Superpole isn't the only new thing in the World Series this year, as we all have brand new cars to play with. Over a lap, they don't seem any quicker, but this is mainly due to extra weight and extra drag. In the high speed corners, the car is really well balanced and, during the pre-season test at Barcelona, the first feeling I got was that the front-end grip has improved from last year. Due to the extra downforce aided by the side skirts, the minimum speeds seem to be up everywhere.
We also have a new wet tyre for this season, but we are still waiting for a chance to use this. For me, the cars are always fun to drive and I think we are all lucky to be able to drive cars like this.
There is a little break in the calendar now until round three, but where better to have it than supporting the Monaco Grand Prix? People always ask whether I feel extra pressure, knowing that I am racing in front of the
F1 crowd, but pressure is one of those things that is
always on, especially when you’re racing in a high-profile championship.
For sure, it’s very important to perform well in front of the F1 teams - I was lucky enough to have a few meetings last year with a couple of them, so it would be great for them to see me get a result in Monaco. Last year was the first time I'd ever been there and, driving from Nice, I didn't really know what to expect. When I got there, though, I couldn't believe what I saw. Television doesn't do the place justice. The gradient is so much more than you think it’s going to be, and no number of laps on a Playstation prepares you for that!
After Monaco, we head 'home, but to Silverstone rather than
Donington Park this time. Of course, the British round of the World Series has good memories for me as I won there last year, and I'm really confident that I can get a great result at
Silverstone.
![James Walker - Fortec Motorsport [pic credit: Renault Sport Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/433775.jpg)
