ETCC - C.Schreiber: "To be honest it's like a dream. I wasn't expecting that, really not"
ETCC - 2017 Race of Nurburgring - Post qualifying press conference
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Present:
Christjohannes Schreiber, Rikli Motorsport, pole position
Petr Fulín, Křenek Motorsport, second position
Fábio Mota, LEIN Racing, third position
Q:
Let's start with Christjohannes. You had your first podium here last year and it's your first pole position in the ETCC this season at the Nürburgring. Yesterday you told us you had some problems with the balance of the car, how was it for you now in Qualifying?
CS:
It was completely different. We struggled a lot and we tried to find some solutions and obviously we found something. To be honest it's like a dream. I wasn't expecting that, really not.
Q:
So the car was better for you in Qualifying than during the previous sessions?
CS:
Yes, much better. It’s a huge step. The car is much more driveable, I trust it more and that is the base to be fast on the Nordschleife. If you don't trust yourself in the car, it’s impossible to go fast.
Q:
The aim for tomorrow is pretty straightforward in that case?
CS:
To be honest I don't want to talk too much about tomorrow. I will take the race very seriously and try to score as many points as possible.
Q:
And finally a word on your team-mate Peter Rikli, who failed to complete a timed lap. What happened to him?
CS:
I don't know exactly but there was an issue with the steering or something and they couldn’t fix it. It's really sad for him because he had a lot of bad luck this year and I hope they can repair it during the night and he can start tomorrow.
Q:
Turning to Petr Fulín, you set some impressive lap times during the previous sessions, although you said the practice times don't really mean anything. What went wrong during Qualifying?
PF:
I would like to say thanks to my team because I think the most important is to enjoy this weekend.
Q:
Was there anything particular or different in the behaviour of the car in Qualifying?
PF:
I think I had good qualifying but as I told you I would like to enjoy this special weekend because this track is something special and we made maximum and we will see.
Q:
What can you achieve in the races tomorrow? Do you think you can fight with Honda tomorrow?
PF:
I think that my ambition is to enjoy this weekend.
Q:
Turning to Fábio, third place and it’s your first time at a press conference since Slovakia last year. You struggled yesterday with the car, you had driveshaft failure and everything seems to be on the right track for you now. How was the Qualifying for you?
FM:
This is my second time in the press conference, last time it was in Slovakia last year. The funny thing it was in the same positions – Schreiber in first, Fulín in second and me in third. Yesterday we had a difficult day. We started very well in testing then in the Free Practice 1 we didn’t even start because of the driveshaft issue. Today everything was okay with the car. Like Fulín said, the most important is to enjoy what you do on the track to be fast here. If you are very tense on this track nothing will happen. I think the secret to be here in this press conference is to enjoy every lap and every moment that you do on Nordschleife. Thanks to the team. We had some little issue with tyre pressure but I think maybe it caught all the drivers and teams so it’s very good to be here and I hope tomorrow we'll be strong.