Welcome to another edition of the ‘Let’s get to know…’ series, hosted by me Scott Parkin of FVTV. This series aims to, whilst keeping it short and sweet, provide an insight into various people from inside the Formula Virtual paddock ranging from the famous drivers to the behind-the-scenes staff at some of the teams. Today’s guest – who we managed to pull in just before Christmas – made his Formula Virtual debut in 2018 where he scored a podium finish in just his fourth V-Prix, and has gone from strength to strength ever since; establishing himself as one of FV’s brightest young talents and beating his veteran teammate last season to become the number one driver at Ingram for 2021. He is, of course, James Vasquez. Scott Parkin: Tell us about yourself as a person, and how would you describe yourself as a driver? James Vasquez: My name is James and I drive for Ingram V-Prix. I think I'm a quick driver! That's the important one. Off the track I'm quite restless really, I like doing stuff. Other motorsports, other sports, I play 5-a-side sometimes, cycling too. If there's no sport then I'll be doing something else, cooking, having fun with friends. SP: What do you most enjoy doing in your free time? JV: At the moment I'm really into cycling, Egan [Bernal, 2019 Tour de France winner] of course, is big in Colombia and I'm good friends with him. He's maybe a little faster than me on a bike! SP: What music do you listen to the most? JV: I listen to a lot of reggaeton, J Balvin, Rosalia, Maluma. Of course if I'm celebrating a good result we play Shakira! (Sings) I'm on tonight... (Laughs) SP: What is your favourite food? JV: I eat a lot of seafood and coconut rice, if I'm back home I eat carimañola. Will [Ingram] also showed me crumpets? We have those at the factory. They are... different! (laughs) SP: Do you have any fears? JV: I'm not really sure... I don't really like needles but I have learned just to look the other way. SP: What is your greatest achievement outside of motorsport? JV: I'm very proud to be supporting my family after they got me to FV. They worked so hard for me and they deserved a good rest! Although my pa is like me and likes doing stuff so he still has a job.. My little brother is a lot smarter than me and he wants to be a doctor so I'm helping him too. He says he'll repay the favour by looking after me when I crash! My ma doesn't like that joke. SP: If you had not become a racing driver, what do you think you would have been? JV: I would still be a sportsman, maybe cycling? Maybe football... My family came from Medellín so I would have played for Atlético Nacional. SP: Who is your idol outside of FV? JV: Growing up I loved Juan Pablo Montoya, he is my hero and I've met him a few times which was amazing. I try to be as aggressive as him in my overtakes. James Rodriguez is another hero, Colombia hadn't been to a world cup that I could watch before and he was unbelievable. The goal against Uruguay was... wow. I was watching with my friends at home and we couldn't believe it. The whole country was behind him. SP: Who is your idol in the world of FV? JV: I don't know if I have an idol in FV. Obviously Enrique is a legend and he's the one we all want to beat! But on the track he's just another driver. SP: Who are your closest friends in FV, drivers or anyone else? JV: I've always been close with Felix [Pérez]. We used to travel together and we still talk in the paddock, we play football with Sergio [Álvarez] too - although Sergio is not good! Klaas [van Snelheid] plays sometimes. There's a few of us who cycle around the tracks before races too which is fun. SP: What do you enjoy most about being a driver in Formula Virtual? JV: The racing of course! Getting into battles is so exciting, and the speed is of course amazing. Once you get out of the car you are counting down til you can get back in it. There's nothing like it. SP: What has been your personal favourite race so far and why? JV: My first race maybe. Ingram put a lot of faith in me and replacing Niko was... The team said no pressure, but of course I put pressure on myself and 5th in qualifying, ahead of Jean, and 4th in the race was just amazing. Malaysia is also something I won't forget with my first podium, it was so difficult and so slow! I was just hoping we could keep going. I hope next time it will be drier. SP: Do you consider anyone as a rival? JV: I've always raced Felix [Pérez] as a friend and rival. At the moment his car is a little too fast for us but hopefully we can fight for wins together. We were very very close in FV2! SP: Could you see yourself ever driving for another team? If yes, who could you see yourself driving for and why? JV: The dream is to fight for wins with Ingram, if something else happens something else happens. SP: And finally, who would you like to nominate as the next person to do a ‘Let’s get to know…’? JV: I think it's got to be Felix, no? SP: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this for us James, best of luck for the upcoming season!
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