Present:
Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total WTCC, first position race one
Yvan Muller, Citroën Total WTCC, second position race one
José María López, Citroën Total WTCC, third position race one, first position race two
Ma Qing Hua, Citroën Total WTCC, third position race two
Tom Chilton, ROAL Motorsport, Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy winner race one
Norbert Michelisz, Zengő Motorsport, Yokohama Drivers’ Trophy winner race two, second position race two

Q:
A fantastic performance winning from pole – how pleased were you with your performance in that race?

SL:
I was really pleased. I was pleased to start in pole position because it was the first time for me in the championship. I didn’t take a very good start and had to protect a little bit in the first lap but then I was still leading after the first lap and I could manage to take a little advantage. From that point I could drive like I know using the normal lines. I tried to push to pull a little bit away and I was able to do it so after that it was a clean race.

Q:
Can you explain about the start – did you do something different?

SL:
I didn’t adjust really well the clutch so I had spinning in the clutch. I had to correct and when you correct like this I started to lose some time so that was a mistake. The second start I was a bit more aggressive and spin the wheels but it was okay, it’s like that.

Q:
There was some early pressure from behind in race one. Were you aware of what was going on behind you with your two team-mates battling?

SL:
For that I tried to take a little advantage. Pechito and Yvan were fighting and were losing a little bit of time so I could have a comfortable gap. From this point I just tried to concentrate on my drive and not do any mistakes and it was just perfect.

Q:
Unfortunately race two wasn’t quite so just perfect. Can you explain what happened in that second race?

SL:
I had quite a good start and I was following Pechito and Ma. Then a stupid mistake I would say in corner four. I was very close behind Ma, trying to accelerate early, understeering a bit like usually. There was some tyre on the exit of the corner and I didn’t see anything because I was so close behind Ma. When he passed next to the tyre it just appeared in front of me and I couldn’t do anything.

Q:
What was the damage to the car?

SL:
It was the front left. I felt the steering was a bit sideways, moving a little bit so I knew something was broken and there was no need to try to continue in this condition. There was no chance.

Q:
Overall was this a good weekend for you?

SL:
No!

Q:
Really, because that first-race performance was fantastic…

SL:
For sure I am happy to have had the pole position and to win the first race in France it was just magic. But then I am a bit disappointed because I know I had the performance to do a good second race. I already had a good start in the second race and I am still losing points to my rivals for the championship. Going away I cannot say I am happy with the weekend.

Q:
You’re not really meant to win races from eighth on the grid. Can you explain your second race because it looked very eventful?

JML:
First of all I would like to say Seb did a fantastic first race, his first win in the main race so congratulations to him – he had a great speed today. In the second race it was fantastic. I didn’t expect this honestly because it’s a very difficult track to overtake on. We had Ma in front of us and Bennani as well. I did a good start again but I picked the wrong moment again. I tried to go inside and didn’t have space so I had to lift this time. The only thing I wanted to see was in my mirrors because I thought lifting in the start you probably lose a lot. Fortunately I didn’t lose. There were three key moments in the race. On the first lap I managed to pass Ma without losing time and contact with the leaders. Then the second key moment was when I was trying on the outside with Tiago. He just came to me, I turned and I couldn’t do anything. It was a shame for him. He took the risk but he lost his race. I cannot say anything because I don’t feel guilty for one per cent of the manoeuvre. After that I had a few laps when I didn’t know what was going on in the car. The steering was a little bit on the left side. Ma passed me and it was a great fight with him. When I passed him the rhythm I had to catch Michelisz was very good so I knew I had a chance. Then the last key moment was when I passed him. He didn’t push me at all, he knew I was quicker. He has always been very fair with me and I thanked him on the podium. It’s fantastic and winning the race is really amazing here for the team as well because we’re at home. There were a few races when I was losing some points but I managed to win strong. It’s very important to me.

Q:
Your reaction at the end of the second race was very emotional. Was there a big sense of relief?

JML:
No, no. I just enjoy it because I don’t know when I was going to win again. It’s been four races and people were asking why I was not winning. But it’s normal because I have drivers next to me who are very, very good. They are two great champions and Ma also showed the speed. I was working for it and sometimes they are quicker than me and stronger than me. For me it was a release a little bit, I needed it but the emotional was more because the race was very difficult, passing some people, having some contact. I’m normally quite emotional when I win.

Q:
Turning to Yvan and your first race. Was it a case of you couldn’t have done much more than finishing second in race one?

YM:
I couldn’t do much more. I knew the race would be done after the first lap almost. I did my best to do a good start but my start was not very fantastic. Then I put the pressure on Seb during one lap but I had no more opportunity so for me second place was the best I could do and I jus had to defend it against José. In the second race I did a very bad start. I was too far away at the end of the first lap. I came back but it was too late.

Q:
You finished the first race having taken some points away from José but that didn’t quite continue in the second race. Is that a big disappointment?

YM:
Of course the weekend is quite disappointing after the good weekend we had in Russia and Slovakia. But the race is like that and I will try to change that for the next race in Portugal.

Q:
Yesterday we spoke about the heat. What was the heat like in the races for you?

YM:
It was hot! It was good for my figure but you can imagine the inside of the car is 25 or 30 degrees more than in the outside plus the overalls, helmet, underwear etc. It’s hot but it’s part of our job.

Q:
And the car, was it suffering at all?

YM:
The car is suffering, the tyres as well but it’s the same for everyone especially on fast corners like Signes where it’s hard for the tyres and the heat goes up and the temperature of the car as well especially when you have the slipstream and you don’t have the fresh air it’s hard for the tyres and the brakes and the drivers.

Q:
Norbi you didn’t look very happy at the finish of the second race despite finishing on the podium. Were you disappointed not to have won?

NM:
Yeah I was disappointed. Getting out of the car when you lead the race for 90 or 95 per cent you start to believe you will be the winner. Of course with Ma and José behind me I knew I had to go always 100 per cent. I was ready when I saw Pechito overtaking and seeing the speed he had I knew it was going to be tough but I was ready to go to the end. I tried to defend but in turn number five I had the inside, he had the outside. He did a great move, cut back to the inside and it was lost basically. I couldn’t attack him anymore. He had the speed to make a gap and I was settling for second. The more time passes after the race the more I have to say I am happy overall. With the package we had it was almost the maximum. Maybe with a bit of luck I could have been winning the race. But I will do my best the next time and with some luck I will win again.

Q:
What did you think of Mehdi Bennani’s star when he left the line a bit ahead of schedule?

NM:
It’s always difficult because you are focused on the lights but every small movement on your side makes a little bit of distraction. I saw Mehdi moving and of course it was also difficult for me not to move. But as soon as the lights went out I had the start and Mehdi was already accelerating.

Q:
When did you get to hear about his penalty – when you saw him dive into the pits or were you made aware beforehand?

NM:
It was clear he would get a penalty for that because he moved like one or two metres early. It’s very easy. People looking from the outside think it’s an amateur mistake but we are so on the limit with the red lights that it’s very easy to do mistakes like that.

Q:
A very good performance from you in terms of your speed – fastest in Q1 and into Q3 as well before your performance in the race today, how satisfied are you with your weekend?

MQH:
First of all I am very happy to come on the podium and thanks to all the team for working very hard. We are pushing 200 per cent and I think I am the only one here with no experience on this track so it’s good to be here especially against the champions. Through Free Practice we were pushing really hard to find the best solution for the car and for my driving. I think it was quite good. We were changing things during Qualifying and it went well. In race one was very difficult to overtake my team-mates. In race two I did a very good start but I was gambling a little bit for the inside or outside line because at that moment my speed is a bit quicker than the LADA and Honda in front and I was not so sure of the inside line because there were three cars on the inside and I was in the middle. But finally I took a bit of risk and it was not bad. I didn’t expect José to be so quick to catch me but I managed to pass Gabriele. I was looking for a chance to do more. It was not a bad finish and we are focused on the future as well and this is a very good experience for me and I hope I can keep the performance for the future.

Q:
And talking of the future, you’ve three team-mates here have all won races but you haven’t yet so when will that first victory of the season come?

MQH:
Everyone here is trying to win the race and it’s difficult. This season especially the gap is very, very close and we are all pushing really hard to chase the last tenths. It’s not easy, especially for me without he experience they have. I have to look to every detail around the circuit, the car, the driving to catch the gap. But for sure I hope I will be pushing for the race victory.

Q:
Next it’s Portugal and a brand new venue for the WTCC in Vila Real. What do you know of the track and how do you prepare?

JML:
I know it’s a bit crazy is the only thing I know! It’s a street circuit, very quick. We have done some simulator laps but we don’t quite know the final circuit. It looks very interesting, very demanding for us, the teams and the cars, a bit dangerous and we will see. It will be a very nice experience but I don’t have too much to say because we don’t know the place having not been there. We have been doing the work on the simulator but some corners are being modified so maybe the track is wrong and we have to be careful for this.