Hello and welcome to Montreal, Canada for the Team Principal’s Thursday press conference ahead of this weekend’s Canadian V-Prix – round thirteen of the 2021 Formula Virtual World Championship. Joining us today, from left to right, are; Nick Forrest of North Star Racing, Arthur Lapierre of Coca-Cola Porsche Mathershaw, Bradley Downton from Downton FV Team, William Ingram of Ingram V-Prix, and Ben Farrell from ROKiT Arrow Mechanics. Welcome gentlemen. Scott Parkin – FVTV: We’ll start today’s press conference with you, Arthur. Enrique was – I think it’s fair to say – gifted the win in Italy, but he did a job good enough for second and was there to pick up the pieces when Nathaniel’s luck cruelly ran out late on in the race. Was it somewhat of a relief to the team, and Enrique, to pick up your second win of the season? Or is this exactly the sort of season you were prepared for? Arthur Lapierre: I think for sure that the result in Monza had a hint of good fortune, but over the season and beyond we've had our fair share of bad luck too, so we're never going to complain when things go our way! It makes things a lot better when you see two wins in our total rather than one, but we're always hoping for more! The season was always set to be a difficult one for us, and to be honest we're all very pleasantly surprised compared to where we thought we'd be before pre-season, but when we're towards the front, we always expect more! SP – FVTV: Naturally, thank you Arthur. Bradley, Italy was just… one of those races wasn’t it? Klaas had his accident with just five laps to go, then of course Nathaniel’s brakes gave up on the penultimate lap. Considering your mightily strong position in both championships, did it hurt any less than previous times where you’ve had awful luck? Bradley Downton: Yep, it really was. Unfortunately we've had a few of 'those races' this season, but rest assured the team are working around the clock to ensure it doesn't continue to happen, though I'm aware I said the same thing after Australia. Losing great results never doesn't hurt. If we didn't want to win, we wouldn't be here. Italy was as painful as Malaysia 2017 back along, but thankfully our advantage in the Championship means it doesn't really make too much of a difference there. SP – FVTV: I’m sure you could afford another few races like that and still have a healthy lead! Ben, a solid race last time out for Yakumi netted you a second tenth placed finish, taking you back above North Star in the Constructors’ standings. Despite not changing anything in the way of Q1, how much would the extra prize money mean for Arrow? Ben Farrell: Yeah of course, despite the relatively poor pace from our end last race I believe, it was quite positive to see the tyre strategy come off successfully, Q1 of course, not being the most competitive, yet only having one car escape it in Monza shows it’s not all done with... so it'd be nice to escape Q1 but you never know what will happen. SP – FVTV: Takahashi’s tenth place in Italy took Arrow above you again in the Constructors’ Championship, Nick. Whilst it doesn’t change the Q1 situation, how much would it affect North Star to lose out on the extra prize money for twelfth place? Nick Forrest: Well, to the tune of one million in prize money, mainly! I don't think it should affect us too badly for next year, at least, although it's obviously going to affect how much we can invest in the car for the seasons after, so looking longer term, there might well have to be one or two compromises we have to make. What does help is that we've gone through this sort of thing before back in 2018, we had likewise a relatively poor season to kick off a big regulation change, which we were able to bounce back from to secure our best ever finish in the Constructors' standings last year. Right now things aren't looking great for North Star, we're definitely not where we want to be, but we've come back from this kind of adversity in the past, and I've every belief that we're capable of doing it again. SP – FVTV: That kind of spirit is certainly needed at the moment. After a good drive last race where he brought home two crucial points for the team, James has been told to sit on the sidelines this weekend as Oleksandr Zozulya comes in to make his second appearance of the season. Will, how did James react to the news, and why have you decided to replace him instead of Jean? William Ingram: Everyone knows how brilliantly James has driven this year, and his race last time was another example of that. We informed James, as we did Jean, at the start of the season that Oleks would be getting a go in each of their cars. Of course neither of them were over the moon with that, but I wouldn't want them to be! They're both great drivers who have done fantastic things for this team. James is a team player and knows that he'll be back next race and next season. SP – FVTV: That’s a great quality to have, no doubt. Right, the Team Principals will now take questions from the assembled media representatives. Layton Smith – Thegrid.net: Last time out in Italy, Jamie Franklin made some comments about not acknowledging the achievements of your team. Any response to this? BD: Nope. LS – Thegrid.net: Come on, there must be something? He commented - and I quote - "There's only one team, other than mine, that deserves the moniker of being seen as the greatest team in Formula Virtual, I'm sure you can all guess who that is. But Downton? No." and claimed that you "spent four years of the sport being nothing more than an afterthought." He also added tha- BD: I'm well aware of what was said. LS – Thegrid.net: And you have nothing to say in reply? BD: No. I have no need to waste my breath. LS – Thegrid.net: But surely those comments get to you? Surely they get to - and demoralise - the team? BD: Look, fine. I’ll give you a response so as not to make your job difficult. Neither I nor the team pay attention to anything that is said by anyone. Why on earth would we be at all hung up on the comments of a has-been when we're on the verge of Formula Virtual history? The comments made were brought to my attention, and frankly the repeated attempts at denying that losing their records hurts them made it seem even more so that it was actually the case. We don't need acknowledgement or vindication from anyone because we know we're doing an outstanding job, the records and statistics speak for themselves. We've won at least one title in each of the last four years despite not having the quickest car in half of those; no other team can claim that in history. It's plain to see the remainder of the comments were drivel - almost certainly driven from the fact that they obviously expected to waltz ‘back in’ after initially leaving and then return to winning ways this year, and it hasn't happened on pace alone – so now they’re looking for excuses. But in one breath it was said we were paid for "being failures" and the next we were "rewarded for past successes", so make of that what you will. In all honesty, I have to question why they’re even here if they “don’t care about winning” and are only interested in beating their “rivals” Mathershaw. I don’t think teams who have no intention of trying to win should be around, it’s taking up a space over someone who would genuinely be interested in giving that 110% that is required because as it stands they are just turning up to “siphon money that should be going to other teams, teams with passion and drive for success.” The whole thing reeks of someone desperately trying to shift focus from the fact they’re just not good enough anymore. I will agree with one thing that was said however, we’re not even in the same league anymore. Kurt West – FOX: Question for everyone. Since we’re here this weekend celebrating the 100th V-Prix for FIRST and North Star, I wanted to ask you all what your favourite memory is of each of the two teams? And Nick, apart from the win in Canada, which moment has been your favourite so far? AL: Firstly, I want to extend congratulations on behalf of everyone at Porsche Team Mathershaw for FIRST and North Star reaching their momentous milestone - 100 races is no mean feat, and to have reached the level they have in that time is very impressive. For North Star, it's hard to look beyond Canada, and to see them racing in Canada to celebrate this occasion is amazing, while for FIRST, seeing them win their home race last year was a great moment for the whole FV paddock. WI: The time has flown by! Both FIRST and North Star are now so firmly established that I can't really imagine it without them. Obviously a first win is so special, but I think what I've most admired is how they've moulded some of the best drivers in the midfield. Halvosen has had an excellent few seasons – dare I say Mattson-esque? – while Perez has developed into a very strong racer. BD: To somewhat mimic Arthur; everyone at Downton would like to congratulate both teams on reaching such a mega milestone - it's certainly no mean feat to stick around for that long! As Will said, it's difficult to look past maiden victories. North Star's was truly special. That gamble here four years ago and the incredible drive to make it work from Karl Beckenbauer to beat our record-breaking BD05 was just brilliant. As for FIRST, they've given the series the very talented Felix Perez, but they've also been a real example of how a team can join this series and become competitive by building up - which is a huge accomplishment very few other teams have managed. BF: I think every memory of us meeting with a FIRST on-track has pretty much ended with one of us out of the race, so I shall not comment on that, although we here at the ARROW team have a soft spot for the North Star team and the history behind them, as well as the colour scheme, we all agree that's pretty cool too. Being the newest team I can't afford to comment much. NF: I think - excluding our victory, as you said - my favourite moment for both FIRST and North Star is actually the same for both teams: and I think Arthur has it with last year's United States V-Prix at Indianapolis. The few races running up to it, Johan had just missed out on a podium on a few occasions, Spain and Britain, for example. And that day, our strategy came together, Johan put in a faultless drive, we admittedly had a bit of luck on our side with Downton's tyre situation, but to finally get back up onto the rostrum after all the near misses was an incredible feeling. Plus to be sharing that podium with FIRST, both of us under Ford power, when they'd just taken victory at their home race, I don't think you could realistically ask for much better than that. Edgardo Agretha – Play Virtual: Will, it has been many years since I was in your FV team, but I know how you and the Ingram team develop bonds with drivers. Is the bond with Jean Mattson making the decision for 2022 more difficult than it would be if you had another driver in the car now, performing as Jean has been this season? WI: Well I'm glad you remember your time fondly Eddy - especially given we'll be teammates at the Virtual 24 this season! Of course we all love Jean in this team, but as competitors we have to pick the fastest driver for our cars. Jean firmly believes it's Jean and he's proved over a number of years his quality. We'll be lucky to have him again next year if that's the way it works out. Hugues Antoinette – Canal+: Salut Arthur. Porsche Mathershaw have taken just three wins from the last 21 races, which feels like a little drought for the team with the second most wins in the history of the sport. Is this slight dip in performance the calm before the storm, with the storm being a fantastic 2022 performance, blowing the other teams out of the water? AL: I think it's no secret that this year is a rebuilding year for us - I hope we can be on top form for 2022, and part of that will be a goal of multiple wins and a full challenge for both titles next year. As for whether that is achievable, time will tell, but we're going to give it our all. We're seeing records being reset this year, but it's simply a new target for us to beat next year! Theo Parker – VM Magazine: It’s an absolutely fantastic achievement for North Star, and of course FIRST, to reach the 100 race milestone in FV, which you’re celebrating with the beautiful tribute livery this weekend. My question for you, though, is this; if you could pick the ultimate North Star line up, what would it be? So, in your opinion, your two best drivers, best car, and best livery? NF: That is a question and a half, no denying. Thank you, first of all, I still can't quite believe it's been 100 races already! FIRST, I have to just talk about them for a moment, they've always been a hell of an impressive team to race against, and alongside as well, plus I've gotta give thanks to Adam [Blocker] once again for helping broker the deal with Ford back in 2019 that helped keep us on the grid. I think after a century of races with one another, and the journey we've both gone through, we've got all the respect in the world for one another at this stage, and I'm - at least - looking forward to the next hundred. In terms of the lineup, I think Johan would be a shoo-in for a hypothetical North Star dream team, having been with us for four seasons now, and almost single-handedly securing us fourth in the standings last year. Right now, of course, we believe Brock is the best choice for the second seat, which is why he's there, but given this is a hypothetical scenario, I think I'd take Karl Beckenbauer from 2017, he had some incredible pace in the second half of that season, two podiums and our first victory in a car that had only finished 7th at best up to that point. However, I would put them in the NS-05 from last season, because while it might not have had the peak performance that the 2017 car did, it was a lot more consistent and a lot more raceable, so I wouldn't be surprised if Karl could regularly stick it in or around the top five like Johan did. So that'd be my choice: Halvosen, Beckenbauer, NS-05. And the livery from this year, to top it off, the T-Mobile magenta does look stunning on track. Klaus Ammermuller – RTV: Hallo Ben, I do not believe we have met before, my name is Klaus Ammermuller working for RTV of Germany – as is the nationality of Arrow Mechanics. I cannot recall hearing or reading so much from you or the team regarding the financial backing and spending power of Arrow. My question to you is; without the title sponsorship of ROKiT, is the financial burden of Formula Virtual a strain on the team that is unsustainable, or is there backing that we are not aware of that exists to propel the team forwards, as a sponsor or private investment? BF: Greetings Klaus, I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting before, nice to meet you. Of course, due to team formalities, I cannot reveal the full brunt of our savings, however with a surprise for you all coming in the next few weeks, you will be able to see that we are financially secure for the next few years at least, ROKiT have been perfect as official team partners and we wish for that sponsorship to continue in the future. We work on a model that allows us to have a better car at the start of each season than we did in the last, and that steady improvement is what we're going for, and you should expect to see us in the midfield next season. And in terms of private investment, we do have a benefactor behind the scenes although we cannot reveal that to non-clients. Rebecca Parnell – XtremeV: Astonishingly, it does look quite likely that, come Brazil, we will be saying goodbye to a number of Formula Virtual stalwarts. The likes of Will Hoskins, Nikolai Milkovich, Karl Beckenbauer, Diego Campos, Carson Davenport, and of course, Elroy Wagner, look set to be missing from the grid for 2022. I’m just curious to hear all of your opinions on the prospect of losing so many ‘old school’ drivers in such a short space of time, and your thoughts on the new generation of talent coming through? AL: I think it's a real shame, and there are even a couple of names that, given the chance to run a third works car for Porsche, we'd be signing up! We are in a unique position of trusting proven talent in our cars alongside our development programme, and I think some teams are perhaps a bit hasty in getting rid of these kinds of drivers in favour of the youngsters. However, everything continues on, and there are a number of highly exciting talents coming through the ranks - the veterans will find a new home in the likes of eVirtual and endurance racing, while the FV paddock will see a new generation! WI: As a fan it's very sad. These drivers have all contributed so much. Race wins, podiums, Wagner the world championship! I hope that most of them, like Elroy, are choosing to leave now, as all still have something to offer. Hopefully there will be space for a couple more of these guys on the grid. The next generation have a lot to live up to! BD: Some of those names you mention probably don't deserve to go. I'd argue they're better than a good portion of the grid still, but this is a fickle business. Motorsport - by it's very nature - moves exceptionally quickly, and you're arguably only as good as your last race. I think some of those drivers have perhaps already outstayed their welcome given some of the talent we're seeing in the junior categories, while the rest have struggled this season, but I definitely don't think they all deserve to be without a drive. While seeing new talent is exciting - and there are certainly a number of younger drivers who look as though they really could do an incredible job - we definitely need that blend of youth and experience on the grid. NF: I'd have to agree with Arthur and Will, it is always a sad moment when drivers that have given so much to the sport of Formula Virtual aren't going to be around for much longer, I admit I did get a little emotional when Elroy announced his retirement earlier in the season. At the end of the day, time does march ever onward, and if they do end up bowing out at the end of 2021, I think it's worth remembering and celebrating what they achieved in their time here. Karl, in particular, in the case of North Star, I think is always going to be remembered. As for the new crop of drivers, Will is bang on in saying that they have a lot to live up to, but given what we've seen them do in the junior categories, the likes of Matteo [Zetticci] and Daniel [Zientek], I think the future of Formula Virtual looks to be in very, very capable hands. BF: Times change, and we have to start saying goodbye to those who featured in the inaugural season of FV, and saying hello to new talent which will shock us! SP – FVTV: Okay, final question then, again to everyone. A few weeks ago, we learnt that Matteo Zetticci – the hottest prospect outside of Formula Virtual – will be stepping up to race for Downton in 2022. However, it has not yet been announced which of their current pair will keep their seat. So, to all of you, are you #TeamPowers, or #TeamKlaas? AL: Zetticci looks like a huge prospect, and it's going to be exciting to see how he does. However, Powers looks all set to be the world champion once again and is undoubtedly one of the best of all time, while Klaas was the Next Big Thing before this Next Big Thing. Either way, this is a huge call for Downton. What would I do? That's a good question! I like winners, so let's say #TeamPowers! NF: I had initially expected - as did, I'm sure, a lot of people in the paddock - that Matteo would be spending some time in a midfield team to begin with, Nathaniel and Klaas have been working remarkably well together for the past five seasons, and I certainly couldn't see Downton wanting to get rid of either of them. Perhaps they were just eager to not risk losing Matteo to a rival team, but to drop either Nathaniel or Klaas, I think that's a trickier question that it might outwardly seem. Nathaniel, obviously, has won multiple Drivers' championships with Downton, he's broken all kinds of records with them over the past eight seasons, and he does seem to have the measure of Klaas for the time being. But at the same time, Nathaniel has done pretty much everything there is to do at Downton, so I wouldn't put it past him to want to take on a new challenge elsewhere, plus Klaas would presumably carry a slightly lower price tag than Nathaniel, so that helps his case in terms of cold financial numbers. You know what, I'm going left field, I'm saying #TeamKlaas for next season. WI: It's a big call from Bradley to bring in a rookie, both Powers and van Snelheid have been excellent for the team. It is hard to look past the most successful driver in the sport. If Powers leaves it could only be for a new challenge as Nick says, you'd be crazy to let him go otherwise. Whoever ends with Klaas will have a very fine driver join their team BF: I have a deep admiration for both drivers, but #TeamPowers because I have a brain. SP – FVTV: So Bradley, I might as well try! Is it #TeamPowers or #TeamKlaas? BD: I love your effort Scott, but you know we do these things by the book rather than off the cuff! You'll find out in due course who will partner Matteo next season. SP – FVTV: Well, I had to try, didn’t I? Well I’m sure I can speak for everyone with an interest in Formula Virtual when I say we absolutely cannot wait to find out how Downton will line up next season. But, that’s all from us today, so thank you very much for the Team Principals for their time and to everyone tuning in at home. Make sure you join us tomorrow for Friday practice ahead of the Canadian V-Prix!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|