Good morning and welcome to Adelaide, Australia for the Team Representatives’ Press Conference ahead of this weekend’s Australian V-Prix – round one of the 2024 Formula Virtual World Championship. Joining us today, from left to right, are; Dylan Lopez of Lopez FV Team, Adrian Arnello from Arnello Milner & Ronson Autosport, Bradley Downton of Downton FV Team, Sven Schubert from Porsche FV Team, and Jamie Franklin from Cyber Automata Motorsport. Welcome to the five of you. Scott Parkin – FVTV: We’ll begin today’s Press Conference with you, Sven. Without doubt, the talk of the paddock in pre-season testing was the huge margin that Porsche looked to have over the rest of the field. From inside the team, do you all expect that gap to be the same here in Adelaide, or do you think it was track-dependant? Sven Schubert: Well, we have been as surprised as the whole paddock as well! We knew that our car would be better then in 2023 but we didn’t expect to be this fast. Testing and racing are two completely different things but as Le Mans and Adelaide are both slow and technical tracks we’re pretty confident to fight for the podium or even the win in Australia. SP – FVTV: Very true, let’s see how this weekend goes for Porsche. Bradley, it’s been said by many pundits that this regulation change could be Downton’s biggest challenge for years. How does a team like yours contend with maintaining your position at the front last season whilst simultaneously developing a brand new car under such different regulations? Bradley Downton: They're spot on. A huge regulation change is a challenge for anyone, and we've seen previously some teams nail it and some don't. We were fortunate last year that we didn't really have a consistent challenger across the season, so as a team we could get the job done nice and early, and didn't have to worry too much about the car. So we were able to switch focus very early on to this year. SP – FVTV: That’s a good point! Okay Adrian, coming to you now, we start the season off at your home race here in Adelaide. Following what seemed to be a very good pre-season test for AMR, do you think you’re in with a chance of being up on the podium in front of your home fans this weekend? Adrian Arnello: Good to be home, isn't it! Yeah we are feeling good post-test. The numbers look good and the pace is real. We're definitely aiming for a podium, but a win could be on the cards too, depending on that monster Porsche! SP – FVTV: It seems everyone has their eyes on how Porsche do here this weekend. Coming to you now, Dylan. It’s been a difficult couple of seasons for Max and Sergio at Lopez following the heady heights of 2020 and 2021 with Elroy and Allar at the wheel. Do you see those great times returning as we enter a new era of FV? Dylan Lopez: Of course, that’s where we’re working to get back to. Looking back on those times now there’s plenty of memories that long stick with everyone at the team, and in turn that motivates everybody both in our team and I’m sure everybody else to go get those wins and those podiums. Testing shows it looks like it’ll be hard for many to stop Porsche, but anything can happen once those lights go out. SP – FVTV: Great stuff, thanks Dylan. Finally, Jamie, welcome back! It’s great to see you back as a Formula Virtual Team Principal for the first time in almost two years. First and foremost, I hope you’re doing well with your recovery? Jamie Franklin: Thanks very much! It's all going well. Still having tests to find out exactly what the issue was, but physically I'm fit and healthy, which of course helps with doing my job! SP – FVTV: Excellent news, that’s really good to hear. Now, what are the hopes and expectations for Cyber Automata in this first season? JF: I'm an ambitious guy, and I know the team shares those sentiments as well. But of course, it's a competitive field and we're the only new team on the grid. Not only that, but we're going about things in a way that no-one ever has before. I think we have to be realistic and set our sights, first and foremost, on getting out of pre-qualifying to give the whole team more experience of a full race weekend, as well as giving the drivers and cars as much track time as possible to increase confidence and to correlate data. Testing went better than expected, but we need to stay grounded and make sure that we stick to the plan we've set, because we believe it to be a winning formula in the long term. SP – FVTV: Alright, we’ll do the Fan Questions now before we pass down to the floor. The first one here is for Adrian. “Testing looked very positive for AMR, but the gap to Porsche seems pretty big at the moment. What is the target for this race, especially for Kidd as he is the newest driver to race for you?” AA: It's a big gap. We are looking for a podium in front of our Aussies, but it all depends on that pace and how it pans out in the race for Porsche - a win could be there! Kidd is gonna nail it we reckon. He's been rocking the sim day and night and we've seen what he was capable of in that North Star too. We have a positive mindset and outlook, and we will keep that going no matter what happens. It's a long season! SP – FVTV: Next one here is for you, Jamie. “For a Team Principal used to both racing at the front and being amongst the biggest teams, how does starting from square one feel?” JF: It's a really interesting challenge. Even with the experience I have, so much has changed that makes it more difficult, but I'm looking forward to it. Especially when, in the past, there have been comments made about how it's easier to stay on top, or near to the top when you've already been there, so with a challenge like this, I'll be able to prove those doubters wrong. SP – FVTV: Real fighting talk there! Right, the next one here is for Bradley. “Now with Nathaniel Powers on board for his last year in the sport, what do you think he can do? Is it possible that we could see the Nathaniel Powers from the past?” BD: I think he can do exactly what he's previously shown he can do. What that translates into as results is obviously largely going to be down to where we are in the pecking order though. Nathaniel is an exceptional talent however and has always been able to pull out the maximum result, and I expect to see that throughout the season. SP – FVTV: Quite, you don’t get five World Championships for nothing! Okay, Dylan, I’m afraid I have no idea what this one means, but “Starc or Cummins?” DL: I’d say merge the two. The last twelve months in Australian cricket has been sublime. I cannot quite pick one out of the two. SP – FVTV: Ah, I see, cricket! Clearly not my forte. Alright, the last Fan Question is for you, Sven. “Alexander McLaughlin has only completed 1 complete FV season and now looks like he'll be fighting for the title - how has he handled this meteoric rise to stardom?” SS: Alexander showed before that he is a championship calibre driver. He is focussed and determined as I’ve seen only a few drivers before and with Enrique last year he had the perfect team mate to learn from. So yes, he is skill wise and mentally ready to fight for the title. SP – FVTV: Incredibly exciting times ahead for ‘Xander Mac’. Okay, the Team Representatives will now take questions from the assembled press. Rebecca Parnell – XtremeV: My question is for everyone, regarding the new tyre rules for 2024. All teams are now allocated five sets – per driver – of each tyre for use across the season, with one wildcard option. How will this affect your strategy each weekend, will you now have to plan ahead for the whole season or are you going to take each race as it comes? DL: I like it. It’s a huge strategy shakeup which could lead to some interesting situations as we get deeper into the season. You can’t necessarily plan your strategy race-by-race to a certain extent anymore because there may be a certain tyre that’s flourishes at certain tracks later in the year, and it’s clearly no good if you’ve already used your allocation by the time you get to said event. I think therefore we could get some races with some surprise outcomes, hopefully it’s us getting a good haul of points! SS: It certainly adds a new element for strategy! You’ve got to plan ahead instead from race to race and possibly concentrate or dismiss some races with your tyre choice so I like it! AA: It's doing my head in a bit, but hey, that's the challenge! We're still working out the nitty gritty but yeah, we like the change a lot, and it could lead to some very interesting results for sure. We're looking across the whole season to where we might wanna do what with what we've got. We know our car favours the mediums, so it's gonna be a real test some tracks where we can't use them in favour of other runs! Let's see how it pans out. JF: I think each team will have their own plan for the season, but I don't think we're going to see a real change in the approach until next year. But this year, I imagine we'll see some interesting results later in the year when teams start running out of the tyres that they'd prefer. BD: I think it's absolutely brilliant, and adds a whole new element. For example, if we were still going to Dubai, it's pretty nailed on for a hard tyre, but would those who don't expect a great result use softs for example to save the Hards for another race? It's a whole new ball game, and one that I don't think will really pan out until the end of the season. We definitely can't afford to take things race-by-race anymore, it's definitely a whole season plan now. Klaus Ammermuller – RTV: Gentlemen, a short view back to the past. Ten years ago, someone told us: "Take a trained monkey, place him into the manager of a team and he is able to develop the car." Ten years later we are told us: "I have to lead my team like a computer. It's very complicated." And also someone said, err, he did the wrong development, I don't remember what team principal, the wrong development on the car. Question for you to both. Is Formula Virtual management today too complicated with 20 and more things to think about, are you too much under effort, under pressure? What are your wishes for the future, concerning technical program, errrm, during the race? Less options, more? Or less and more communication with your engineers. DL: Could you repeat the question? .. Nah I don’t think it’s too bad. SS: Sorry, could you repeat the question for me as well? Laughing amongst the Team Representatives as a puzzled Klaus Ammermuller fumbles with his notes SS: Maybe a bit more detailed engine dev. Otherwise there comes nothing to my mind right now. BD: It's definitely not too complicated no. The new challenges keep it all exciting. AA: I've been called a monkey a few times in my days so I reckon they're onto something! If I can push buttons and make a car happen then I'm sure others can do it too! But nah, it's okay to be honest. When you have a crew as good as AMR we can make it happen, but you've gotta have some skill to back it up. JF: Erm...well...I'm going to refer that question to our in-house AI to answer: "In the ever-evolving landscape of Formula Virtual, the demands on team management have undoubtedly intensified over the past decade. While there may have been a notion in the past that anyone could manage a team successfully, the reality today is far more complex. The advancement of technology, the intricate regulations, and the sheer competitiveness of the sport require a level of expertise and strategic acumen that cannot be overstated. Yes, managing a team in Formula Virtual is indeed a multifaceted endeavour, with a myriad of factors to consider both on and off the track. However, it's precisely this complexity that makes the sport so exhilarating and rewarding. Embracing the challenge of navigating through the various technical, logistical, and strategic aspects is what drives us as team principals. As for the future, our wishes revolve around finding the optimal balance. We understand the need for streamlined processes and clear communication during the race, but we also appreciate the value of having options to adapt and innovate. Ultimately, it's about striking the right equilibrium between simplicity and complexity, allowing us to showcase our expertise while ensuring the racing remains as thrilling and competitive as ever." Neil Allenby – FVTV: My question is a simple one, to everyone. What is your favourite and least favourite thing about the winter break from Formula Virtual? AA: Food, family, and freakin' good beer! Chrissy was great, and we hit the town for New Year's too, which was a great time. You definitely need that break to reset and recharge. DL: Favourite thing has to be Christmas and New Year with family, plus my birthday was in January. Maybe this sport is what’s causing me to grow grey hair and wrinkles at my age!! Least favourite thing for me is getting back into the office after we finish our break, because that time period between then and round one feels like forever and some. SS: Same as Dylan. Spending time with the family and friends, being home over the holidays. Least favourite thing is waiting for the season to start! JF: Agreed with Dylan that spending time with family is great, for sure. But I'm going to go left field and say that the Royal Rumble is my favourite part about the winter break. BD: As has been said, definitely the favourite thing is the family time - which is even more crucial now for me personally. I also love the excitement and build-up to the new season, but that's also probably the worst bit. We can estimate what we think our performance will be, but the not knowing - I hate that bit! SP – FVTV: Fantastic answers there and some… interesting questions! Thank you to the Team Representatives for attending today and everyone at home for tuning in – make sure you join us tomorrow for Practice and Qualifying ahead of the 2024 Australian V-Prix.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
|