WTCR – Streak 3 Press conference Transcript

FIA WTCR Streak of Malaysia

WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup provided by OSCARO 2019

Deciding rounds 28-30 of 30, Sepang Global Circuit, 12-15 December

Press Convention Room, Sepang Global Circuit, 15 December

In attendance:

Norbert Michelisz, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, WTCR / OSCARO title winner

Johan Kristoffersson, SLR Volkswagen, first spot

Mikel Azcona, PWR Racing, second spot

Kevin Ceccon, Group Mulsanne, third spot

Esteban Guerrieri, ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport, first spot, Streak 2

Q:

Johan, you’ve right gained a WTCR walk from P22 on the grid. Correct display veil the vogue you did it and the blueprint intense it used to be.

JK:

I didn’t seek files from it, to be right, so that that you must strive in opposition to again for a podium like I did in Streak 2 as a result of instances had been shapely fixed and every person used to be discovering their line and their rhythm. I expected it to be a cramped bit extra tricky, nevertheless we did some changes on the automotive between the races and the automotive used to be working very, very effectively. We made the upright tyre alternative. I had a titanic first lap. First of all a real commence and then I managed to force my blueprint up to P3 already on the first lap. So there used to be a range of overtaking there, nevertheless the observe within the rain is with out a doubt tremendous and wide and that you can exhaust a range of assorted strains. So within the finish after I came shut to [Mikel] Azcona towards the finish of the walk I didn’t appreciate to hunch him too early as a result of I knew he would appreciate a real slipstream and he used to be also very, very hasty. Then the safety automotive came out and we ran out of laps, so I tried to fabricate a circulate as hasty as imaginable and from there on it used to be a cramped bit tricky being on their own out entrance without a reference or a driver to question. It used to be a cramped bit tricky, on the opposite hand it used to be right head down and focussing 100 per cent. The final couple of laps had been attention-grabbing, I with out a doubt appreciate to say, as even Ceccon used to be placing stress on us. I used to be no longer sure I could perhaps maybe be ready to expend except the final corner. It’s so straight forward to fabricate a mistake and walk wide, and drivers can on the encourage of yow will discover a line that might perhaps maybe furthermore even be one second sooner in a number of corners. So that you with out a doubt appreciate to strive in opposition to the total blueprint and after the walk I felt shapely exhausted having needed to dwell centered for 2 races in a row.

Q:

Let’s turn subsequent to Norbert Michelisz. We are going to be in a position to now say it is seemingly you’ll perhaps maybe perhaps effectively be the winner of the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup provided by OSCARO for 2019. Congratulations! There are clearly a range of emotions, nevertheless what a heavenly achievement.

NM:

First of all, I could perhaps maybe honestly like to congratulate Esteban [Guerrieri] as a result of his performances in Streak 2 and Streak 3 on the fresh time had been unbelievably solid. It used to be a with out a doubt difficult strive in opposition to, we had been going flat out. I maintain he had some technical concerns. So did I, to be right. Before Streak 3 it regarded like I wouldn’t even commence the walk. Nonetheless within the finish with the automotive working at 90 per cent I managed to make the commence – and within the finish it’s staunch. I honestly don’t know what to say, it’s right a giant support after a long season. We didn’t commence off very staunch, nevertheless the second half of the season made up for that. In the finish a hit a number of races nevertheless extra importantly taking the championship is one thing I’ve been hoping for a number of years now. It’s shapely difficult to portray the total feelings going by my physique now. Nonetheless the supreme thing is to say a giant thanks to my household, to the group and the total Hungarian of us which had been supporting me for a cramped bit bigger than 10 years now. A cramped bit bigger than 10 years ago I used to be gentle taking half in pc video games and hoping to commence a talented profession. In the finish I managed to make that, and no longer completely that a hit here that for me is the supreme touring automotive championship. So a giant thanks to each person. I don’t appreciate to commence asserting names in case I go someone out, on the opposite hand it is a long way correct staunch.

Q:

It’s been a dramatic day, on condition that you had been in a gravel entice in Streak 2. What took spot there and on the foundation of Streak 3?

NM:

In Streak 2, to be right visibility used to be very rotten. I also used to be in a tough spot as a result of with the parts gap the completely thing I needed to manual sure of used to be no longer to make the walk, and within the finish I used to be potentially a cramped bit to cautious within the starting. Then I had cars flying all round me, coming from left and upright and then I went straight on below braking at Flip 9. It used to be a cramped bit wretched nevertheless I gentle managed to recover some areas and climb encourage to eighth, which used to be most well-known for the championship. I gentle managed to preserve a gap as a result of I gentle wasn’t sure of within the final couple of laps in Streak 2. There used to be a outlandish vibration. Then going to the grid for Streak 3 I went paunchy throttle and the automotive used to be right no longer accelerating. I honestly belief that it used to be over. Rolling to the grid the automotive went off so I maintain I used to be quite fortunate even to procure to my starting spot for the reason that guys needed to push me there and then gentle restarting the automotive it used to be most regularly on three cylinders, two cylinders – I don’t know what took spot. Then I used to be fortunate ample on the foundation of the formation lap so that that you must reset every little thing. If truth be told starting Streak 3 I could perhaps maybe no longer appreciate wager a range of cash that I could perhaps maybe be sitting here in entrance of you and celebrating the title. It used to be right up and down, by a long way the longest day of my life. I couldn’t sleep yesterday evening as I believed about the three races. And it used to be like a rollercoaster as a result of Streak 1 used to be quite staunch, a hit the walk, I felt I had the arrogance and the rhythm. Nonetheless in Streak 2 issues didn’t with out a doubt come my blueprint, nevertheless what issues is now we managed to preserve out what we with out a doubt wanted and within the finish it’s time to rejoice.

Q:

Esteban, a heavenly day. You had a giant shriek to procure encourage into the title walk and then you definately had that expend in Streak 2 and in Streak 3 regarded on the verge of being champion. What took spot to you available?

EG:

First of all, congratulations to this man here. I know him very effectively, he’s a with out a doubt tremendous man and as hasty a driver as a real particular person he’s. I’m with out a doubt tickled for him. It used to be a excellent strive in opposition to and I’ve with out a doubt enjoyed the total one year, to be right. At the fresh time… used to be right life, I am elated to be sitting here so that that you must strive in opposition to for a world championship, so I am right grateful to life for this. Then the total leisure of if right eventualities. Azcona hit me within the encourage and threw me on the grass and I had a radiator paunchy of grass, so I needed to pit to expend it out. I gave it every little thing, right enjoyed so worthy driving this weekend below these instances. Till the final lap of Streak 3 I right enjoyed it so worthy. I’m elated to appreciate had this likelihood tonight. Clearly I am a cramped bit sad no longer to appreciate gained the championship, nevertheless there might be always revenge.

Q:

Mikel, you make the season as high rookie and this used to be a comeback after a tough Macau. Correct display veil Streak 3 and your podium.

MA:

Thanks very worthy and congratulations to Norbert. First of all, I’m with out a doubt sorry for Esteban, what’s took spot, I didn’t need this make, for sure. At the same time, he used to be battling for the championship, nevertheless I had Kristoffersson on the encourage of me, so I needed to battle for my rookie championship. It’s my first one year and I don’t appreciate to lose. I didn’t need this intention, it wasn’t on cause, I didn’t rupture into him on cause. I make no longer like this intention, I am sorry Esteban and I’m in a position to no longer say one thing else extra. In the assorted case I’m with out a doubt tickled for my spot. I did six podiums in my first one year and and with the PWR group we did amazing work. So we completed fifth within the championship, I am very tickled, I’ve realized loads, let’s ogle what’s going down subsequent one year. Thanks very worthy.

Q:

Kevin, podiums preserve coming for you in these final races of the season and another one on the fresh time after very staunch force. Correct display veil your walk please.

KC:

The walk used to be difficult, the instances had been difficult, we didn’t know what to make with the automotive. Nonetheless I maintain we did a real job. I with out a doubt appreciate nothing to bitch about. I with out a doubt had been within the WTCR collection for one one year and a half of and I dedicate the total podiums to my group. There had been 5 this one year plus the one at Suzuka and that you can mutter if that used to be one or no longer! Nonetheless this time I must be selfish as a result of I maintain I with out a doubt appreciate proved I am hasty in ever intention and I with out a doubt appreciate now scored podiums in rain, within the dry and in slippery and altering instances. I maintain I must be within the WTCR subsequent season.

Q:

Eventually, encourage to Johan. You’ve had an staunch rookie season and you’ve performed effectively coming from World Rallycross to expend WTCR by storm. Nonetheless what’s the long walk for you? We’d admire to explore you encourage here subsequent one year.

JK:

It’s a tough question and it’s silly season, so we’ll ogle how it goes. There’s nothing sure, so let’s revel within the evening and rejoice Norbi. We are going to be in a position to discuss subsequent one year after New Year. It’s been a titanic journey being here. I’d appreciate favored to be high rookie, nevertheless Azcona used to be a cramped bit too solid and started the season. He drove brilliantly on the fresh time and on the finish I knew we would strive in opposition to for the parts. So I’m very tickled to make that excessive up within the championship. Clearly I could perhaps maybe appreciate favored to strive in opposition to with Esteban and Norbi for the championship, on the opposite hand it used to be no longer my one year for that this one year. Nonetheless let’s ogle about subsequent one year. As Esteban says there might be always revenge. I’d like to expend the choice to thank each person in WTCR. It used to be a titanic season and every little thing round it used to be working dazzling. Somewhat loads of very, very staunch drivers and gifted teams, so I used to be tickled to be here.