Good morning and welcome to the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo for the Team Representatives’ Press Conference ahead of the Brazilian V-Prix – round sixteen and the final round of the 2023 Formula Virtual World Championship. Joining us today, from left to right, are; Bradley Downton from constructors and drivers title champions Dowtnon FV Team, Rai Miyamoto from Ocelot Japan Racing, Ryan Petersen from Arnello Milner & Ronson Autosport, Nick Forrest of North Star Racing and finally William Ingram from Ingram V-Prix. Welcome to all five of you! Scott Parkin - FVTV: "Welcome to the last press conference of the year, here in Brazil. We saw 15 epic races with dramatic battles, heartbreaking moments and now a new world champion with Klass van Snelheid. Speaking of Klaas, i will start the press conference with my first question to Bradley Downton. First I want to say Congratulations to Klaas for winning the title fight in a dramatic Argentine V-Prix - and to you Bradley for completing the double this year - again a dominating and superb season from your team.
We all have wished for an on-track battle between Matteo and Klaas. Matteo seemed to be out of his usual racing standards. Was the preperation anything different or what do you think could be it that caused this unusual race for Matteo?": Bradley Downton: "The preparation was no different for either driver than it is for any other race, we tried to keep them both as focused and in the zone as possible. As to what led to the race Matteo had, it's hard to say. I think he was unlucky with how turn one unfolded and from there the engine failure wasn't his fault. Every driver will have a race like this now and then - look at Nathaniel for example, it almost became a bit of a running joke that he'd have one absolute shocker every season, but he'd kind of use up all his bad luck in that one race! It's unfortunate for Matteo though that it happened when it did, as it was a disappointing way to end the title fight which he has been absolutely fantastic in." SP - FVTV: "He was fantastic for sure, thanks for your answer. My next question is for Rai. Hello Rai, another great race in Argentinia marks the 9th podium finish in a season for Ocelot and with that a new record for your team. How does it feel to be in that position and to possibly finish on Ocelot's highest constructors standings position with P2?" Rai Miyamoto: "It’s been an amazing season. The drivers and the car have just had this great synergy. We are very proud with how things have developed. Especially to be on a podium let alone our 3rd win. We are very happy." SP - FVTV: "That's nice to hear and definitely a season, you and the whole team will not forget. My next question is for Ryan Petersen, AMR. Hello Ryan, nice to see you back in the press conference. Congrats on your win in Argentinia, great effort from the team. The race went perfect for Powers, Schnyder struggled a bit throughout the weekend. What could be the reasons for that big gap to his teammate in Argentinia?" Ryan Petersen: "Thanks heaps! Yeah great effort from Nathaniel and all the team out there, widest AMR we've ever built. Finn's not had the latest and greatest few races this run, that's true. We reckon it's a sensitivity issue... the car, not him! We went for a revised aero package a few races back and it just doesn't seem to suit him. Thankfully he's not gotta put up with it much longer, but it's harmed his chances for sure. We've promised him amends for next season. That or a pallet of beer." SP - FVTV: "Thanks for your answer, Ryan. We hope for another great race for your team. My next one is for Nick Forrest. Hi Nick, mediocre race for you with Brock finishing P10 after a promising P6 in qualifying. Talk us through your weekend in Argentinia please." Nick Forrest: "Yeah, it was a bit of a disappointing outcome, given where we started, but one point is at least better than nothing, and with some of the horrific luck we've had this season, like what happened in Malaysia and Canada, for instance, I think we have to be a little grateful it didn't go any worse. We did have a strong qualifying with Brock, he's put in some incredible performances this season, Hector's been learning from him and hopefully he can make progress next season if he sticks round. Our race, though, was pretty much run at the first corner when Matteo [Zetticci] went for that dive and clattered into the side of us. It's understandable in the sense he was fighting to keep his championship challenge alive, but it was definitely a little clumsy from him, and hopefully he can improve on that as he gains experience in the sport." SP - FVTV: "Thank you for your detailed answer. Before i give the voice to the journalists, i have one more question for William Ingram. Hello Will, great race for your team as James Vasquez secured 4 points with a P8 finish after another poor qualifying performance. Your car's qualifying performance is an issue in the last races. Something you need to change for next year. Is there any works going right now to try and fix the performance on one lap?" William Ingram: "Hello! Straight into it! Yes our race pace has been stronger than our quali pace and it's a puzzle we've been trying to solve. Ultimately I think we've been good with our strategy in the last couple of races and relied on some strong drives from Allar and James to mask the deficiencies in the car." SP - FVTV: Thank you Will! Now we will start with your questions. I think, we will start with the first questions from Neill Allenby representing FVTV. Your question please." Neill ALlenby - FVTV: "Hi everyone. My question is for Bradley Downton. Hi Bradley, next year Nathaniel Powers will make it back into your team for his final year. How important is it for you that he will race for Downton in his last year and how do you feel about his decision?" BD: "It's hugely important for both us and Nathaniel. He had rather hoped his time away from the team would lead to more success than it has, but we always told him we'd continue to build brilliant cars so he'd have a fight on his hands! But, we'd already discussed before he left what we would do at the end. We always knew the plan - when he was ready to hang up his helmet - was that he would return here for a last hurrah. Powers is synonymous with this team, and it's the only fitting end to his career. In terms of how I feel about it, I'm delighted to welcome Nathaniel back. It's a shame to lose Matteo but I understand he wants to spread his wings a bit, and can I just add how delighted I am that he has now found a seat at Peugeot for next season. But back to Nathaniel, he showed in Argentina he has lost none of his racing prowess despite a slightly trying season, and I'm confident that once we give him a car he's comfortable in, he'll be pushing Klaas for all he's worth. NA - FVTV: "Thanks Bradley, my second question is for Rai. Hello Rai, with Peugeot announcing that they will be your powertrain supplier for next year, it has to be a relaxed winter break for you, im sure. You already told to the media how you feel about it, but what do you think is possible for next or maybe future years with Peugeot as a partner?" RM: "Anything is possible as they say. We’ll have to take it day by day together. We are very happy with our partnership and how things have worked as of late. We’ll continue to strive forward together." NA - FVTV: "Great, thanks for your answer Rai." SP - FVTV: "The next questions are from Raul Rodriguez di Santos representing DailyNewsBrazil. Your questions please." R.R. di Santos - DNB: "Thanks Scott. My first one is for Ryan Petersen. Hello Ryan, after that win, your team will surely miss Nathaniel and his class of driving. How have you planned to fill in the seat with a decent replacement? Any specific targets for the winter break?" RP: "Nathaniel has been an absolute joy to work with, and while we surely show envy that he's back in the hottest seat next year, we can't be prouder to have had him behind the wheel. Top bloke off the track too! We've got a few decisions to make this winter, namely that second seat! Let's just say it's being taken seriously, and we should have a call made shortly." R.R. di Santos - DNB: "Thank you Ryan, my next questions are for Nick Forrest. Hello Nick, team battles are an important part of driver judging. If you want to be recognized as a good driver, you need to beat your team mate. Your team battle is by far the most one-sided battle on the grid even if other teams do have rookies aswell. Whats the reason behind the Kidd Domination?" NF: "I think that's a little bit tough to simplify it down into one particular reason, the teammate battle at North Star this season. There's no denying Brock's sheer level of talent, how he matched up against Johan in the last two seasons, but it's worth remembering that Hector's only in his first year as a full-time Formula Virtual driver, whereas Brock's now in his third, so he has that experience in the sport. He has the experience driving for the team as well, since 2021, and I actually think having those slightly worse cars in his earlier years may have helped his overall development, knowing how to drive around the weaknesses that a car might have, whereas Hector's still going through that process. Brock also has the IndyVirtual experience, whereas Hector didn't get the chance to compete in that series, so overall I think it's mainly a case that Hector's a little earlier in his career overall than Brock, and I think that gap should close up some as he continues to grow as a driver." R.R. di Santos - DNB: "Thanks, now i come to a FAN question by one of our news paper readers. The question is: Nick, it's safe to say you've had more than your fair share of bad luck this season. Could you perhaps predict in advance what will go wrong this weekend at Brazil?" NF: "Knowing us, we'll get to the stage where there's only a handful of laps to go, we'll be running in probably 4th, and then our engine will die! In all seriousness, though, you can never predict what's going to happen in Formula Virtual. I wouldn't have predicted winning after just 33 races, I wouldn't have predicted Diego Campos winning at Indy in 2014, and I wouldn't have predicted Phoenix finishing 7th in their rookie year. That's ultimately what makes Formula Virtual, and motorsport in general, so enthralling. Hopefully we can have a good result in our final race, and hold onto 7th in the standings ahead of Ingram, but we'll just have to wait and see, just like always. It's never over until the chequered flag falls." R.R. di Santos - DNB: "Okay, thanks again Nick. Thats all Scott." SP - FVTV: "Thanks Raul. The next questions are from Rebecca Parnell representing XtremeV. Your questions please." Rebecca Parnell - XtremeV: "Thank you Scott. The first question is for William. Hey Will, with one more race to go with the Brazilian V-Prix, we are looking on a close fight between Ingram and North Star for P7 in the constructors title. How do you planned to win this fight and what needs to improve for the last race?" WI: "It's a lot closer than we expected! They had two magnificent podiums in quick succession, which was more than deserved based on the car they've built. We've somehow managed to wangle our way into the fight thanks to Allar's masterful drive in Indy and James last time picking up some more points. We could do it, but I think we'd have to thank the drivers who have dragged that car furthered than it has deserved at times. We shall see what we can manage." RP - XtremeV: "Thanks Will, my next is for Bradley. Hello Bradley, this one is a FAN question. The fan asks: Hey Bradley. This year was a bit boring tbh. Downton is great, but i would like a title fight between two or more teams. Make it more easier for the others pls. Thanks!" BD: "Was this a fan question or one from another team principal? laughs In all seriousness, we totally understand it may get a little dull for fans seeing one team winning all the time, but I'd like to think this season has still been entertaining. We're yet to see a period where one team is dominant for several years in a row, even though we are now serial winners - for a lot of those seasons we've had decent competition. It isn't for us to make things easier, it's for the other teams to do a better job. Having said that, there's a fairly large regulation change next season and it's entirely possible we may have gone the wrong way and others haven't, or we've gone the right way and others haven't. But either way, I definitely expect a more competitive 2024!" RP - XtremeV: "Thanks Bradley, im sure this one isnt from a principle haha. My last question is for Rai. Hey Rai, in the second part of the year, the Ocelot looked scary in terms of race and qualifying pace. If your developing for 2024 went well, Ocelot could be a beast with a good powertrain and a solid line-up. What do you think, how would you rate your chances of staying at this level for next year?" RM: "We’re the type of team who like to learn and evaluate things. I cannot confirm or deny anything for next year. Let’s see what next year brings before we can state anything concrete." RP - XtremeV: "Thank you Rai, back to you Scott." SP - FVTV: "Great questions Rebecca. I have a few more questions for all. The first one is for Ryan and Will. I have not spoken to you about the next year and whats the plan for following years: full attack or calm progression? How do you planned on going into 2024?" RP: "We've always taken a fairly moderate approach with the car and team, and next season won't be any different. 2023 was super encouraging, and we're going to build off what we've learned and what we can take forward, but without too much of a grand vision. If we find ourselves in the same boat, top notch, and if not, tough shit! We'll work hard with what we've made and do what we can with what we've got. I think that's the best way forward, yeah!" WI: "We're taking a different approach to next season to see what we can learn. We hope to be in the mix of what I imagine will be a fiercely competitive midfield." SP - FVTV: "Sounds promising and like a realistic approach for both. Now we talk about very sad news as we heard from North Star that this race will be their last one. Nick, this is for sure quite suprising and very sad to see you and North Star leave after many seasons in the sport. I think it's the right time to tell us your favourite race or moment within your time as manager of North Star." NF: "There's been so many great moments throughout our time in Formula Virtual, scoring our first points after our first year right at the back, our first podium that same year that came pretty much out of nowhere, even snatching second place back in Italy just this year, we really weren't expecting to have that turn of pace after the two and a half years we'd had beforehand. But I think the best of them all has got to be the win in Canada, there was no way going into our second season that we expected anything like that, and to be the first non-original team to win a race, that's an unbelievable achievement, it still feels strange to say that we're the ones who got there! But yeah, there's a lot of good memories we've made in FV, but Canada 2017, gotta be the number one." SP - FVTV: "After you leaving FV, we all Wonder what will come next for you? Are you leaving the sport completely or is it a break from FV? What have you planned for your future?" NF: "It's a little bit tough to tell right now, we've been working as hard as we could to try and remain a part of the sport, but ultimately it's had to come to an end, unfortunately. I'd like to think I'll still be coming by the paddock every so often, but there's a handful of outside ventures I'm planning to focus on a little more. I'm not sure I can reveal too much more about them than that, but I'm looking forward to having a different kind of challenge to face." SP - FVTV: "Sounds like this is the best way for you! Now i willask all of you what you think about the news. What can you tell about your relationship to Nick and North Star and how do you feel about Nick's decision? We can start from left to right with Bradley and so on." BD: "It's a huge shame to lose both North Star - and crucially Nick - from Formula Virtual. It's no secret that we worked closely with him and the team in terms of the liveries we've sported over the years - he's done an exceptional job. He's an asset to the paddock for not only that reason, but the contribution that he adds too. It'll be a shame to see North Star depart, but I just hope that both Nick and the team can resolve the issues going on currently and hopefully one day in the future they can return." RM: "It’s going to be very strange not seeing North Star in the paddock, they’ve been great to have around and I’ve especially enjoyed their liveries! It’s been real fun seeing them grow since they entered the sport. Securing that win in Canada with Karl and entering with Judson at the wheel." RP: " [will be added after message is received] " WI: "Yes it's very sad news. Nick brought a lot to the paddock and I'll be sad to see him leave. On a personal level I hope he signs off with a good race, and a professional level I hope not quite as good as us so we can pip them in the constructors!" SP - FVTV: "Thanks you all for answering and all th best to you Nick for your future. We hope that the last race in 2023 will be a thrilling and awesome race to watch. We will see you all for practice and qualifying later. Until next year for the opener in 2024."
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