Present:
José María López, Citroën Total WTCC, race one first position, race two second position
Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total WTCC, race one second position
Yvan Muller, Citroën Total WTCC, race one third position, race two first position
Tiago Monteiro, Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team, race two third position
Norbert Michelisz, Zengő Motorsport, race one Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy winner
Mehdi Bennani, Sébastien Loeb Racing, race two Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy winner
Sabine Schmitz, ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport, top national driver

Q:
Congratulations on winning a sensational second race. What was that final lap like inside the car?

YM:
It was not only the last lap but every lap of the race! When we start the last lap I did a small mistake on the Grand Prix Circuit so I said ‘slow down, keep some margin’. Anyway nobody would overtake in the Nordschleife. Our strategy was to go very light on downforce and that’s why the car was very difficult to drive on sector three and four particularly. But the car was very fast on the straight. But on the last lap with the old tyres the car was more complicated so I just did what I needed to win. Even the last corner there was some spot of rain on my screen so I didn't take the risk and brake very early, probably a bit too early but it was enough to win.

Q:
Tiago Monteiro was on your tail for most of the race but it was your team-mate José María López who was right with you crossing the line. Was it a shock when you saw him in your mirrors?

YM:
No, no because I could see him on the previous lap where he was. I knew our strategy with the downforce was there and we knew if we could keep the contact with the car ahead of us on the last corner before the straight we had a big chance to overtake. I knew it would be tricky for the Hondas to keep their second and third place.

Q:
It was amazing to watch that second race, particularly the final lap, but I guess you were slightly frustrated not to have held second or even challenged for the win?

TM:
Exactly. I did a good start and I was very confident on the Nordschleife. I was able to push quite hard with a very good balance, the best balance I have had this weekend. I had the confidence to push and it got much better through the race so I was really happy about that. Of course in the first race on the long straight Yvan passed and I realised the gap with the top speed was more than I expected. I had low wings and he also had low wings but in the end it was a big difference. After that I kept pushing because I could see he was a bit nervous and made one or two small mistakes. You have to be there and you have to put the pressure on and be there until the end. So many things can happen here at the Nordschleife. I really pushed hard and was only focused on Yvan. Behind me and my team-mate I could see some Citroëns behind, they were catching up but I was just focused on second place, maybe third place. When I saw Pechito passing my team-mate on the straight line I was a bit far away and thought I would be okay but he was impressive, really caught us and passed me quite easily before the braking. That’s the way it is. It’s not new. We know what our weaknesses are and what our strong points are and we keep working on that. There’s nothing else we can do. We have a very good balance here and can be proud of the work we have done in that area but we keep working on all the others. But the Nordschleife is great and I really enjoyed myself and hopefully we gave a good show.

Q:
The second race was obviously a lot better for you than the first race, what actually happened to you in that race – we didn’t see much of you?

TM:
We made a good start, especially the first braking was great and I gained a few places there. I was in the pack and, unfortunately, I don’t know if Valente got hit or something but went sideways and hit my front-left wheel and I lost four or fives places there. But we went for it and then in the end I saw in my data I was losing pressure in the front left so maybe I had a puncture or something. At the end of the first lap that confirmed it, my tyre blew up and that was it. It’s a racing incident probably but it was frustrating because we lost some points.

Q:
Turning to Sébastien, a podium for you in the first race. How did everything go from your side?

SL:
The first race was okay. I had quite a good start and could take the second place from the first corner. I tried to push behind Pechito who was in front but I couldn’t reduce the gap. I got quite close but he was a little bit faster like he was from the start of the weekend. After one lap I decided to push for sure but not take big risks and I finished second, which was not bad.

Q:
You’ve obviously had a lot of fun in your career, particularly in rallying and now also in racing but could this be one of the best moment so far given how amazing this circuit is?

SL:
For sure the sensation in the car is amazing compared to some of the other races. Sometimes we are just flying! I was close behind Pechito and saw his car flying in some places. It’s a big sensation, especially when you are the car in front because you fight with someone at very high speed, it’s bumpy, it’s jumping, it’s very nice.

Q:
There’s just point between you and Yvan in the battle for second place in the championship. What do you think about that?

SL:
Yeah it’s very close now. I didn’t have a good second race. I had a good start but I had the choice to go to the grass or to brake and go behind the cars. I lost one place, I don’t know exactly. I pushed all the race and we finished fifth so I am not really happy. It’s frustrating because I had the speed to do something better but it’s still second in the championship so we have to fight.

Q:
We saw you two weeks ago winning your home race in Hungary. You haven’t quite won overall but you still claiming the Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy in the first race. Tell us about that performance?

NM:
First of all I would like to say that I enjoyed every moment driving on this circuit. It was really special from Free Practice Zero. The amount of adrenalin you have on this circuit is really just amazing and I hope we can come back for next season. The spectators were nice, it was a wonderful event for us. I tried to carry the momentum from the race in Hungary. I knew it was going to be a bit difficult because we had some technical problems during the test day and I was a little behind knowing the circuit. But fortunately I managed to build my confidence before qualifying and I was quite happy with fourth position. Also from fourth position I knew that except the long straight it’s going to be difficult to overtake so I tried to focus on the standing start for the first race. Fortunately that was a good start but unfortunately Hugo decided too late to close the door and my steering was damaged a bit because of the impact. The car was not 100 per cent and I had to settle for fourth. I was trying to make a gap before the long straight. But I’m happy with P4 and especially winning the Yokohama Trophy especially for us because it was the maximum for this weekend.

Q:
The car looked a little second hand early in the second race. What actually happened?

NM:
The second race was also quite good. I had the momentum and gained some places. I was able to brake later than some of the others on the inside because I was on the outside. I went a bit wide but not too much and I was quite confident turning left because I had the inside line but drivers on the inside of me probably made contact and I was hit by another car. I don’t really know who it was but unfortauntely the rear suspension broke so I had to come back to the pits.

Q:
A win in the second race in the Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy must surely represent a good result for you on your first appearance here. How are you feeling now it’s all over?

MB:
As a beginning at this track it’s really difficult to drive and to learn. There are 170 corners and it’s not easy to learn. In the end it was not so bad because we had the problem in Hungary with the technical issue and by changing engines we knew we started at the back in race one and that’s why in qualifying I did only one lap because our focus was to fight for eighth, ninth or 10^th. At the end we do seventh. Race one was clean because I was all the race behind Ma and I tried only to finish and score points. Race two was a good fight, very gentlemanly at the end with the Citroën drivers. Our car was more aggressive so we lose a lot in the straight line and at the end when they told me I was winning the Yokohama Trophy it was a good result because we are fighting against very good drivers in good cars. We have to think about this and if somebody asked me to sign for this before I arrived I would tell them yes.

Q:
Turning to Sabine, our top German driver who made some history today becoming the first female driver to score points in the WTCC. Congratulations for that but tell us about your first race and that very close battle with Jaap van Lagen?

SS:
I had a good start, I didn’t expect that, and so I could overtake two or three cars at the start. But after the Grand Prix Circuit they pushed me against the wall nearly and I had to brake. So I said keep calm, let them go the crazy guys. I just saw a yellow car behind me. I thought it was Tom Coronel but it was Jaap van Lagen. It doesn’t matter because he was a fast guy who I could keep behind me and I was pleased about that. That was very interesting and I was lucky to get one point, at least something.

Q:
Starting further back in the second race probably compromised your efforts to get back in the points. How did that race go for you?

SS:
The second race I tried to do the start as in the first but as you all know it’s really difficult for me in this car and I had a lot of wheelspin. My tyres were not good after that crazy start. I had a lot of vibrations after that and I kicked my team-mate a little bit out in one place – sorry for that – he was in my way but he had a crash before that. He didn’t see me and came in front of me and I kicked him. There was a lot of vibration but I was still improving with my lap times. I still needed a couple of more laps but now it’s over although it was really good.

Q:
Now you’ve done two races in the WTCC. What about some more?

SS:
I wish for sure! I have the helmet, the B licence, everything. I can go ahead.

Q:
Finally Sabine you’ve been supporting the FIA Women in Motorsport initiative this weekend. How does your presence here in this race help the cause?

SS:
There are not many sports where men and women compete together. It’s more or less motorsport and some horse riding. You need somebody to look at, who does it. I think I wasn’t too bad driving against all the professionals, the world champions and the Formula One drivers. Maybe they think they can do it as well, carry on and keep pushing. Maybe it will happen to them.

Q:
The WTCC Race of Germany will be coming back to the Nürburgring for the next two years at least. What about this place as a venue for the world championship – how good has it been to have a race on the Nordschleife?

YM:
For sure it’s a very important moment in the season. It’s a mythical circuit and we could see since the WTCC announced the fact we would come here there was a lot of interest. We can see more journalists and for sure that’s very important. The WTCC is a good series from a sporting level. It’s still not at the level it should be in terms of media but it will come.

Q:
It’s Russia next for the championship. What about a victory there because we haven’t seen a win from you since the opening weekend of the season?

SL:
I hope, for sure. I always want to win but it’s not easy when you have guys like this to beat and my team-mates are really strong. I am still learning, my season has not been bad but I have to improve some things. I hope I can win the next races and I will try for sure.

Q:
More history was made today because you have become the first driver since Jacky Ickx and Jochen Mass to win a world championship motor race on the Nordschleife. What does that achievement mean to you?

JML:
It felt amazing. Winning here, like I said yesterday, is something everybody wants. I knew I had to do a good start and I got a bit lucky because Hugo did not have a good start. I went into the Nordschleife trying to improve my rhythm. I had a set-up to be able to try to pull away from Seb in the beginning. I arrived in the long straight and had a good set-up so I knew it would be possible. Then we had a few drops of rain so I had to keep it clean but honestly the car felt very well. We did some changes, I was enjoying it and it was really nice. Thanks to Citroën and all the team because they did a fantastic job today and this season.

Q:
You didn’t quite win the second race but your performance on the last lap going from fourth to second on the final straight was sensational to watch. But did you think that could happen and you could pull it off?

JML:
We had a nice view of Ma doing a great show! He was on the limit and it was difficult because we were fighting between us, which is the spirit of the team. We were losing time and I was getting nervous because it was the last lap. I thought at one point it was over and the reverse grid is not good for the guys starting at the back. I was thinking about Yvan scoring more points than me. Then Ma went off and for a few seconds I didn’t know which way it would be and I had to slow down. I was very lucky and after that I saw a big gap and I thought what should I do – should I stay or should or try. It was a big gap, around three or four seconds but I started to push. I didn’t know if it would work but I tried to improve my pace. I tried to be quicker, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t work. Today it worked. I realised there was a possibility to catch up to Gabriele at least. Two corners before the Karussel there is a very high-speed corner where I could catch him and starting the last section I arrived attached to Gabriele. We exit from the last corner of the Nordschleife – we had an aggressive set-up to win to be honest with a good top speed. I kept going and going and was really close. One metre less and I was not going to be able to pass. Tiago was nice because he could have defended a bit but then I arrived in the last corner attached to Yvan. I think he was waving to the crowd. We were coming really quick, I braked and braked. Tiago hit me from the back but that was it. It was an amazing weekend for me and thanks again to the team and congratulations to the everyone. I am very proud to be part of this amazing team.

Q:
Just finally, in 1957 a legendary driver from your country won his last grand prix at this track. What does it mean to follow in the wheel tracks of the great Juan Manuel Fangio?

JML:
I think it was Carlos Reutemann who was the last driver from my country to win here. Until last year it had been a long time before an Argentine driver won a world championship. Even though there success was in Formula One it feels very nice. To hear your national song on the podium is always something special and at the Nordschleife it’s always something more. If there was a race any of us would want to win it was this one. I was very happy to do that and I feel very good for that. Now I want to enjoy this win and the rest of the evening.