Q:Julian, after having gained experience in
GP2 with other teams, you joined Racing Engineering for 2013. What does this mean to you?
Julian Leal:The truth is that this is a very important year for me. It's my third year in GP2, so I already have experience, I know the car and the tyres well now and I was therefore looking for a good team. I think with Racing Engineering I can find what I am looking for. I hope that everything works out really well during the season.
More than anything, this is why I joined Racing Engineering, as I was looking for a team to help me validate the experience I have gained up till now.
Q:You have already had the chance to get to know the team, visit their facilities, and have a glimpse of their work method. What are your first impressions?
Julian Leal:My first impressions are that this is a very well organised team, very united, which is something very important for me. All the mechanics talk to each other, as do the engineers, they all share information and I think this is the way to grow as a team.
The facilities appear to be very good. The team has its own simulator, but also one by Bhai Tech, which is a big help for the drivers. All this has given me some very good impressions.
Q:Not too long and the first test days in
Jerez take place. Are you excited?
Julian Leal:Of course, I am. I cannot wait for the chance to get into the Racing Engineering car for the first time; I am working hard on my preparation for this. I have been working on my physical preparation constantly in Italy. Now we will work on the technical preparations using the simulator. Jerez, like Barcelona, is a fast track with quick and slow corners, very technical, and I think it's a great opportunity to test the Racing Engineering car on tracks like these.
Q:What have you done during winter to prepare yourself for this season?
Well, I think that preparation never finishes. I was working on my physical preparation all the time, not like in Europe, as there it is practically the only thing I! do all day long, but in Colombia I trained once per day and also took advantage of being there, so I really enjoyed spending time with my family as I usually don't see them too much. I always took time to train and I don't think I will have any physical problems.
Q:In a month's time there will be the first
GP2 race of the 2013 season taking place. What are your expectations for this season?
Julian Leal:I hope that this will be a very positive and very good year. I hope to continue to learn many things, validate the many things I have learned until now. I hope to be able to show everyone what I am really capable of.
Racing Engineering is a very good team and I hope that together we can do a very good job and achieve results that are satisfying for both of us.