Present: 
Yves Matton, Citroën, first position
Alessandro Mariani, Honda, second position
Victor Shapovalov, LADA, third position

Q:
Two reasons for celebration today Yves but let’s start with WTCC MAC3 and 10 more points for your Manufacturers’ championship bid. How pleased were you with the performance of your drivers out on track just then?

YM:
I can only be very happy with a day like this. The team did a perfect job in WTCC MAC3. We came back to a normal strategy after trying something different in Argentina and it seems it’s the best solution.

Q:
Before then we saw career pole number 20 for José María López and the 28th for Citroën in the WTCC and four C-Elysée in the top five. That must have made you very proud and the team as well?

YM:
For sure to have four cars in the top five is great with two private cars joining the two official cars. After, okay, the time from Pechito was quite incredible.

Q:
Turning to Alessandro Mariani next, here representing Honda of course, the home team in WTCC MAC3 today. Before we cover WTCC MAC3 please tell us about qualifying and the fact there will be two Civics on the front row of the grid for the Opening Race?

AM:
This morning when we started Free Practice we were a little bit worried and we were frustrated. We working very well and carefully looking at the data, trying to understand more precisely what the real level of competition it was from the competitors. I was much more positive, including the drivers, and I knew it was possible to put one car into Qualifying Q3. When we realised positions nine and 10 were sure we decided to stop the second run of Rob and Norbi because starting on the first row for the opening race is important. Unfortunately, Tiago made a small mistake in the last split time. Until that point he was a little bit quicker than Muller so it could have been even better but I have to congratulate a lot Citroën for a nice job and also López for a fantastic lap time in Qualifying Q3.

Q:
Turning to Victor, it’s fair to say a performance you weren’t quite hoping for going into the weekend?

VS:
Firstly, I would like to congratulate Citroën but for us it was okay and this was our performance today. We are working hard to make it better. We were a little disappointed for Hugo and Gabriele because we did some mistake in the organisation and that meant they were not in the top 12. There were some mistakes but it was very close but, to be honest, this was our performance although we are working very hard for the future.

Q:
Turning back to Alessandro and WTCC MAC3, we saw the dramatic live television coverage of Norbert Michelisz going wide, over the grass and kicking up some dust. What were you thinking watching that, did you think it was all over for the team?

AM:
Looking at the split times we lost half a second there. Of course Citroën was quicker than us but the gap was too much, even with the LADA in the first lap we had the same lap time with the recovery on the second. But, okay, he closed and the front understeer pushed him out of the track and it’s part of the game.

YM:
Finally, back to Yves, we will see your two factory cars on the front row of the grid for the Main Race tomorrow. Is it going to be an open fight to the finish or will there be team orders?

YM:
It’s quite easy for me. Since 2014 and the beginning when we were involved in touring cars I never had to ask something to the drivers. Since the beginning they are very professional drivers and I have to tell you in Argentina Yvan was doing what he had to do to help Pechito. He is the first one to say Pechito is really the highest level possible for the moment. Really I have to ask them nothing for tomorrow. I am sure they will do a very professional job trying to fight together but knowing what are our targets for this weekend.