Strategy Helps Premat 'Like in F1'

Alex Premat: Yeah, for sure! In France I did a mistake with Lopez so I got ten places back and started fourteenth for this race, but I took a very good start and after one lap I was tenth, so I was happy because I won four places at the start, which was really great! I discussed the strategy with the team before the race, and they said after this strong lap to come in to the pitlane, so I came in and got tyres, and when I got back on the circuit I did the fastest lap, so I knew I was faster than the other drivers.

So I thought I will take a lot of drivers in the pitlane, just like in Formula One! With fifteen laps to go I was still pushing really hard but I had a lot of understeer in the first corner because the tyres were really used. But I was really happy because I was third, I had two points for the fastest lap, and so I am really confident for tomorrow - I start sixth, and I hope to go up a lot!

Q: The pitstop was clearly the turning point - it was so fast, and it put you out where you could run really fast.

Premat: Yeah - the pitstop, with the mechanics, the engineers, it was really fast - they did a really good job, so I'm really happy. And I think the strategy was really good - it was really important for my race.

Q: Your speed today must give you a lot of confidence for tomorrow.

Premat: Yeah, for sure - I am really confident! With the car, it was really perfect in race one, and we will work hard tonight to make an even better car again, and for sure tomorrow from sixth I think it is possible to finish on the podium - for sure!

Q: Two podiums in a weekend would be a pretty good haul.

Premat: Yeah! Last week was a bad weekend even though I was really fast, so this weekend I am still fast and I would like to bring a lot of points from the event.