Danielle Crespo: I've seen your name so many times over the years I've followed racing, so, is there any type of racing you haven't done?
Guy Cosmo: I've driven a lot over the years, mostly in the sports car ranks. I've never raced in PWC but there really aren't too many series or classes that I haven't raced in, and I'm excited for this weekend. It's especially grown into a really strong series and since they adopted the GT3 format, it's exploded - everybody's here running some really cool cars. It's great to be here and get my first taste of it.
DC: Are you experienced in the Audi R8 at all?
GC: Not at all - I've never raced an Audi before. I love driving the car, it's got a lot of really strong characteristics to it. Most of those are all very good, can't really say anything about it that doesn't perform well. It's a different feel from some of the other GT3 cars that I've driven, but every car has it's own set of characteristics - it's a welcome change.
DC: You've driven the circuit a few times before.
GC: Yes - 2013 in the ALMS, and have done a lot of testing here for our Challenge cars.
DC: In the R8, which turns or sectors do you think it’s strongest in?
GC: The car seems to be really good under braking. In the really tight corners and twisty stuff - well, it's hard for me to tell because this last session was really the first time we were strong, so now we just need to get around other cars and see our gains or disadvantages on others. For the time being, it feels like the car produces really good aero - good medium and high speeds. As with any racecar, one adjustment will put you in and out of that window. We're experimenting, making changes to see how the car responds so that I can understand it better with different variables.
DC: So you've got a lot of data to go over!
GC: It's a lot to absorb! The other aspect of that is that you just do what you can. I try to research how these race weekends go for these teams, but until you show up and do it, you don't really know. As far as I've never done a standing start before, I have no idea how disastrous the first lap is for everybody because you're struggling on essentially cold tires compared to a rolling start.
I don't know the race strategy for it yet, trying to guess with that - fortunately there are two races so if I don't do well in Race 1 I can try and do better in Race 2. It's a lot to take in but at the same time you can only do what you can handle. For never having tested in this car with the intent of racing, and never having driven the Audi before, we're just going to do as best as we can.
DC: I've heard drivers say when they go from endurance to sprint format, the feel selfish - do you feel that way?
GC: Yeah! It feels great - I've driven with some really great teammates, with some beginner teammates, gentlemen drivers and guys who were coming up with little experience, and I've given with some really great guys that I'm learning from. Here, where there's no one else to worry about but you, it’s relieving. We've been busy enough but I haven't been lonely or worrying about what a teammate might think about any changes to the car. You miss out on that aspect with a single car team, so we have no point of reference which is strange, but what's refreshing about that is that it really focuses you to rely on self-improvement. We have to self-analyze and figure out if I could do better in certain sections of the track, where would it be and what would I want to do? It forces you to think differently than when you have other drivers to rely on. It's a great group of guys.
It will be strange to start and finish the race at almost the same time - I haven't done a sprint race on my own for about 12 years - since 2002 when I was in the Star Mazda Championship.
DC :Was the PWC weekend a last-minute arrangement?
GC:Yes – a week before, Walt Bowlin said he's not doing the race, but since it's local for the team to come down and do it.
DC: Of all the races you've been doing over your career, what's your favorite?