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WTCR - Course des Pays-Bas - Transcription de la conférence de presse - Course 3 (en anglais)

  • gb
19.05.19

2019 Race of Netherlands - Race 3 press conference transcript 

In attendance:
Thed Björk, Cyan Racing Lynk & Co, first position Race 3
Yann Ehrlacher, Cyan Performance Lynk & Co, second position, Race 3
Norbert Michelisz, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, third position, Race 3
Esteban Guerrieri, ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport, first position, Race 2

Q:
Thed, it’s been a busy weekend for you with not one, but two wins. Just explain your emotions right now.

TB:
To win two races after last week in Slovakia, first I was so surprised. But now even with everything happening the car feels so good here. If I can score the points when the car feels good I’m really happy. Let’s see how it goes at the Nürburgring, which is a change of track. For me, we were full on it and obviously it feels good to win races.

Q:
You are your team-mates have talked a lot about the work that has been put in by the team. Just give a summary of the effort behind the scenes since Slovakia.

TB:
The effort was shortened by just one week. Everybody was thinking and thinking, and then trying to solve why. Actually I think we need to go back and test at Slovakia to find out. But for me my car is always super-nice and then you can perform if the car is good.

Q:
Race 3 had a dramatic start. Just explain it from your perspective.

TB:
It was a good start from my side and Yann had a little bit less of a good start, so I had the better run – and then he wanted to win. I wanted to win, as do all other drivers, we realy want to win the races. We are team-mate and if he is first at the first corner I would not attack him or risk anything because we want the points for the championship, of course. But that was tight. I would have done the same so I would not say anything about it. The will to win is good to have as a race driver. It means you will have many successful years.

Q:
Yann, you have many years ahead of you and I know you disappointed right now, but just explain the start and the changing of position.

YE:
Yeah, I had not the best start of my career. We don’t know why actually. I’m struggling with power a little bit since the beginning of the weekend. That’s how it went, but the most important thing we have to keep in mind is it’s another one-two for Lynk & Co Cyan Racing even after, let’s say the change that happened after qualifying yesterday. We still proved that we can work and improve our car. We did another 1-2-3 in qualifying and a one-two in the race, so that’s the most important thing.

Q:
You look and sound disappointed to your normal self, but what can you take from this weekend in terms of your performance?

YE:
Maybe my normal self is too happy! No, I’m really happy. It’s a podium in the World Cup, you can’t be sad about this, there are much sadder things in the world. So I’m really pleased about this. Of course we are all in it for the win, but still the thing that makes me happy is it’s good points for Cyan Racing and Lynk & Co. For sure, we started from pole and ended up P2, which is not the best way to end the weekend, but it’s still better than a DNF or something like this. SO I’m really happy about scoring points and climbing back into the championship and I’m looking forward to the Nordschleife.

Q:
Esteban, a great performance in Race 2. Remind us all of your victory and your second win of 2019.

EG:
Yes, thank you very much. Congratulations to all the guys beside me. This weekend it wasn’t as easy as Thed’s week and Lynk & Co from our side, but we gave the fight there and we put in what was needed which was Qualifying 2, we put there a good time. Unfortunately for Néstor it was only four thousandths… it was him or me. It would have been better to be ninth and 10th, rather than 10 and 11. But sometimes you’ve got to be lucky and when you are lucky try to use this opportunity, which I did and I’m happy for that. Honestly, our performance is not top at the moment, but this is how it is in the championship. I think it is more important when you are a bit weak to try and perform the way we did and score the points. A good collection of points and overall quite a good weekend, I would say. Not easy track for me, Zandvoort. I’ve never had a good experience here. I mean, I like it, but I’ve always had bad results. So a win is means a lot to me.

Q:
And of course you now lead the #RoadToMalaysia?

EG:
Yes, I’m a bit worried like the guys were now that they promise not to play the game and swap the positions for the championship at Lynk & Co. From our side we are two at the moment at the front. We would like it of course if KCMG could join us in the pack so we can battle a little bit further with the other cars, the Hyundais and Lynk and Cos, whoever is up there. But we will give it a go, try to work hard and see where we end up.

Q:
And now to you, Norbi, another podium. But for a while you weren’t in that position. Explain what happened in the closing stages.

NM:
Yeah, first of all I have to say congratulations to the guys around me. Lynk & Co and Esteban have done an amazing job this weekend, and like you say it should be Augusto [Farfus] sitting up here instead of me. He would have deserved to be on the podium, but it was a decision made that I could overtake him. Of course if you are the lucky one you take the possibility, but in the end the only thing I can say is congrats to the team and thanks to Augusto.

Q:
We come next to the Nürburgring, one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar, Thed and Esteban, you have both won there. Just a word to explain the challenge ahead please.

TB:
It’s amazing when you go out and drive this track. When you turn off the GP circuit and on to the old circuit every time I do it, I think ‘am I allowed to do this? Can I go on this track as fast as I want?’ It’s a fantastic and amazing feeling, and I’m just as happy every time I turn on to the old circuit. But it is demanding and I have a lot of respect for it. I’m really looking forward to going there.

YE:
Just to come back on what Esteban says about swapping positions. It was a misunderstanding between the team and us, but actually Thed did the better start than me and he deserved to win. That’s why I let him go again. That’s it, end of the story.

EG:
On the Nürburgring, it’s about switching off my brain for the no-brain Esteban! It’s amazing. I look forward to going there, but some time in the simulator before would help.