Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
Provided by the Racing Engineering press office
Alfonso de Orleáns-Borbón, president of Fat Burner Racing Engineering, looks back at the opening weekend of the new GP2 season in Barcelona where both drivers of the Spanish team - Lucas Di Grassi and Dani Clos - left empty handed despite improving remarkably for Sunday's sprint race. Nevertheless, Fat Burner Racing Engineering is now working full steam ahead for the next event in Monaco, where the team's main objective will be to qualify as good as possible, the fundamental part of a race weekend in the Principality of Monaco.
Q: Alfonso, you mentioned Fat Burner Racing Engineering expected more from the first round of the 2009 GP2 championship after the results on the pre-season tests. What went wrong?
Well, we had a very good base to start with. We saw that in qualifying. But then we decided on small changes that did not help in the race. When we went back to what we knew worked for Sunday, Dani got the fastest lap of the race and Lucas was able to go from the back of the grid to 10th. Although not ideal, we know what needs to be worked on for the next race.
Q: Dani Clos has admitted he needs to improve in a few areas. What would you say those areas are? How can the team help him?
I think he is a very well rounded rookie, possible the best rookie the team has every had. But at the same time, he is young and needs to work at getting up to speed. I think that by mid-season, he will be battling for a podium. He is extremely talented and only needs to get some miles under his belt. Remember, this is GP2, it won't be easy and he needs to work hard at it.
Q: Lucas showed an amazing performance during qualifying in Barcelona, but he seemed to struggle during the races. Has this problem been solved?
Yes, we should have it solved for the next race.
Q: Monaco is known as a race where the results are usually 'unexpected'. How will Fat Burner Racing Engineering approach the weekend? Will we see an improvement compared to Barcelona?
In Monaco, anything can happen. Normally if a driver manages to finish, he is usually in the points. So keeping away from those barriers will be what our drivers should watch out for. Also, qualifying is important since it's quite difficult to overtake. So our approach will be to qualify as well as possible and then finish well. Really, you cannot do much else at such a track.
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