SA:
Very pleased. The cars have performed as they should. They responded well to the changes, and in the variable conditions at Pembrey although the overall chart put us 12th and 13th out of 30-odd cars, we were running as high as the top six in the dry and top four in the wet, so we think we’ve got a good baseline.
Q:
You will be running the Mygale chassis this season. Dallara has dominated F3 for the past few years, with several other manufacturers having tried and failed to take the fight to them. What makes you believe Mygale can actually make the difference?
SA:
Mygale has taken a very logical process to understand how Dallara works and does what it does, and they have sought to improve on that in every area. To that end they have recruited and got involved some very expert people, particularly on the aerodynamic side. They are comfortable they have got the match of Dallara, and we are comfortable they are there or thereabouts. The next thing now for us is to operate it all as a team to take it onto the next level.
Q:
One of Ultimate’s key assets this year must be Esteban Guerrieri on the driving front. He has obviously got a lot of experience, both as a race winner in the F3 Euroseries and in Formula 3000 too. What has he brought to the team and what do you expect of him in 2007?
SA:
What Esteban has brought is, as you say, the experience of a front-running team in the Euroseries. He has a very controlled approach to development driving; he doesn’t try to overdo it. He drives at a 95 per cent rate and gives us good quality feedback. I think he is happy with how things are going, and we are very happy with him.
Q:
Regarding Esteban’s team-mate, how close are you to a deal with a second driver now? You have tested both Ben Clucas and former British F3 race-winner Maro Engel. How near is that decision?
SA:
That’s actually a moving target. We felt we were close a month ago, but since then things have happened and changed. I would like to think after the
Snetterton test this week we will be 95 per cent of the way to finalising it.
Q:
Taking an overall view of the campaign ahead, what are your hopes and expectations for what Ultimate can achieve in its debut season of F3?
SA:
We aspire to win, and our expectations are that we will upset a few people in the F3 paddock.
