Drivers - Felix Beyer (Force Australia), Will Hoskins (Franklin), Puccio Giodano (Scuderia Rossi), Michal Kubat (Warrior), Nathaniel Powers (Downton), Adrien Simon (Liverpool) PRESS CONFERENCE Q: Nathaniel, can we start with you. You won the championship after a brilliant season last year. What are your hopes for this season? Is it fair to say you don’t think the title is on the cards this year?
Nathaniel Powers: I need to be realistic, I think there’s very little chance in me reclaiming my crown – and so do the team – in fact, the boss has even put money on Liverpool! (laughs) We are aiming for points and podiums this year, just a solid midfield season. If we achieve that – regular points finishes and hopefully the odd podium, I’ll be happy. Q: The boys at Downton have worked very hard this year and given you a very solid car. How far up do you think you can get it? NP: The boys here are great. We’ve gelled instantly and they’ve really listened to my feedback. Marcus has been good as well, and has a very similar style to me, that hopefully will help. As I said, we’re hoping for regular points, and we see no reason as to why we can’t achieve that. Q: Adrien, moving onto you, the car has so far looked the quickest in testing and you’re undoubtedly favourites for the season heading into the opening race. Why do you keep playing it down? Adrien Simon: I wouldn’t say playing it down, we are just trying to manage expectations, we know we look good for a strong performance, but on the day, anything can happen. The car is formidable, but so is the challenge ahead, so we will see what happens. I wouldn’t make us favourites either, I don’t think you can make anyone favourites because, as we’ve seen so often, teams look fast only to fall away, then others have looked poor only for them to win everything! Q: What are your expectations for the season ahead? With the car as quick as it looks, you must fancy a shot at the title? AS: This season? I want the title of course! It is one thing trying to manage the expectations for the team, we don’t know where we exactly are, but for me personally, I must win this title. I’ve got the car to have a chance, so I need to take it, otherwise this season will be wasted. Karl feels the same, so we will work together up to a point, but if we end up on the same patch of tarmac, I’m going to beat him one way or another. Q: Michal, how impressed have you been with the setup at this team? There have been many comments about their professionalism and how quickly they have latched on to the pace? Michal Kubat: First of all, high to everyone here in Melbourne. I’ve been here since Tuesday and I’ve been lost for words from the moment I hopped off the long flight from my home in Prague. The setup has been fantastic from the word go. Pre-Season testing in Jerez was amazing. Although on paper we were well down the order, we were only a second and a bit off Liverpool and Rossi, which was a major positive. Abel and James also showed great consistency on their behalf, and we’re looking to build on that this season. Our professionalism in Jerez did catch the eyes of the top teams, which is a major positive to the team. We’ve always been practicing our works everyday at our factory in Greece such as pitstops, setup tweaks, etc., and I can tell they’ve been working hard to get this car where it is now. Pace-wise we hope to be in the midfield battle as quickly as possible, but it may take a few races to warm the muscles up. Q: You're also one of only two rookies joining the series this season. Do you feel this puts you at a disadvantage against the guys who already have a year under their belt? MK: No. I’m not feeling any pressure at all. I did half a season in the Junior series, and with the extra day of testing, I think I’m mentally and physically ready to take on the other 23 drivers and their machines. A lot is going to happen and we need to make the most of it like anyone else would. Q: So Will, you now take over from the champion as number one at arguably the best team in the sport. Are you feeling the pressure? Will Hoskins: No, I don’t think so. I’ve already proven my ability to win races, score points and were it not for some reliability issues, I would have been able to mount a serious challenge on the Championship. This year I’m going out of my way to prove why Franklin chose to keep me over Nathaniel. Q: You also now have Enrique as a teammate. With him being a rookie, how much can you rely on his feedback to improve the car? WH: I’ve been asked this a few times, but actually it may surprise you to know that Enrique was one of the main reasons that the team was able to continue developing the car through the season effectively. The team’s simulator played a major part, but Enrique seems to have a natural ability when it comes to development, so I have no qualms with him giving feedback to improve the car over the course of this season. Q: Puccio, last year, you were consistently one of the brightest stars the VGPC had to offer. This year, your star looks set to rise even further, with a car that could take you to race wins and possibly even the championship. What are your chances? Are you going to win this championship? Puccio Giodano: Testing went very well for us and the car felt great, but its hard to tell where you truly are as the teams are all running different programs. Our target has to be to fight for podiums and victories this season and if we can do that we defiantly have a good shot at the title. Q: Last year you comfortably beat your teammate Enzo. So this season will the entire team get behind you as firm number one? PG: The team will back whoever is in the best position in the championship, obviously I will work hard to ensure that is me. Q: Felix, last year you didn't get much of a chance, but in those few races, you got some very good results, which led the Force Australia team to take you on. Were you expecting another drive when BMW Zyla were excluded, and after only getting two rounds for Downton, were you concerned you would end up as a driver without a stable home? Felix Beyer: It was disappointing for sure! I think no driver wants to sit on the side of the track while others race past, but it was important to just focus on what I had and keep up training for any other offers. The Downton drives were a ’by-race’ basis and unfortunately didn’t work out as expected but it was enough to see, for me, that teams had faith in me, and when Ryan approached me for the Force Australia drive, I was very happy to accept! Q: You're with a new team, and it was obvious it would always be difficult. What exactly are your aims for this first race, and indeed the season? FB: I was with a new team last season, too! (laughs) I think for now we just focus on getting the car to the finish each time, keep races clean, learn what we can. Points would be great later on! Q: ’And finally to all of you - starting with our reigning Champion Nathaniel - in one word, who will be champion this year?’ NP: Adrien. AS: (laughs) Yeah, me. WH: No, me. PG: Way too early to answer that question. FB: It’s very hard to say, we have no races finished yet! I think Liverpool and Scuderia Rossi will be fighting, but too hard to know for now! MK: Someone.
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