WTCR Race of Italy post-Qualifying press conference 23.07.2022: WTCR Race of Italy, Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi, July 22-24, 2022 WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup, Rounds 11 and 12 of 20 Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi, July 23, 2022 In attendance:

WTCR Race of Italy, Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi, July 22-24, 2022
WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup, Rounds 11 and 12 of 20
Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi, July 23, 2022

In attendance:


Néstor Girolami (ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport), pole position, Race 1
Gabriele Tarquini (Team manager, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, representing Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz, second and third positions respectively, Race 1)



Bebu, what an insane lap. Mikel Azcona looked unbeatable. How did you find the time? Talk us through it.





Néstor Girolami (ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport), pole position, Race 1

Well first of all, congratulations to all my team because they did a fantastic job. I drove an amazing car today, and that was absolutely the limit of what we have. We have been here two days, that probably brings up the speed quite soon during the free practice zero.


Then with the use of new tyres I knew it was today or never. We have a 40-point difference to Azcona who is the leader and who is in front in Q3. For the compensation weight it is not the best, but we need to reduce that gap and to do it we need to start in front. So that was our target for today, to make pole, and I think this track is very good for Honda. Still, two races to go but I’m very happy with what we achieved today.






With that knowledge and a rough idea of what the other guys are doing, how do you feel the races will go tomorrow?




Néstor Girolami (ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport), pole position, Race 1


It will be tough, especially because this year the races are longer than last year so we are probably suffering a lot with long pace, so we need to be in front in clean air so we have something fresh for the engine and also for the tyres. So that is the advantage to start first.


We’ll look for a good start and if we are in front to try and get a good pace. Of course behind me Azcona will be fast because he’s on zero compensation [weight], so he will push but I think we can manage to fight and stay in front. That’s the target for tomorrow.





Track temperatures had risen to 52 degrees C by Q3. How much difference will you feel between the two start times tomorrow, from late morning to late afternoon?




Néstor Girolami (ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport), pole position, Race 1


Yes, it’s completely different. That’s why when we were trying long running in FP1 it gives you an idea but not exactly what is happening in the race because the track temperature is completely different. Today we arrived at 68 at one point of the qualifying, it’s quite high, it’s so hot inside of the car, you cannot breathe sometimes. You need the blowers all the time so you need to be focused on that temperature and also the set-up changes in the car.


It is not the same set-up if you have 30 or 40 degrees of track temperature or if you have 60, so you always have to be thinking one step ahead. I think we did it pretty good today. Even during qualifying we managed to do a set-up change, and I’m really happy with the result. Let’s see tomorrow, 11h55 is the first race, we will have some knowledge of the car pace, then focus on the second one.






Gabi, P2 and P3 for your boys. That’s pretty good going.




Gabriele Tarquini (Team manager, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, representing Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz, second

Yeah. We are very happy about the work we did today. Yesterday we had some small trouble with the tyres. Today we changed something. We spent the first free practice just tested the long run [pace] and we finished with both drivers doing long distance. So we are happy, we are confident. It’s for sure an advantage to carry zero kilos compared to the others carrying 40 or 20 like the Honda.


I mean, we are very happy about the qualifying because Honda was flying, even with 20 kilos today it was really uncatchable. But to be second and third is the maximum we can achieve and we will see. Tomorrow’s race is totally different, especially for temperature.



Everything can happen. We saw some trouble on also with another car so tomorrow is a big question mark for everybody, not only for some manufacturers. Everything can happen there, we must focus on the race distance and we must be very, very clever.





If you had been in qualifying just then where would you have ended up?



Gabriele Tarquini (Team manager, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, representing Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz, second

Ah, very difficult to say! I forget how to drive a car probably! I wish to be, especially on this track because it’s my home track, it’s the closest one. I spent my entire career on this track. I started my career with the Italian Federation School in Vallelunga in 1983, so I like this track, especially the old version. It’s really amazing and I wish to be there with this guy, also with this temperature.




So what you are basically saying is you know it so well you probably would have been on pole, right?





Gabriele Tarquini (Team manager, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, representing Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz, second


Probably not. But I was always smiling behind a steering wheel and now I am planning to be back on testing because I need that adrenaline coming from a racing car!




 Richard Rodgers, photo WTCR