Hello and welcome to the official Australian V-Prix pre-race press conference ahead of the opening race of the 2016 Formula Virtual season. Please welcome from left to right on the back row, Olen Inman from DS Automobiles Team Mathershaw; Nathaniel Powers from the Downton FV Team and Kiara Thunder from Olsbergs Team Holmqvist. And on the front row we have Puccio Giodano of Ocleot Japan Racing, Douglas Bacon from FIRST Motorsport and local hero James Harding from the Lopez FV Team. Neil Allenby: Olen, let’s start with you then. You’re making your début here this weekend, how’s the Formula Virtual experience been so far?
Olen Inman: It’s been amazing! I’ve known the guys at DS Mathershaw for a couple of years now, and Arthur for even longer during my junior career, so while I’m making my debut, it’s already like home. The facilities we have are incredible, I still can’t believe it when I walk through the door. In terms of the race weekends, I’ve been in the paddock last year in FV2, but the media attention has been crazy compared to that! I’m loving it though, it’s like a dream, and I never want it to end! NA: From the looks of testing, you have a car with the potential to win not just races but the Championship. What are you hoping for from this season? OI: The car is amazing. I may be a rookie, but the team have given me runs in all of the previous cars, and I’ve seen the progression from the old ruleset to our first car of the V12 era, and quite honestly, the RJM-004 feels like the same jump again. It’s more positive into the corners, and the new Downton-DS engine has really benefitted from all the work we did from the end of last year. This season will of course be a learning year. I’m going to start by using Adrien as a yardstick – who better to gauge myself against – then I’ll look to progress further. Right now, I’m aiming for race wins by the end of the season, but the dream is to be in the championship fight. I’m under no illusions about how much of a challenge this is going to be. NA: Nathaniel, moving to you. By contrast the Downton hasn’t looked great in testing. It’s actually looking quite similar to last year, but that turned out okay. What are your hopes for the season ahead? Nathaniel Powers: I think we need to be realistic. Last year we hit an absolute sweet spot that enabled us to get right up there, and I think it's unlikely we'll manage that again. The aim has to be to beat the new teams and finish in the top ten in the Championship. If we can manage that - or better - we've had a good season. NA: The team keep making noise that there’s a long term plan, but it’s been a while now and nothing seems to materialise, how is that affecting morale in the team? NP: It isn't. Everyone in the team knows the plan and trusts in it, I think you can tell that in that we haven't had anyone leave in the last two years. I am fully committed to the team and look forward to the point where all our hard work pays off. NA: On to you then Kiara, like Olen you’re making your debut this weekend and you become the only woman in Formula Virtual. How has everything been so far? Kiara Thunder: It's been great. I seem to be getting quite a bit of media attention because I'm a woman, but I'm sure once they see me knuckle down in the car and get stuck in with all these lads they'll be focusing on my driving instead. NA: Until very late you were contracted to Ocelot for this season, but arrive here in Melbourne in Holmqvist colours. Tell us the story of that late switch and whether it’s affected anything? KT: That decision very much came from Bradley and the Downton management. I participated in pre-season testing with Ocelot, and got the call not long after to say that deal had been terminated and I was to be driving for Holmqvist. Naturally as a new team I think it's unrealistic to think they'll be challenging Ocelot, which is a shame as I'll find myself further away from the end of the grid I want to be, but I'm excited about growing with a new team and helping them develop. Has it affected anything? No, not really. Just means I had to go for another seat and suit fitting. NA: Puccio, I think a large portion of the paddock are relieved to see you here as for quite a while it looked like that may not be the case. Just tell us about what happened with Rossi and how this deal came together? Puccio Giodano: It’s fantastic to still be here on the gird when it looked like I wouldn’t be taking part this season. As for Rossi I’m not quite sure, a contract was on the table and I had signed it for this particular season and then things went quite as my management told me that they wouldn’t be on the grid, although I do thank them for everything they have done for me and wish to see them return. NA: You’ve not done any testing and your first taste of the car will be in practice. What can you hope for from this weekend? PG: I’m hoping the weekend can bring us a good result as you stated it’s my first time driving the car having not taken part in testing but things should be okay as Karl has been rather helpful behind the scenes in catching me up with what’s what around the team. I’m also really hoping I can help Ocelot gain some points in the opening race as it would be an ecstatic way to help develop the team and show rivals that a team with 1 year experience has improved a lot. NA: Douglas, welcome back after pretty much two years out. Returning with a brand new team, you must be excited for this? Douglas Bacon: Thanks for the welcome, it is good to be back in Formula Virtual. I am excited to drive for FIRST in their debut season especially after testing in Estoril was promising for the whole team. It hasn’t taken me that long to get up to speed again, so that is another positive. NA: What can you realistically hope to achieve this season? DB: I hope to score some points this season. I know it will be difficult, but I am optimistic that we will get a chance or two to score points. If and when we get those chances, our season will be defined by how we convert them. From a personal perspective, I hope that I perform well enough to convince the team to keep me on as a race driver next season. NA: Ending with you James. We’re starting in your home country and for the first time you seem to have a car capable of solid points, which must be a boost? James Harding: We had a car that scored a point last year, so hopefully we’re in such a good position we can score 24 more than last season! The car we drove was fantastic up in Estoril, great to drive and really rewarding if you nailed a corner, which we quite didn’t have with our previous car. Melbourne will be the true test of how quick we are and I’m excited to show it off to the fans come raceday! NA: I’ve already noticed a lot of Harding t-shirts and fans about, does the home crowd boost you here, and what’s it like having your home race as the first of the season? JH: Yes haha, I’ve already signed like millions of shirts! Having my home race is second to none. It’s the best event on the calendar because the city is alive for the whole week, and it’s something us drivers really cherish when we all fly in after testing. The fans here in Albert Park were something else when I scored 10th place in last year’s car, it was my first point in almost 2 seasons! I’m not ruling out a podium finish and that is what we are aiming for, so with the crowd behind my back hopefully I can give them something they’ll remember for years to come. NA: Brilliant, thank you all very much. That concludes our pre-race press conference for the 2016 Australian V-Prix, and I wish you all the best of luck for the weekend ahead.
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