Thed Björk, Luca Filippi, Gábor Kismarty-Lechner, Norbert Michelisz and Attila Tassi attended the digital pre-match press conference for WTCR Bustle of Hungary. A transcript follows.
Press Convention Room, Hungaroring, October 16, 2020
In attendance:
Thed Björk, Cyan Performance Lynk & Co
Luca Filippi, Team Mulsanne
Gábor Kismarty-Lechner, Zengő Motorsport
Norbert Michelisz, BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Squadra Corse
Attila Tassi, ALL-INKL.DE Münnich Motorsport
Q:
Turning first to Luca Filippi, you’re competing in the WTCR for the main time this season, doing many of the rounds as a wildcard. What’s it adore to be driving for Team Mulsanne in the WTCR?
LF:
It feels huge, obviously it’s an favorable sequence. I’ve been following this category since I changed into a baby. Ok, it changed into no longer the same sequence nonetheless I be conscious the season finale at Monza with these autos shifting into the main chicane and to search these fights. From my facet I had this likelihood and it’s very spirited for me to bustle with Team Mulsanne by Romeo Ferraris, the fellows are an favorable neighborhood and they work very effectively together. Pointless to claim, it changed into quite a final-minute programme nonetheless it and not using a doubt changed into an favorable various. The first weekend we didn’t contain so worthy preparation, we couldn’t even test the automobile nonetheless I maintain already final weekend in Slovakia we confirmed we would possibly possibly place effectively together so I’m in fact taking a sight forward to this weekend.
Q:
I imagine you take a sight forward to this weekend for this reason of you and not using a doubt know the Hungaroring unlike the reasonably a few circuits on the calendar. Can you expose us quite bit about your ride round right here?
LF:
Evidently it’s the very first time that I’m in a position to bustle at a be conscious the assign I contain raced earlier than, even with a entrance-wheel-power automobile, which changed into final year in TCR Europe. I’m in fact taking a sight forward to it. In GP2 I had a few podium finishes and in Auto GP I obtained a few events right here and I know very effectively this characteristic. It’s very subtle. You are going to even just contain got to search out an genuine rhythm for sector two for this reason of every nook needs quite a rhythm and a float and whereas you omit once an apex then you and not using a doubt atomize your sector except the tip of it. It is best to quiet be very centered, in particular the following day after we don’t know the intention the stipulations are going to be, nonetheless we have got to be on top of it.
Q:
You are going to even just contain got an agile automobile that’s also light. How will it create this weekend?
LF:
After loads of weekends the performance of the autos will almost definitely be very even for this weekend. From my point of investigate cross-check any one will almost definitely be on top after qualifying. The object goes to be to optimise the region-up all over free apply and in fact place our preferrred in qualifying. From my facet we are in a position to also very effectively be very swiftly nonetheless we are in a position to’t omit any single hundredth of a tenth of a second, it’s going to be crucial the following day.
Q:
Turning subsequent to Thed Björk, a driver with plenty of ride in World Touring Car racing. You had a worldly weekend in Slovakia nonetheless you come right here 20 kilograms lighter and with 10 millimetres reasonably a few on your trip height. How worthy difference is that going to place?
TB:
The massive thing changed into the trip height, that can place a difference and optimistically we’ll be back combating with the others for this reason of in Slovakia we didn’t in fact feel adore we would possibly possibly fight. For of us that’re no longer doing that then there’s no point nonetheless if we are in a position to also very effectively be there to fight then that’s the appropriate thing. Many autos, many drivers are literally swiftly and appropriate right here. It’s going to be huge so that you can fight.
Q:
You want this circuit don’t you?
TB:
I adore this circuit. I contain so many appropriate histories from Hungary. I be conscious one time I drove System 3000 right here in 2002 and they took me and Tomáš Enge for a doping test. It went effectively for me nonetheless no longer for Enge. That changed into an ride. Then all over again after I changed into flying house from Hungaroring I obtained the special VIP treatment to head house as swiftly as that it is doubtless you’ll maintain of for this reason of my son arrived after I changed into in the plane. There are plenty of appropriate emotions right here in Hungary.
Q:
As Luca touched on it’s no longer straightforward to assign an genuine lap together. Can you expose us what it is that makes it so subtle?
TB:
Luca changed into appropriate relating to the rhythm. You wish an genuine rhythm for this reason of nearly all corners of the be conscious are connected and whereas you omit one you are long previous later. Salvage your rhythm in and salvage the grip for the explanation that be conscious has some swiftly entries nonetheless also some uninteresting corners so you will want the combo of an genuine automobile to handle all these items.
Q:
The climate stipulations are taking a sight temperamental for the following day nonetheless mainly dry on Sunday. How worthy difference will that place for the weekend?
TB:
Perhaps the chillier climate will place the racing even more fun to sight for this reason of right here’s a laborious be conscious on tyres and generally we warfare with understeer. When it’s less warm the tyres will almost definitely be greater making it more straightforward to fight all around the whole bustle. So doubtlessly this would possibly possibly occasionally be an genuine thing, though it’s chilly outside.
Q:
In Slovakia you went for reasonably a conservative tyre want with wet tyres all round. What changed into the cause of this and what are you able to learn from it for this weekend?
TB:
Don’t place it over again! It changed into standing in the back there and I didn’t contain the automobile to fight with so I believed let’s strive to place that. Nevertheless then it dried potential too swiftly. What I realized for the following time changed into to head with the approach of the others after which strive to beat the others for this reason of I adore when it’s subtle stipulations. So, for me, it would were greater to contain long previous with four slicks. Nevertheless for me we wished to contain interaction of enterprise concerned with the assign we were starting up on the grid.
Q:
Turning subsequent to Gábor Kismarty-Lechner, right here is obviously your characteristic circuit, you’re very experienced round this be conscious so how worthy is that going to descend on your favour this weekend?
GKL:
I contain plenty of ride right here in Hungaroring, I contain many podiums in reasonably a few categories. Nevertheless this weekend I’m incandescent sure that I will not be any longer going to study with the rostrum. Nevertheless on the reasonably a few hand, it’s one of essentially the most incandescent circuits in all of the world. Perhaps no longer essentially the most incandescent nonetheless the fans are the appropriate in all of the world. This weekend we are in a position to omit the fans, this would possibly possibly very effectively be something reasonably a few for everyone for this reason of it’s a loud be conscious generally. These guys are the appropriate from in all locations the world and it’s no longer straightforward to compete with them nonetheless I strive to be sooner and sooner after which we are in a position to seem.
Q:
Invent you and not using a doubt feel equivalent to you’ve in fact realized the brand new CUPRA now?
GKL:
The brand new CUPRA in all fairness reasonably a few to the feeble one. I felt reasonably confident with the feeble one nonetheless now we have got something new. On one hand it’s reasonably appropriate for this reason of it’s an awfully swiftly automobile and we are in a position to seem Mikel [Azona] is doing a huge job in the crew nonetheless I’m quiet in a discovering out part. Also, we have got the brand new Goodyear tyre starting up from this year. We’d like to learn that as effectively nonetheless there are many issues to learn and I strive to increase.
Q:
From Olivér Kováts, Braking News Motorsport (Hungary) to Gábor Kismarty-Lechner: Forty-three will not be any longer a conventional age to debut in the WTCR. In an interview given to us, your crew boss Zoltán Zengő explained that you will almost definitely be participating in a project which vows to expose that the world will not be any longer only for the 20s. Practically on the halfway point of the season, place you maintain this mission is a hit?
GKL:
On one hand it’s a hit for this reason of I salvage pleasure from every second spent in the WTCR world, that’s useless to claim. On the reasonably a few hand, these are the appropriate drivers on this planet and it’s no longer straightforward with them. Nevertheless it and not using a doubt’s never too leisurely to expose to the world that whereas you are going to even just contain a dream, then it’s an genuine message. I’ve had this dream since 20 years, after I started racing with Zengő Motorsport, and in the end it comes. I’m just prone nearly about 44 in a few weeks nonetheless I’m right here, I power a top automobile with a top crew and top drivers so that changed into my dream and it came upright?
Q:
From Olivér Kováts, Braking News Motorsport (Hungary) to Gábor Kismarty-Lechner: What’s the preferrred lesson which racing in WTCR has given you so some distance?
GKL:
It’s subtle. The preferrred lesson is we favor to learn plenty. If we in fact feel we are appropriate in a single point it’s no longer as appropriate as WTCR requires so we favor to learn plenty, we favor to analyse the whole records. That is the greater part we have got to seem after and we have got to proceed this implies. On the reasonably a few hand, we have got a young proficient driver in our crew, Bence Boldizs, who I’m sure in the atomize will almost definitely be on the rostrum, I’m incandescent sure for this reason of he’s an awfully swiftly guy. And we have got Mikel [Azcona] in our crew who did an awfully appropriate job in Slovakia Ring and I’m incandescent sure he’ll fight for podiums right here.
Q:
Turning to Norbert Michelisz, final year you obtained the DHL Pole Dilemma nonetheless it and not using a doubt changed into reasonably a frustrating bustle for this reason of your crew-mate, Gabriele Tarquini, in fact took the decide. This weekend you are very light and clearly extremely experienced round this circuit so I exhaust you’ve come into this weekend feeling reasonably sure?
NM:
Yeah I did for this reason of final day out in Slovakia we were reasonably competitive and coming to my house circuit I’m constantly confident of an genuine result. I in fact feel we made huge improvements compared to the start of the season and on this be conscious we prepare to create effectively. Pondering the compensation weight misfortune, I maintain we have got appropriate cards nonetheless the climate in all fairness subtle to foretell and this would possibly possibly very effectively be more or less the same the following day so in the tip we are quiet reasonably some distance from being in a assign to utter we are in a position to be in Q3 or having two appropriate qualifying and two appropriate races. In the tip I know the circuit so even though it’s wet or if it’s dry I maintain we have got appropriate card in our hands.
Q:
You are going to even just contain got the most effective thing about having scoot right here in all events of stipulations whereas a few of our reasonably a few drivers obtained’t contain?
NM:
Actually it changed into reasonably potential back. My first bustle changed into in 2006 after I started my profession. My second bustle changed into already a wet-climate bustle. Since they resurfaced the circuit in 2016 everyone designate of started from scratch and I don’t in fact maintain I did worthy more mileage round right here than the others. Many of the conceitedness comes from me in fact having the feeling of driving at house and brilliant the circuit since 15 years. On a stage adore this honestly it’s no longer a huge advantage.
Q:
In most cases this weekend is the loudest weekend and no longer thanks to the autos. It’s this form of disgrace we are in a position to’t salvage pleasure from the fans and the atmosphere that we would possibly possibly generally contain right here. What message place you are going to even just contain for the spectators who will absolute confidence be looking at now and all around the weekend on TV?
NM:
It changed into designate of a rollercoaster. We started the year with having a bustle back house and me being the defending champion. Already I changed into in fact taking a sight forward to that. Then we had the unhappy records of doubtlessly the bustle no longer going to occur. Nevertheless to be very apt with you after I obtained the records that we would possibly possibly contain the Hungaroring incorporated in the final version of the calendar I changed into extremely entirely happy. I also favor to expose you it’s a bit gripping no longer to be having of us already gathering on a Friday. Positively it’s a bit reasonably a few compared to outdated years. Evidently this would possibly possibly just no longer be the same. With out the fans the house bustle will not be any longer going to be the same. Nevertheless my message is to motivate us, to motivate Attika, we have got plenty of Hungarian involvement this year in the championship. Now we favor to outlive this year nonetheless optimistically most in style subsequent year plenty of you will almost definitely be in the grandstands. Nevertheless please motivate us now on this match for this reason of it makes a huge difference.
Q:
How worthy further impetus and energy does the noise from the crew give you? Or is there a part that it’s a bit calmer for you?
NM:
It’s so gripping for this reason of on a protracted-established weekend right here driving the automobile you don’t hear what’s coming from the grandstands. Nevertheless when you come on the start/place straight all over a bustle you just look the of us, even whereas you look straight forward. Nevertheless you realise you are at house and it’s a crazy and it takes you up except Flip 12 to set up down and focal point on the be conscious nook by nook and it begins in all locations over again. For me the preferrred difference is being outside the automobile. Even whereas you are having an interior briefing you hear the of us with the horns and though the bustle is two hours forward you originate to in fact feel pressured for this reason of you are realising what’s earlier than you. It’s a bit more subtle than on a protracted-established bustle weekend for this reason of it’s a bit more stress nonetheless excitement as effectively. Nevertheless I contain stumbled on it gives me momentum and I will omit that this weekend.
Q:
Is that the same for you Attika?
AT:
I be conscious in 2017 racing with Norbi and passing alongside the main straight in qualifying after we were no longer combating with others once almost immediately it is doubtless you’ll hear the spectators, which is huge even when the automobile is extremely loud and likewise you are going to even just contain the earplugs in. It’s favorable. Not any reasonably a few racetrack has the same spectators than we have got. Ok, mainly they’re right here for Norbi for this reason of he’s the one who brought Hungary on the intention nonetheless we have got four of us this year and I’m hoping we are in a position to place the fans proud even adore this on the displays.
Q:
You had huge podiums in Belgium and Germany nonetheless a worldly Slovakia. You’ve dropped 20 kilograms for right here so what difference will that place?
AT:
It’s obviously an genuine motivate nonetheless we have got to search. CUPRA changed into very swiftly in Slovakia nonetheless I’m sure Honda and ALL-INKL will place the utmost we are in a position to. Optimistically I’m in fact planning to fight for a podium for this reason of that’s my aim for the weekend even without the of us in the grandstand. We are in a position to be pushing laborious and we are in a position to seem how the rankings are after qualifying.
Q:
You come right here armed with plenty of recordsdata after Bebu [Girolami] obtained right here twice final year for Honda. How can that can allow you to?
AT:
We all know from the outdated two years for this reason of Honda obtained races in each years even when it changed into dry and when it changed into wet or damp. I’m confident if the climate will almost definitely be wet or dry the Honda will suit the be conscious. It’s only a topic of how we are in a position to prepare and if it’s half of dry or half of wet in fact this would possibly possibly very effectively be of enterprise love it changed into in Bustle 1 in Slovakia. We hope for the appropriate nonetheless for me it doesn’t topic if it’s rain or dry.
MORE RESOURCES
Newsfeed: Requests to vianney_castillo@discovery.com or Lena_Trupin@discovery.com
Driver quotes and transcripts: Available on request by emailing media@fiawtcr.com.
Describe gallery (excessive-resolution, rights-free pictures), press originate archive, driver profiles, statistics, Q&As and more: https://www.fiawtcr.com/media/register/
0 Comments