The braking is the best part. You can get on the pedal. It's just a great feeling. Almost feels coming from the
BMW you're driving a
Formula One car. I'm wondering what a Formula One car feels like....
Q:
You both are pretty new to the cars. You're learning stuff each time out. John said you seem to be different in different parts of the track. Do you have similar driving styles or different driving styles but you're sharing information and learning from each other a lot?
RW:
I would say we definitely have different driving styles, but we can adapt to each other's. For example, what I think about the test so far, John may think about something else. Seems like John is faster in the high-speed corners, I'm faster in the lower-speed corners. We're kind of complete opposites but, as team-mates, it's basically perfect because we can learn from each other and make each other stronger in each section.
JE:
I agree with Robby. He's done very well in the technical sections. I've been a little better in the high-speed stuff. I think that's great. We have a balance. If we can adapt to each other and kind of get better in the areas where the other one is better, we're both going to move forward to the front. So far in the tests we've done that. We've been very close in times. Although we have a little bit different driving styles, Robby is right, we can adapt to each other's styles in a certain corner. I think that's really good,
that we can learn that off each other.
Q:
John Brunner, I caught a few minutes of you testing yesterday. When you come to a track like Moroso with two young drivers, is this trying to get seat time for your drivers or are you actually doing some serious testing trying to get some information? If you are, how much information can you get from a track you'll be able to use at another track because you won't be racing here?
JB:
So far, testing with these two, every test we've went to, we've truly been testing. They're already accomplished race drivers. We're not worried about that part. They're adapting to the car. We're in a learning process, the testing process, immediately the first test right off the bat was with a new tyre. They were getting used to the car, we were learning the new tyre. For here, at Moroso, this is the second time in the past couple months we've been here. We come here with a list of test items that we need to work on. This track, we chose this track here because it is bumpy, it's not great for grip. It wears on the tyres quite a bit. That's what we're used to racing in. Those are the conditions we race in. We can learn some things here that will carry forward to other tracks we'll be going to, other street venues and things like this.
Q:
You also mentioned the tyres this year, Atlantics is going with Cooper tyres. How much of a difference is it from last year's tyres? How are they holding up compared to last year's tyre?
JB:
This tyre is going to be wonderful for the series. It's a softer compound, so it cures one of the handling problems with the Atlantic car right off the bat. But also it peaks pretty quick, quicker than the Yokohama did. Once it peaks, like I said, it peaks very quickly, it just levels out and it's going to be a wonderful race tyre. I'm looking forward to it. I think the racing is going to be better. I think this tyre will also bring some strategy back into qualifying because the tyre does peak quicker. These guys are going to have to go out and get their qualifying lap in immediately on new tyres, which is going to bring a little strategy into the qualifying sessions.
Q:
You mentioned it has a softer compound. What was the handling problem last year?
JB:
The Atlantic car, the 08 and the 014, the new car before, and the new car, the 016, those cars have always understeered. This new tyre has helped that right away. It's taken a lot of the understeer away from the car. Makes the car probably easier to drive in some situations, but it's balanced the car, which is nice. You're able to start going some other directions on some of your other set-up stuff because you're not always chasing this understeering situation. I think the cars, ultimately everyone will be faster. I think the cars will be faster. The tyre wears wonderful. These tyres go forever. It's a really nice combination with the car and the tyre.
MC:
For both of the drivers, before we let you go. Coming into the Atlantic Championship, steep task for you, with the experience you have had, certainly you're ready for it on the racetrack, but some of the stuff off the racetrack, do you think working with each other, coming in as you are both rookies into the series, both young drivers, in with the same team, the
Red Bull background, you both share, some of the stuff dealing with off the track, being away from the parents, travelling on the road, do you think that's going to help you adapt to life in Atlantic land once the season gets going this year?
