Present:
Igor Stefanovski, ASK Lein Racing, first, ETCC Super 2000 Cup, Race 1
Petr Fulin, Křenek Motorsport, first, ETCC Super 2000 Cup, Race 2
Niklas Mackshin, RAVENOL Motorsport, first, ETCC Super 1600 Cup, Race 1 and Race 2
Kris Richard, Rikli Motorsport, provisional ETCC Super 2000 Cup champion

Q: Your first win in the ETCC on what is a great day for Macedonian motorsport. How are you feeling right now?

IS: It’s the first time I win in the ETCC and with this new team, Lein Racing. I have a good car and a good team and I win this race.

Q: But the second race didn’t go to plan. What actually happened because we saw your car in the barrier with a lot of damage?

IS: In the second race one driver hit me and I don’t know what happened, that’s it. I don’t finish the race. The car is damaged but I am okay. It was a stupid mistake by these guys because I don’t finish this race.

Q: Turning to Petr Fulín, winner of the Super 2000 Cup in Race 2. Congratulations on that fantastic driver but commiserations because I guess your main objective was the S2000 title and that didn’t quite happen for you after a number of fantastic performances this season?

PF: To be honest I absolutely don’t know what I should tell you. If you imagine my season I was fastest in Slovakia Ring and also in Vila Real but I did not get the points. The stewards told me after the first race it was wrong and then we had the decision concerning the performance of the SEAT cars. And now the Rikli team was, during the whole weekend, very strong because they had more cars so what should I say? Yes, I am really disappointed about this but the most important is life experience and I know I was fastest during the second race, during the first race the others had a better start and Igor was approximately 50 kilos lighter. During the second race I was able to push very hard and drive to my style and I enjoy the second race, it was fun for me. But concerning the championship I lost the first position and that’s all.

Q: Turning next to Niklas Mackschin, a double winner in Super 1600 today having already wrapped up the title at Magny-Cours back in July. Can you explain your two races in what was a victory parade for you?

NM: The first race was really good. The speed was really good. It was a little bit boring actually. But in the second race Tomáš Korený was really strong and it was really hard to overtake him. But in the last lap I was able to catch him so a double win and a good birthday present for me. I really thank the team and everybody, my friends for this year and I hope to drive in Super 2000 next year against Petr and Kris, I really hope.

Q: Now coming to Kris Richard, ETCC Super 2000 champion. How are you feeling right now, has it sunk in yet?

KR: I am feeling really, really good. I need to come back to the first race. I was having big problems with the car after a few laps. I had much more understeer and oversteer and I saw white smoke in the mirrors sometimes and I smelt something that was not so good, maybe a bit of oil burning. But I was lucky to bring the second place home. Then at the start of the second race I was able to get close to Petr but he pushed me a little bit onto the grass and I lost the traction and lost there many places. But after the safety car I think I was able to hold the same pace, he was a little bit faster and that’s it. I am very happy and also very thankful to the team. They did a great job and when I look back on the whole season it was a really tight fight and I also have to congratulate Petr. He is one of the best drivers and I have big respect for him.

Q: And looking to the future, there’s obviously a prize drive at a World Touring Car Championship race weekend for you next year but what is your plan for 2017?

KR: At the moment I have not an exact idea what I will do next year. I hope I can continue with touring cars and I hope also with Honda. I feel very confident with the car. What comes next I don’t know. I think it needs a bit of time to see what budget I can get for next year to see what I can do.

Q: Looking back there have been a number of highlights for you, five race wins no less, but can you pick out one moment that made you really happy?

KR: For me the best, I have two races. The first was in Le Castellet, this was not a good race but in the first race they put me into a spin and I did the fastest lap with a bad rear axle and that was one of my best races. And also winning at the Nürburgring, the best race track on the planet and that was also one of the best races of course.

Questions from the floor:

Q: Aleksandar Tabakovski, DERBI.MK (Macedonia) to Kris Richard and Petr Fulin: Kris and Petr, what do you think of the performance of Igor Stefanovski today and also to Mr Stefanovski, what is your version of the accident?

KR: He’s a really good guy. We had some nice and clean fights, it was a big pleasure to drive against him. I saw he was really on the limit, very aggressive with the car over the kerbs. At the end he’s a very good guy and in this race he was in the car that he should be and he showed us that he’s a great race driver of course.

PF: He is very fast and I was surprised. He showed us when he has the same car like we he is able to be at the same level. Of course he was approximately 50 kilos lighter, which means five tenths. But if he will continue with this car he will be very strong.

Q: And if you could summarise your accident Igor?

IS: I don’t want to comment on this accident. No explanation.