Bird and Ericsson talk about their race
GP2 Series: Sam, congratulations on your fifth win this season. What is the most important to you: this win or the fact that you’re now just seven points behind Fabio Leimer before the final round of the season?Sam Bird: It’s great to win five wins in a season. It’s a nice number. Of course, I’d like to make it more. The real achievement this weekend was yesterday. Without the drive yesterday, I would not be in this position today to do what I did. Overall, I think it was a strong weekend really considering the stuff we’ve been through, some difficult situations and we came out of it pretty strong so that’s good. It’s nice to win races, but the bigger picture is to win the teams’ championship and hopefully the drivers’ one as well. At the moment we are still leading the teams’ and it’s very close in the drivers’. Fingers crossed!
GP2 Series: Talking about today’s race, how was it?Sam: The start was very good and then it was just about controlling my lead. I did not want to do one of my disappearing act that I’ve done a couple of times this year. It’s too hot to do that: the tyres would not have lasted. You can’t push like that. I had to be very disciplined and judge the gap. Ericsson could catch up a bit, but I could take it easy and when he was getting too close I could pull away.
GP2 Series: Still, your team was telling you on the radio to cool it down a bit…Sam: They like to do that (Laughs). They’re always telling me the right things to do and I do listen. They’re a good bunch of guys. Fingers crossed I can do the job for them.
GP2 Series: …Which takes us to Abu Dhabi in November. It’s been a while since you’ve been raced there. What are your expectations?Sam: I’ve got tons of experience there. It’s not like here when I’ve come to a street circuit that’s the longest on the calendar and the hottest and that I did not know. Now we go to a track that I know very, very well. And I think I’ve been very quick there before. My first ever GP2 race was in Abu Dhabi. I qualified on the front row with Valsecchi and actually led the race. So, I have good memories there and let’s see what we can do.
GP2 Series: Are you feeling pressure or excitement?Sam: It’s great fun you know. At the beginning of the year, I did not have a drive. RUSSIAN TIME thankfully gave me this opportunity and I’ve proven that I can do the job with them. I would be a phenomenal year if we could top it off and become GP2 champions. But whatever happens, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the year and I can’t wait to get there now. I want it to be tomorrow!GP2 Series: Marcus, P2 today. Another podium for you this season. How was the race?Marcus Ericsson: It was overall a good race, I did a good start, but Sam did as well so I could not jump him into turn 1 which was the plan. I was really fired up to try and get the lead after turn 1. But I was P2 after the first lap and after that it was really just about looking after the tyres and try and to attack again at the end. I think overall the car felt good and I think I did a good race.
GP2 Series: How was the tyres degradation today?Marcus: It was not too bad. It was a bit more important in the end when I started to push. I got a bit closer to Sam with five laps to go. And then I had a bit too much of degradation so I could not get close enough to attack. But it was ok.
GP2 Series: Yes and P2 is still a good result for you and DAMS. You’re a very strong this second half of the season. What are your objectives for the final round in Abu Dhabi?Marcus: I have to try and win. Since Nurburgring, I’ve had a podium every weekend apart for Monza where we retired from third in the feature race. I mean the form we have is really, really good and the aim for Abu Dhabi is to go there and win at least one of the races. It’s good to be P6 in the standings but my aim is to go the final round and win the race.Fabio Leimer was unavailable for quotes
