“Sometimes things turn out differently from what you thought and this is exactly what happened”, was Mike Jäger’s first comment regarding his new engagement for the 2013 VLN season. As a surprise, the man from Kaiserslautern/ Germany will now finally take part in all the races of the season and this moreover in a really exotic race car, the Ferrari 458 Endurance, the sister car of the “Tin Tag-Ferrari”.
“Until quite recently, I had assumed that I would participate in only a few races in the 2013 season. Even though I had some very interesting discussions during winter regarding the 2013 season, I was not able to enter into any agreements at that time due to a combination of a job changeover and a necessary surgery on the right ankle joint,” informs Jäger on his previous plans for the season.
During a winter training organised by the European Speed Club GT Corse, team manager Danny Pfeil then proposed him to participate in the VLN in a Ferrari 458. “He told me that I had the heart, the talent, the right human mind and that I would perfectly fit into his team”, remembers Jäger. Just in line with the famous advertising slogan: “Trying to say no is impossible”, the decision was virtually taken. And when the scheduled surgery was finally cancelled, nothing prevented him from accepting the engagement. “Danny and I quickly agreed that the team, the Ferrari and the personal coaching by Pierre Kaffer would be a perfect package for my further development in racing”, explains Jäger who is really delighted about the programme. And Danny Pfeil, too, is happy about the engagement: “I know Mike since our ice camps in Austria and we have always been in contact.” Pfeil confirms that the man from Kaiserslauter/ Germany indeed has potential: “Mike has collected the necessary experience during the last years and he should be ready for a change and racing in a GT.”
The team manager is convinced that Jäger with his character will represent the team and its spirit in an excellent way. Pfeil is equally enthusiastic about the race car: “The Ferrari was continuously further developed during the last months. In addition to an aerodynamic update, the suspension of the car was also optimized.
Beginning of March, Mike Jäger will for the first time drive the Ferrari 458 Endurance during a test session and receive first advice and tips from Pierre Kaffer. “I am so much looking forward to this event, because everyone who knows me is also aware that I have always been a Ferraristi in the bottom of my heart”, says Jäger. The official VLN test and set-up session will take place on 16th of March. Only one week later, the 2013 season with the Ferrari will then start for Mike Jäger. The complete driver team with Jäger in the Ferrari race car has not yet been communicated. Mike Jäger and Christian Kohlhaas have been confirmed. “The third driver might be a former DTM driver but we are currently still in negotiations with him”, says Pfeil.
