Present:
Ferenc Ficza, Zengő Motorsport
Norbert Michelisz, Honda Racing Team JAS
Zsolt Gyulay, CEO, Hungaroring
François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, WTCC promoter
Yvan Muller, Citroën Total WTCC
Hugo Valente, LADA Sport Rosneft

Q:
There are some changes and new formats this season with WTCC MAC3 introduced at the start of the year? After two races, how pleased are you?

FR:
It’s the best season start we have had for 10 years I must say. When you see the quality of the races we had in Le Castellet and Slovakia and for the viewers and spectators it’s the best we have had and I hope it continues like this. The WTCC MAC3 format is good but we have been very lucky with a gap of 0.030s in Le Castellet and 0.000 – no gap – in Slovakia, not a centimetre of difference between the Honda and Citroen. We hope the Hungarian people will enjoy WTCC MAC3, it will be a tough battle and I encourage you to see it for real because from the grandstand it’s even better.

Q:
And what about the new Opening Race and Main Race – the reverse grid is now used for the first race of the weekend?

FR:
Many people thought reversing the grid on the Opening Race would make the race boring and kill the show but it’s not true. Ask Yvan Muller, as López, ask Norbi – if they want to be world champion they have to take risks also in the Opening Race. We’ve had two quality races and I’ve no doubt Hungaroring will be the same.

Q:
There are two former independent drivers, Norbert Michelisz and Hugo Valente, now with factory drives. How pleased are to see them get this opportunity and progress?

FR:
They have contracts because they deserve it. Hungarian people have been helping and pushing Norbi for so long really and I’m really happy he has got a factory seat with Honda. As a promoter that’s something we have been helping and pushing. I’m really happy. Hugo also made a really great season last year. There was a window opening at LADA and we took it for him and they put him in the car. It’s really good to see him racing against legends like Tarquini and fast drivers like Catsburg so we can see how much he’s worth. We’re also very pleased to see Zengő Motorsport making the effort to promote young talents below 20 and keeping the tradition of training young Hungarian drivers at the top level.

Q:
And what about the new surface at the Hungaroring?

FR:
I’ve seen it this morning and I spoke to some Formula 3 drivers. They all told me it’s perfect but also very slippery, which should make the racing interesting.

Q:
What’s the significance of the WTCC coming to the Hungaroring this season?

ZG:
The field of WTCC will be the first to complete on the new asphalt cover of Hungaroring. I hope everyone will like it, but certainly I support the Hungarian guys a bit more than the others. Every year we are eagerly waiting for WTCC coming to Hungaroring since Hungarian fans love this series thanks to Norbert Michelisz.

Q:
Apart from last year you have been a winner at the Hungaroring every season. You must be a big fan of the track?

YM:
It’s always a pleasure to come here in Budapest. It’s a good track, a nice atmosphere. I came here two days ago to visit because I love this city. The approach is to give it my best like always and I’ve already done one lap walking the track with my engineers because we already thinking of the weekend. We are here to do the best we can.

Q:
With Citroën not entering a factory team next season what is the atmosphere like in the team?

YM:
The atmosphere is good in the Citroën team even if the two first meetings were a bit difficult for us with the weight penalty. But we still proved in qualifying we were the best car on track. The races were a bit more difficult but we still won two races. We are still focused on what we have to do and we hope this weekend will be a little bit easier for us.

Q:
It’s your first season as a factory driver, how is it going?

HV:
It’s great to be a factory driver but the real job starts now to be honest. It’s a different pressure but for sure being a factory driver has been my aim since starting in WTCC three years ago. It’s tougher than thought and it’s a lot of work, hard work but I cannot complain because my team-mates have incredible experience in Gabriele and he has already made the team progress a lot. Nicky has proved to be one of the fastest drivers on the grid so it’s great to be part of LADA.

Q:
And what about the Hungaroring – is it a track you like?

HV:
Definitely. I’ve had two podiums here, two years ago was one of my first in the WTCC and last year was my first podium in the first race, which felt like an even greater accomplishment because I was on the podium with Pechito and Yvan. It’s a track I really like and I really like the city with the atmosphere. The Hungarians are also very nice people and this Hungarian superstar [Norbert Michelisz] brings lots of fans. Drivers look forward to this weekend, it’s one of the main events with the most fans. The atmosphere is great all weekend and it’s a track I really like. We’ll see with the new Tarmac, maybe it will change some things because for sure the grip will be different. We hope to perform as well as last year but it will be different when the ballast comes. We’re here to work hard and to see what we can do.

Q:
You had quite a dramatic race in Slovakia. What happened?

FF:
Fortunately, I survived a hot situation in Slovakia Ring when the rear part of my car caught fire and there were huge flames. However, it meant lots of work for the team to do, but it seems that the car will be ready. I have yet to learn a lot because this series and this car are totally different from the one I raced in and by. I have to cope with a lot of things, but I do really enjoy it and I am happy to be here.

Q:
What does it mean to you to be racing at home in the WTCC?

NM:
It is so nice to see that so many people gathered at this press conference today. I was really looking forward to start this weekend because the atmosphere is always special here in Budapest and the fans support is also amazing in my home country!

Q:
You’ve become a factory Honda driver for 2016. How has it been so far?

NM:
The Honda team helped me a lot to find my place quickly in the team and it’s just like being at home. The team is great and their work is professional, they are doing their best. The races were very exciting so far in Paul Ricard and in Slovakia. I expect an exiting one again.

Q:
Things didn’t go so well for you in Slovakia. What happened?

NM:
Well, the race in Slovakia was not as good/perfect as we expected but we want to stand on the podium this weekend and we also managed to fix all the technical problems we faced last weekend. At the same time, it could be a disadvantage because of the extra weight. I think we are competitive enough and we will try to catch the Citroëns. According to the calculations we will not be the fastest to win the race but we will do our best. We hope the great atmosphere will compensate our disadvantage.

Q:
And what about the changes to the track?

NM:
I know the track very well, but everyone will start from the same level because the surface is new for everyone so we have the same chance. I’m hoping the lower kerbs will make things easier.

Questions from the floor:

FR:
Before this there’s something very important to mention. We have WTCC, Formula 3, Formula V8 3.5 and Kia Cup. It’s just a non-stop show and having Formula 3 and Formula 3.5 together with WTCC is something great for the spectators.

Q:
Question to Hugo Valente (journalist details not available): The LADA is a classic car in Hungary with a lot of heritage, a Russian car from the Communist past. What do you know about this?

HV:
I’m sorry, but you probably know more about LADA story than I do to be honest!

Q:
Szilvia Magyar (Motorzaj.hu, Hungary) to François Ribeiro: Sébastien Loeb is no longer competing in the WTCC. Do you miss him and do you think this resulted in not many spectators coming to Paul Ricard?

FR: 
No I don’t think so and yes, I do and I think all WTCC drivers miss him. It was not his decision to stop WTCC. I think if it was his choice he would have done a third season. It’s true I was scared we would lose spectators, viewers and traffic on social media because Sébastien Loeb is not there but for the first two races we have double the amount of traffic since last year, double. We’ve had a good start, good races, MAC3, new drivers and overall the show is good and people are following the show. If Sébastien Loeb was here it would be better but he’s busy doing something else.