Present:
Rob Huff, LADA Sport Rosneft
Ma Qing Hua, Citroën Total WTCC
Norbert Michelisz, Zengő Motorsport
François Ribeiro, WTCC General Manager

Q:
Year number five for the WTCC in China François – how important is it for the championship to come to this country?

FR:
China is very important. Even though the growth of the automotive market is slowing down it remains the biggest car market in the world. For a championship like the WTCC, which is featuring mass-market cars, China is very important, it’s a must. We have a good collaboration with CTCC and FASC and I hope that collaboration will carry on for a very long period.

Q:
And there’s not just a race in China but a very good driver from China taking part in all rounds of the WTCC. What do you think of Ma’s performances so far and do you think he has what it takes to win the championship one day?

FR:
I hope! I don’t know how long it will take for Formula 1 or WRC to have a driver to win races, a guess a few years. The WTCC gives that opportunity to a Chinese driver to perform on a global platform. Ma started last year and is improving race after race, particularly the win he had in Portugal but also the race he made in Japan two weeks ago. He showed a lot of authority and a lot of self-confidence. I really hope he will be able to challenge for the world title. It’s not easy to do this in the best team in the world, Citroën, and against the best drivers because it’s not easy to beat Loeb, Muller or López. But at the same time he’s in the best place possible to learn. He’s been very impressive with what he has done and hopefully he’ll be able to show the way for other Chines drivers. In basketball when the first Chinese players went to NBA the popularity of the sport really increased in China and it’s very important to have a Chinese driver performing outside China in the world championship.

Q:
There are now just six races left until the end of the season. What have been some of the highlights and which drivers have really impressed you?

FR:
We’ve had three new tracks already this year and the first of these was at the Nürburgring in Germany on the Nordschleife. It’s the most difficult and challenging circuit on the planet and was something very good for WTCC. The street race in Vila Real was also a real challenge with huge media coverage, the record for WTCC over the last 10 years. And definitely race at Motegi because we found a circuit, which fits exactly to touring car. Both races were good and now we just have two new events to go, the first in Thailand six weeks from now, the first twilight race and in Qatar the first ever night race for WTCC. So there have been plenty of highlights and plenty of good fights, good racing, overtaking, emotions, tears and joy and this is what touring car racing is all about.

Q:
The WTCC is broadcast around the world including here in China. What can you say about the agreement with QQ.com for this weekend?

FR:
Ma told us at the end of last year that if you want to reach the younger generation in China you have to be on live streaming, it’s the biggest platform in China. TV is good but it’s not enough in China. We put a lot of effort to put WTCC on QQ and all the races are available live, replayed or catch-up and videos. This is the first year of the collaboration with QQ. We don’t have this as popular in the rest of the world, specifically in Europe. It’s coming but slowly but in China it’s super important and super critical and I’m happy to have QQ on board with the WTCC. I know they do a lot of special features on Ma, which is good and then we will see in the grandstands on Sunday we see young adults, teenagers to give them the appetite to come and see WTCC and CTCC together.

Q:
Turning to you Mr Ma, after finishing second to your team-mate José María López in WTCC Race of China last season, how badly do do you want to win this year and how have you prepared for your home race?

MQH:
I am very happy to be here in Shanghai to race in the WTCC. This is my second WTCC race in my home town. It’s a very exciting moment but I will be preparing even more to try to fight more this weekend. Of course I am more confident from this season from learning many things from my team and my team-mates and I think my pace has been very good, especially in the last race in Japan where I got a big confidence [boost]. I hope this race in this weekend I can do well and of course my target is to win the race and get the pole position.

Q:
You probably know the Shanghai International Circuit better than everyone else in this room. What’s it like as a track and how good will the WTCC races be on Sunday?

MQH:
It’s a very technical track, very difficult with high-speed, low-speed and medium-speed corners all with different shapes. For me I didn’t get so much advantage because I have been racing many years in Europe and I have even more experience in some European circuits instead of Shanghai so in this case it’s quite equal for everybody.

Q:
Now it’s not just a big weekend for you but also for your Citroën team. What’s the team like to drive for and what would it mean to you to help Citroën win the WTCC manufacturers’ championship for a second season in what is their biggest global market?

MQH:
Last year we get the title in Shanghai and we were really happy to enjoy that moment with the team. Of course this year we are back in the same situation and of course our target is to get the manufacturers’ tile in Shanghai and this looks very possible. We are on a good pace at this circuit and I think we have the confidence to do our target result.

Q:
Turning to you Rob, China must hold a special place in your heart after you gave LADA its maiden WTCC victory in Beijing last season. What do you remember of that day – how important was the result?

RH:
I think we were probably just as surprised as anyone to be fair but that’s the one of good things about the World Touring Car Championship with the reverse grid in race two. It gives people opportunities that might normally present themselves and the tight and twisty circuit suited the car really well and made overtaking difficult. For us it was obviously a great thrill to get that second place in Argentina and to come to capitalise at the next race with a win was very special.

Q:
Twelve months on Rob, how far has the LADA team come and what are the chances of a win in Shanghai?

RH:
Well obviously we’ve got the brand new Vesta, which is a huge step forward from the Granta we had last year. We’ve got a true TC1 car this year. Over the races we’re slowly developing it and getting it further and further up the grid. Obviously our home race in Russia we had our first podium, which was fantastic. And then a pretty special race last time out in Japan coming from 13th on the grid to finish third for that podium… the car is making big steps forward, the team is making big steps forward and that’s what its all about. We need some time in the car and more testing with the car but ultimately we’re getting to the front of the grid.

Q:
And what about Rosneft – they’re not just title sponsors of LADA Sport but they are the Event Presenting Partner for WTCC Race of China. Could you say a few words about their commitment to motorsport?

RH:
We’ve got he huge global brand Rosneft as a partner this year and really shows the huge step forward we’re making as a team. It shows the huge step forward we’re making as a team, the professionalism involved and how serious the whole project is being taken now. It’s a huge event for us this weekend in China with 300 guests from Rosneft. It’s moving forward and hopefully we can give them a deserved result this weekend.

Q:
Finally, turning to you Norbi. You became the first non-Citroën driver to qualifying on pole position in the WTCC this year when you went fastest at Twin Ring Motegi. What was that like and how much of a form guide will it be for this weekend?

NM:
Firstly it’s nice to be here – my fifth time here. On the last weekend we were lucky in one point because with the success ballast system we were in a good position and the circuit seemed to favour the Honda Civic. With that combination and with a good lap in qualifying we were fortunate enough to achieve pole position, which was our target from the first event this season if I am honest. We have big hopes but we also have to realise the competition is quite tough in this championship. Nevertheless I was totally happy with the result from last weekend because if you are able to achieve a pole position then it shows the progress and, for me, it’s only a matter of time until we get to the point when we can constantly fight for not only pole position but first-race victories.

Q:
Can you tell everyone here about how you got started in motorsport because it wasn’t the normal route?

NM:
It’s a long story so I’m not sure if I will be able to explain it briefly but it was always my dream to become a racing car driver. Luckily when I was 21 I had an invitation from Mr Zengő of Zengő Motorsport because I was going online with computer games and he was impressed with the results I had there. In 2005 he invited me for a test session on the Hungaroring and it went quite good. I made a good impression and from that moment we were able to do step-by-step making progress to become a contender in the World Touring Car Championship. I am one of the most lucky and most happy man in the world because I have been living my dream for the last 10 years and hopefully I can continue to do that in the WTCC.

Q:
As we mentioned before, the 2015 season is drawing to a close. What plans do you have for next year? Will we see you back in the WTCC?

NM:
As a racing car driver, whatever championship you are driving in, the ultimate goal is to win the championship and from what I see you need to have a factory drive. Of course the result we had last season and the progress we showed this year I think I am in a good position now to talk about a factory drive for next season. But still I have to say my current team is doing its best to make our dream happen and we are winning races and scoring a pole position with them. It’s not an easy question. I grew up with Zengő Motorsport for the last 10 years so it’s also a personal question in one case. But, being a professional driver, after a point you have to progress. I know a lot of drivers are interested in driving for the factory teams and my ultimate goal is to become a factory driver at one point in my career.