ETCC - P.Fulín: "I did my best and it wasn't enough"

01.05.17

ETCC - 2017 Race of Monza - Post-race press conference

ETCC, Touring Car, Race of Monza, motorsport, FIA

Present:
Petr Fulín, Křenek Motorsport, Race 1 winner, Race 2 third
Christjohannes Schreiber, Rikli Motorsport, Race 1 second, Race 2 winner
Peter Rikli, Rikli Motorsport, Race 1 third, Race 2 second

Q:
Two very exciting races. Obviously some penalties affected all of you but please talk us through your first win of the season in Race 1 Petr?

PF:
Of course the Hondas were faster but I am happy about the result from first race. To be honest I don't prefer penalty [deciding races], I don't understand why they use penalties. Really not a good weekend for me, not a good experience. I was fastest from SEAT but I had no chance for Honda and the penalties I don't understand.

Q:
Race 2 was almost a bit quiet for you. Was that the case?

PF:
Yes, I was frustrated. I did my best and it wasn't enough. Every time you try to push but [there's] no chance.

Q:
Having lost a win, you gained a win and you now lead the ETCC by three points. Is it a case of being happy and frustrated at the same time?

CS:
Right now I am just happy. Of course after Race 1 I was very frustrated, because I came out of the car and thought I had won in the ETCC, and then my brother told me I got a time penalty, but I’m still second. I won't complain about that.

Q:
You and your team-mate Peter Rikli were evenly matched in Race 2. Were you allowed to fight for position or were you under orders?

CS:
We had a go from the team that we can fight. Obviously we wouldn't shoot each other off, that was the fear from the beginning. There was no strategy or no number one and number two status from the beginning and that's how we behaved on track.

Q:
Turning to Peter Rikli, third in Race 1 and second in Race 2 but not the victory you thought you had only to lose through a penalty. Talk us through your emotions right now?

PR:
I was fighting in the first race, the tyres were not very good to the end but the penalties affected me the most. They were not given rightly and there should be a talk about that issue later on.

Q:
Although the track limits would ultimate have a major bearing on your start in Race 2, going from sixth to first was impressive stuff…

PR:
I didn't have any [other] choice to avoid a car in front, to avoid a crash. If you try to avoid a crash, you shouldn't get penalty. I’m not happy about that as well.