Present:
Aku Pellinen, Rikli Motorsport, first position, Super 2000 Cup
Petr Fulín, Křenek Motorsport, second position, Super 2000 Cup
Kris Richard, Rikli Motorsport, third position, Super 2000 Cup
Kevin Hilgenhövel, MSC Wahlscheid e.V. im ADAC, first position, Super 1600 Cup

Q: A sensational return to the ETCC Aku, beating the fastest two drivers in the Super 2000 Cup on what is obviously a decisive weekend of the season. Talk us through your sensational lap.

AP: It wasn’t the perfect one. It came quite in the beginning of the qualifying. I had a few mistakes here and there. It was not a bad lap, quite good anyway. Then we tried to improve it with another set of new tyres at the end but I had some traffic in the first sector so that ruined that lap. But anyway it’s a nice feeling to be fastest here, I made a good result and I’m pleased with my own driving now and also with the team. They have been working hard on my car and it’s starting to be quite close to my driving style so it’s a good feeling to be here.

Q: Turning next to Petr Fulín, there’s a big title battle going on this weekend and now you’ve taken the lead of the ETCC Super 2000 with your two points for qualifying second. How did the session go for you?

PF: Firstly, I am a little bit disappointed because yesterday somebody came to the team with new information about the set-up of the SEAT cars. We worked very hard at home to prepare the cars fro here and now on a not-perfect floor we changed completely the set-up and the geometry. And then I did some mistakes and there was big pressure and the red flag means we had to change our plan. And also I am very disappointed about [Peter] Rikli because in my fast lap he brake me after the first corner and I almost crash into him. It’s not really a good feeling. Of course I am one point better but I am not sure about the whole situation because if you imagine the grid these guys will be starting ahead and behind and that’s why I expect some strategy by them. I am confident [Aku] will do everything to help Kris. It’s good but it could be better.

Q: Turning to Kris Richard, you’re one point behind now in this very exciting battle for the Super 2000 Cup but, more alarmingly, we saw your car on the back of a tow truck at the end of the session. What happened?

KR: The first part of the qualifying I was not able to do a good lap. I had some traffic and some mistakes from my side. I was a little too aggressive there. After the red flag on my first lap I had the same problem like the test two weeks ago when the engine turns off and I was not able to switch on again. I have no idea where the problem is and I hope we will find the problem. Maybe it is something with the ECU and the electrics but we will see tomorrow.

Q: Coming next to Kevin Hilgenhövel and your first pole position in the Super 1600 Cup. But in what is a very competitive category how did you manage that lap?

KH: The pole position lap was very good and my car was working really well so it’s a good start to the weekend.

Q: What about the races tomorrow, after claiming your first win at Magny-Cours, what’s your target?

KH: A double win!

Q: Finally coming back to Aku Pellinen, Aku you’ve not raced for five months but you’ve qualified on pole here. But as Petr eluded to there might be some strategy tomorrow so what’s your role going to be?

AP: I don’t know. We will see what happens in the races. You can’t tell what is going to happen in the races. Races are always the race and anything could happen. I don’t know about my role yet, I can tell that to you tomorrow evening.