AMG GT3 Driver Kenton Koch Checks in with MB World
MB World: This is your second time running in the Rolex 24, albeit in a different class. Moving up, do you feel that your experience winning in 2016 will have you better prepared mentally than other young drivers in a similar position?
Kenton Koch: Just having done the race is extremely beneficial. Just understanding the levels of intensity during certain parts of the race. This race is a living animal that starts off aggressive and transitions into calm. By the end, most are trying to make it to the end and others are flat out battling for the win.
How does the AMG GT compare to other sports cars you’ve raced?
Definitely nothing like any sports car I’ve driven. This car produces a lot of downforce and can brake at or similar to some of the prototypes. For a 3,000-pound car to do that goes to show how capable these cars are.
Racing drivers, like all athletes, are notoriously superstitious. Do you think that fielding a car with a unique, eye-catching paint scheme gives you an extra edge?
I’m not entirely all that superstitious. I think it’s more or less just a cool-looking car. I do have a good luck charm zip-tied to the roll bar in the car though. Gumby has always been in my race car since 2014.
Are there any race-day rituals that you perform to mentally prepare yourself?
All I like to do is make sure I am well-prepped for the stint. Small things like making sure I am well rested and well fed. Having energy is key to having focus.
Speaking of that incredible paint scheme, do racing drivers collect models of cars they’ve raced? We know that MB World will be tracking this one down as soon as someone makes it available…
Not mine, but we should!
We wish Koch and his team, P1 Motorsports, the best of luck this weekend. Koch — and the silver and purple chupacabra Mercedes-AMG GT3 — will be exciting to watch on the high banks, long straights, and tight corners of Daytona.
The race begins at 2:40 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 27. Catch the race on TV on Fox beginning at 2 p.m. EST, moving to Fox Sports 2 at 5 p.m. EST. Coverage will then move intermittently between Fox Sports Go and Fox Sports 1. Check your local listings for details.
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