Hola to everyone around the world who has tuned in for this, the 8th running of the Spanish V-Prix. I'm Neil Allenby, FVTV, and I'll be taking you through the grid walk. It's pretty chilly by Jerez standards, but the sun is still out, not expecting any rain. We've a very strategic race in store for us today, the top 4 all on different tyres, and yet again it's Enrique Ruiz on pole with teammate Adrien Simon alongside. There's not as many people on the grid as usual but all the drivers are in place so should be able to grab someone. You can see the two red Mathershaws at the front, watch out for Simon on the right, on the extra softs. Ruiz is talking to Rob Mathershaw at the moment so I won't interrupt him. Then there's Powers and the FIRSTs, on different tyres to the leading pair, and then we've got KVS, who looks free so lets pop down to him.
Not the best of qualifying sessions for you Klaas, 6th after a mistake. You're on the softs compared to the two hard FIRSTs, how crucial will it be to get past them quickly? "We all know how difficult it is to pass around here. I need to clear the FIRSTs at the start or my race is screwed. We're confident in the strategy, but need the clear air to maximise it." Perez had some words after France about your little coming together with him late on, you start right behind him now. Is there any hard feelings or have you moved on from that? "No hard feelings from my side, but if he wants to cry to the media let him crack on. The lap prior I had a mega run down the outside, then as I turned in he cut over the kerb on the inside and bumped me wide, if I hadn't turned out we'd have collided then. I swiftly realised the only way I'd get past was to do the same back, so I did - but he suddenly doesn't like it. It was unfortunate that our cars connected as they did as I lost the place to Hoskins, but that's racing. He initiated racing dirty, I just repaid the favour. He needs to learn when to back out and admit defeat." Well, thanks Klaas, I'll catch you later. Oof, quite the way to start a grid walk! Moving on from that though, we've got some midfield stars here. Mattson in 7th, though he isn't in his car, Halvosen in 8th, another one to watch out for. The other Ingram is just behind, Vasquez in 10th. Wagner's in 9th, his teammate is somewhere over the horizon, another shocking qualifying for Kangur. But in 11th, the man of the hour, we've got to talk to him. Finn, Finn, Finn! First time on the grid this season for you and like your teammate before it's with a stunning lap, 11th place, congratulations again. Jerez is notorious for being difficult to pass, can you hold on to 11th, or maybe break into the top 10? "Yeah I'm absolutely thrilled to be here, finally getting a good start. We think we've turned a corner lately despite missing two races and we think we can keep this going." There's quite a mix between the mediums and the hards around the mid pack, do you think there's much difference between the two? "Jerez is cruel to our tyres so we think these are the way to go, we just don't know how far yet. I think we need to wait and see." I think someone is calling you now so I'll let you go, good luck. The grid is starting to get a bit packed now, lots of hustle and bustle. You just saw the Phoenix of Alvarez there in 14th, good performance for him. There's Kangur in 16th, mentioned him before, doesn't look like he's in a good mood so I'll steer clear. On the other side there's the two Lucas cars, great qualifying for them, and speaking of Lucas I can see him talking with someone, lets slide in. Lucas, Neil Allenby FVTV. You had a fantastic session, cars in 15th and 17th. The best this year. Do you feel like car has turned a corner performance wise? "I think it is a good start. Both guys did a stellar job yesterday. Couldn't ask for more really. So yeah, I think they extracted the best out of the package that we have. We've made some changes to make a tighter engine section, changed a bit of aero here and there. So yes, the car is looking a lot better than the last couple of races." Thanks Lucas, and, uh, hello Shane, didn't expect to see you. Your team didn't qualify today, was there a problem with the cars? "Hi there. Unfortunately we can’t say there was a problem for our cars yesterday we just did not have any pace. Giani was on his limit and you see how far off his fast time was. It's not good." Thank you as well, you two seem busy talking so I'll leave you to it. We're starting to reach the back end of the grid now, just passed Addison's Franklin in 19th, his best start. Just further up from him there's Ryan and further down there's Zvironas, bad qualifying for Ocelot. Westwood also struggled, both cars on row 11 to my right and left. Wondering if I can talk to any of them... hey, there's the Dom and Giodano, I'll hop in. Hey, mind if I butt in? Dom, a really tough day for both you and the team as a whole yesterday in that tricky qualifying session. Did you feel the track just isn’t suiting the car this weekend or was it the crowded track that caused problems for Ocelot? "We lost some time with the field being so crowded but I’m hoping we can strike it lucky in some way." You’re starting on the extra soft tyres today, a very bold call. However, in your short Formula Virtual career so far, you’ve gained a bit of a reputation for your overtaking manoeuvres, is that partly the thinking behind the extras? "We wanted to go for a gamble and see if it’ll pay off. Hopefully we can climb up the field with overtakes." Thanks mate, and Puccio, like Ocelot, yesterday was hugely disappointing for the team with 21st and 22nd on the grid. Have the team got to the bottom of the lack of pace yet? "We know exactly what went wrong for us yesterday, and we have tangible proof that we are much faster than our qualifying. We are much more confident for the race." You’re on the mediums today, with drivers on hards, softs, and even extra softs around you. Are you worrying more about keeping the softer tyre runners behind, or getting past as many hard runners as possible? "This afternoon I'm only looking forward! It will be difficult but not impossible, the softer tyred runners are in for a long afternoon!" Thank you as well, good luck for the race. Might as well go all the way to the back while I'm at it, Takahashi in 24th, one of his weaker qualifyings but he's in the race at least, Thunder in 25th, wonder if Franklin will consider bringing Enzo back asap. Then at the back, unfortunately, Xylander, lets talk to him. Thierry, dismal qualifying session for you yesterday with you ending up last on the grid. You mentioned that you struggled with your glasses steaming up, how much of an issue is this? "Oh for sure it is huge sometimes. When the conditions are just right, or wrong if you are me, then it happens and unfortunately things like this are not in our control. I plan for everything meticulously but I cannot plan my eyesight!" That’s very true, have you not considered laser eye surgery? "Tell them to pay me more and I can afford this! *laughs* What do you think you can manage today from last on the grid? "Well *sighs deeply as he contemplates life through spectacles* not much in honesty. This circuit is hard even if you start where you should start so being right back here is not good at all, to pass anyone will be very difficult but of course I will give my all and see where the strategy takes us." We'll see how it goes, thanks Thierry. I'm now on my way back up to the top, since I went right to the back there's not much time left, might just go with whoever I see first, errr... how long have we got left, two minutes? Oh, there's two old timers together, give me a second. Tumo, just a few questions before the race? Best quali of the season for you, can you nab some points from here? "It'll be tough for sure, but we'll try our best. All we can do is get our head down and push hard. Hopefully our strategy works out." There's been some talk of financial issues for Cheema, can you add anything to any of the rumours? "That's a question for the team, not for me. I'm a driver, I do my job, they do their's." Fair enough, and Jean, just one questions. Excellent qualifying yesterday, do you think you can take the fight to team like FIRST or Downton in the race? "Merci, I think it's unlikely that we will battle with FIRST or Downton but I hope we can stay where we are. The target is points and I think we should aim to match Johan." Thank you then, unfortunately that's all we have time for, the national anthem is about to start, I'll be back after the race but until then I'll hand you over to Bradley.
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