Schmitz: I want to do my best and I pray for the rain

Sabine Schmitz made motorsport history when she became the first female driver to score points in the current era of the FIA World Touring Car Championship at her home track, the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, last May.

Having relished the experience, the BBC Top Gear presenter is back for another crack at the WTCC, once again driving an ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1.

This is what she had to say ahead of WTCC Race of Germany from 26-28 May.

You’re back for WTCC Race of Germany, what do you think you can achieve?

“Difficult to say! I try to do my best like always. The last race last year was so much fun. Tenth place overall was not the best result but I was very happy with that and I could go faster with every stint I did. Hopefully there is something left in my brakes because the Porsche is such a different car to drive compared to the Chevrolet. I want to do my best and I pray for the rain.”

It’s going to be a very busy weekend for you with your filming and 24h-Rennen commitments, which means you will miss Testing and Free Practice 1?

“Yes, it’s a disaster I know! For sure I am a little bit worried but they tell me they want me in the team so I’m back, no problem! It’s like it is. I can’t change anything. We have a very necessary studio shot to do for Top Gear and I can’t say I am not there so I will miss that.”

You said you were crazy to be going up against the guys again without much more experience than before – are you completely cool with that?

“Sure! I like the car. It’s really difficult to drive because it’s so soft and you need a special set-up. But the set-up is never right because the track is so long and so difficult to drive. But I think a soft set-up is always good to have a lot of traction. I saw when I had the fight with Jaap van Lagen last year I remember I had a little better traction out of the corners and I work on that so it can be a little bit more.”

Why do you keep saying you want it to rain?

“When it’s wet I have really good results even when I have been driving on hard tyres. I have a very good feeling for the track in the wet. Last weekend in the Porsche GT3-R I started 22nd and I managed to go to fourth place. In the rain I am always very competitive.”