Interview with Gottfried Kadach

Team Owner of KADACH Racing

International Porsche Motor sports for 20 years Via internet

 

NSA: For over 20 years you have been successful in international motor sports. You have accomplished more than any other team owner. What is the secret to your success?

 

GK: The fascination of high performance technology of motor sports is my absolute passion along with the competition in top level racing with one of the best developed GT race cars in the world: the Porsche GT3 Cup. The philosophy of the Porsche Supercup is: motor racing with powerful, identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars where absolutely equal technical and sporting regulations are applied. The championship is acknowledged to be the most competitive and at the same time the fairest challenges drivers and teams can face.  To win under these conditions really proves your abilities and enthusiasm.

 

NSA: Looking back over the past 20 years how has international motor sports changed and what impact does the sport have today?

 

GK: For example, about 20 years ago nobody in motor sports paid attention to environmental pollution because of the exhaust fumes. Or, the safety aspect was considerably low compared to today’s safety regulations. In those days, the top aim of the car constructors was the merit on all means.

Today, the awareness of the public is one very important aspect and is considered in different areas of motor sports. The safety of the driver, the spectators and the pit crews is the main subject. From the point of view of car technology and new materials, the constructors focus very much on the development of low exhaust cars with aerodynamic advantages which they test in these racing series before it is applied in serial production of street cars. The Porsche Supercup provides a unique platform for Porsche sports cars to make them so outstanding compared to their competitors.

 

 

NSA: How different is the training today for the drivers than it was in the 70th and 80th?

 

GK: Nowadays, the physical and spiritual fitness of the driver is decisive for winning or defeating in any class of top motor sports. Porsche Supercup drivers are professional race drivers with many years of racing experience in international racing series. When I started with my racing team, most of the drivers have been rich men who provided the necessary budget out of their own pocket. Those drivers have no chances any more in this absolutely top professional racing series. With today’s 997 GT3 Cup cars, the driver, the car and the team have to form a one-hundred-percent unit.

 

NSA: Please tell our readers how you got involved in the world of motor sports and when did you realize what your calling was?

 

GK: Already in elementary school I was enthusiastic about car technology and motor sports. Consequently I focused my professional education and career on the aim to get involved. When I was around twenty, I was offered to become a member of the motor sports division of a big German Porsche dealer who cooperated at that time with the Porsche motor sports division in Weissach. Throughout several years I gathered racing experience on all international race tracks throughout Europe. For example, I was the personal engineer of Jacky Ickx.

 

NSA: How do you choose your drivers? What are the requirements and conditions to become part of your team and are there any restrictions?

 

GK: Generally we make a first selection by evaluating the driver’s career. They normally start racing when they are ten to fourteen and proceed in Karting followed by Formula series. The final selection is done in a personal viewing when the invited drivers do test runs on an identical car under identical conditions. It is essential that the drivers have good technical understanding and have a special sense for the car set-up. The natural and self-confident appearance is one more criteria for the choice of the team drivers.

 

NSA: How do you prepare your team to be the most successful racing team? How long is the preparation time?

 

GK: Preparation and development never stops. Every year we start the racing season with brand new cars. Each year there are several model upgrades. Consequently, we as a team have to be up to date with our technical equipment, too. For example, the Porsche Supercup is the only racing series worldwide that uses PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes) brakes. These high performance brakes require specific technical knowledge as well as many other features regarding set-up, tire performance in conjunction with track conditions, etc.  Before the season starts and throughout the season we do permanent testing while the drivers, the engineers and the general crew train for winning performance.

 

NSA: What are you goals for 2008? How many races will your team participate in?

 

GK: Of course to win the championship – the drivers and team championship! We will do all the races in the Porsche Supercup championship schedule and as much testing on the Grand Prix race tracks as possible. We plan to do the testing previous to the Porsche Supercup races in order to have the necessary race data available in advance. This is not always easy, as Grand Prix tracks are very booked and we have to try to do the testing as close as possible to the race date to have the most similar weather, temperature and daytime conditions as possible.

 

NSA: Being a business man and driver preparing for the races around the world, how do you find enough time to spend with your family?

 

GK: I am very lucky, my wife gives me all necessary support. My two kids like to watch me on TV and follow all races most attentive. Once or twice a year they come and see me at the race track. They like it very much in Monaco.

 

NSA: Are you involved in other businesses outside racing?

 

GK: Besides motor sports I have a sports car tuning, repair and service business.

 

NSA: How do you spend your off season?

 

GK: Motor racing as well. After the season is before season. Generally we have to look for sponsor partners. We overdo the team design according to the sponsor requirements and prepare the technical equipment. We are top equipped. However, winter time is a little more relaxed, except if we manage to come back to the US to do the 24 h of Daytona, or Sebring!.

 

NSA: What is the most dangerous situation you have ever been in? Did it have an impact on how you see life today?

 

GK: For the moment I only remember Indianapolis 2002 or 2003. During the pit stop the car was lowered too early and all my fingers of my left hand got stuck between the wheel and the bumper. There was only a glimpse of a moment for the car to leave and I would have lost all my fingers on this hand. The most important rule is: be always and at any time attentive, team work and people training is extremely evident.

 

NSA: Which is your most favorable racing site?

 

GK: Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium – it is technically demanding and very, very quick. L’eau-rouge is one of the best known and extraordinary turns of all worldwide Grand Prix tracks.

 

NSA: When you look back the past 20 years, anything you would change if you had the chance?

 

GK: Several times our racing ambitions have been embarrassed by unserious sponsoring partners. I have learned the hard way that any deal only counts when the agreed money is on the team account. This maxim I should have started to consider much earlier in my racing business.

 

NSA: What holds the future for the Kadach Racing Team?

 

GK: No other team within the Porsche Supercup has done so many years in a row and has had so much success. I want to continue in order to gather a lead that no other racing team can catch for the next century, similar to Michael Schumacher in Formula One.

 

No Strings Attached wishes you all the success for your up coming season in 2008 and we appreciate that you took the time to answer all of our questions and hope to meet up with you at some racing site.

 

By Beatrice Davis