Pirelli Paddock Pass: Dennis Lind

Dennis Lind had a successful first season as a Lamborghini factory driver playing no small part in helping Orange 1 FFF Racing Team score a number of GT World Challenge Europe titles.

Last week, his return to the Chinese-Italian team this year was confirmed, and he’ll have another season alongside Andrea Caldarelli and Marco Mapelli but this time stepping up to the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli.

In this week’s Pirelli Paddock Pass, the Danish driver looks back at his 2019 season and ahead at his exciting campaign ahead in the globe-trotting IGTC series.

What are your thoughts looking back on your 2019 season with FFF?

“When we started out in Monza, it was a very rainy race and I had a lot of nerves because it was my first very competitive race as a factory driver with Lambo. It was very exciting to do well.

“We had a lot of battles on track and got pushed off on the first lap, which was not ideal, but then we made a good recovery and managed to finish back in third at the time.

“That felt like a victory because it was the first race for the team in Europe and finishing top three in that series is quite impressive for a new team.

“We were just super consistent. I think we had a really strong season and the team did an amazing job, on the team side but also my teammates did a stellar job all year with the Sprint results and overall championship that speaks for itself.”

Unfortunately, you were forced to miss the Endurance Cup finale at Barcelona, preventing you from winning the title alongside your teammates, what was the reason?

“I was very ill at the time and for my actual health situation it was not safe to drive a race car. Not because I was not able to hold consciousness, but internally my body was not well.

“That was why I had to stay out from Barcelona, but I’m fully recovered now.

“We did testing all over winter to make sure I’m staying fit and healthy. It’s all looking on the up into another busy year for me.”

Are you excited for a new challenge by representing Lamborghini in IGTC?

“We get to see some pretty cool tracks and I’ve been to a few of them before. I’ve never been to Bathurst, so that’s going to be very big.

“Indianapolis is also going to be an experience, for sure. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be great.”

What are your expectations going into your first Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour?

“I think it’s one of those races where, on the first lap, you don’t know if you’re scared for your life or actually enjoying it. Going through the mountain section for the first time is going to be absolutely insane.

“Thinking about it visually, it’s like you’re on a street track using only fourth, fifth and sixth gear. That in itself is quite demanding.

“You don’t have any room to go off and that’s going to be a lot of fun and definitely one of those races I’m looking most forward to.

“It’s one of those tracks where you just want to perform and be good but you also have to respect it a lot.”

What have you been up to during the off-season to prepare?

“I did a little bit of military training to get back to grips with the body. I did some practice shooting with dummy shots, like BB guns, shooting each other.

“I was running around, doing strategic stuff with people who have been sent to Afghanistan and these kind of places. It was quite good and it keeps your mind going.

Your concentration level is quite high and you have to control your breathing a lot to be able to hit what you’re looking at. That was a good experience, a good challenge, for sure.”