but is hopeful that
further opportunities will come in the future, either in the US or in the World
Endurance Championship, having proven his adaptability with a win first-time
out in the WEC season-opener alongside Antonio Pizzonia and Tor Graves in the
G-Drive Oreca at Silverstone last year.
"I'd love to carry on, at the moment it’s just a one race
thing, but my main aim is just to get to know everyone, do a good job and if
there's an opportunity there then hopefully my name will be on the list.
"Stepping straight in having never driven it, my first time
on slicks was actually halfway through the race, it was straight in the deep
end but I'm getting to like these situations because people realise you're up
against it, so when you perform well it works in your favour.
"The deal wasn't including Le Mans where they had paying
drivers, but I did the test there and then we had a fourth place at the Circuit
of the Americas. We also had a few reliability issues which cost us massively;
we were looking really good in Brazil but then we had misfires. It was a tough
one, but the championship is top notch and I want to be back in WEC next
year either in P2 or GT. We're working flat out to try and get a seat so
we'll see what happens."
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