GP2 Series – Preseason – Montemeló
After being the youngest rider in his category these last two seasons, and taking the victory in three races, Javier Villa has become, at the age of 20, one of the drivers with the brightest future in the GP2 Series.
The Repsol driver is still the youngest, and this last pre-season has shown that he is in extraordinary shape, which along with the qualitative leap of the Racing Engineering team, has given him the chance to race very constant and competitive times. His clear goal at the start of this 2008 season is to be at the top.
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How have you been dealing with these last months out of action? What have you done? How have you been training?
“The truth is that it has felt like a very long time. When September arrived I was somewhat looking forward to stopping, after a whole year driving. And then the end of the season went very well and I wanted to have a little rest. But when you think about having a rest, you think ‘in a month’s time, a month and a half’, and the fact is that since the last test, on the 5th of October, until we got back into our car, the 28th of Febuary, a long period of time elapsed. It seemed to go on forever, because you know everything’s ready, that they are working on the new car, and you can’t touch it. You simply dedicate yourself to physical preparation, and though you’re not completely inactive, you’re not on a track, which is the part you enjoy and want to do.”
At last you have tried out the new single-seater. What is your opinion?
“it’s very good. We started out very motivated, but we still hadn’t tried it out on a circuit. Everything went well during the tests, and I’m just as motivated as before, if not more. I’m starting out with the aim of finishing among the first three positions in every race. I think we can keep up the pace. It’s clear that as it’s a new car, every race will be important, because we’ll continue improving, developing it, and we’ll have to stay alert to keep up with the others’ pace.”
Eager to start?
“To be honest, yes, I am. When you see how things are developing and how they are turing out , you want to get in there and hope that nothing strange happens. I’m looking forward to a timed session, being up there in the lead and giving it my best.”
What goals have you set for yourself?
“This is very long, with many races and anything can happen. I think that if you’re among the first three, depending on how the championship has developed, you have good chances of fighting for the title at the end. Last year’s first three are now in Formula One. This year we have Giorgio Pantano, who last year finished third, drove in Formula One, and is going to help us evolve. We’re two drivers who are driving very fast, and that always helps when you have to get down to work and compare graphics, because you have a very trustworthy reference.”
Who do you think will be your main rivals?
“For now, during the training sessions, we’ve seen that the ART, i-Sport and Piquet teams are very fast. So Senna,, Grosjean, Filippi, Zúber and Maldonado will be the fastest. As everyone races in the same single-seaters, there are always five or six tough drivers. Ii think that this year we can include ourselves among those teams, both Pantano and myself.”
What do you think about your new teammate?
“He’s very good. Before meeting him, I didn’t know what would happen. He’s a very experienced driver who has competed in a number of championships, and it’s hard to know what he really thinks or how he sees things. Before starting the training sessions, the whole team spent a week together in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and there was a great atmosphere. During the training sessions, and now, when the Championship is about to start, he’s the same. We get on really well, you can work, talk about everyday things, while we obviously have different goals. But when it’s time to work and collect information, we are fighting with the same goal in mind.”
How do you see the team?
“This year it’s much more united, there’s a nicer atmosphere. In general, compared to previous years, and especially last year, which was my main experience, I see it much stronger; the riders, engineers and the mechanics. I think that it’s going to help us to be more consistent. It’s a very long championship, with many races; being constant is crucial. A clear example is Di Grassi’s performance last year, who finished second in the championship, but never took a victory. He was always there, in second, third, fourth position. I think that this year we are very consistent and can aspire to more.”
This year there is another urban race in Valencia. What do think about that?
“Yes, this year they’ve included the Valencia race as a European Grand Prix. We already had an urban circuit in Monaco, though they are totally different. Races have been held in Monaco for a long time, there’s a routine; it’s a small, narrow circuit which has its good and bad parts. Personally, I like it a lot. We’ll see what happens in Valencia. It’s a much faster circuit, completely new, though they have experience and I imagine that there won’t be any problems.”
Being the first to race on it is surely a challenge, isn’t it?
“Yes, because it’s new to everyone. Nobody has ever raced there in another category or in a different car. When you arrive in Monaco, more or less everyone has raced there. That circuit has been there for many years. But in Valencia no one will have any kind of reference. What’s more, the race will be held in Spain, at home, so we’ll see how it goes, though it’s a Grand Prix I am very much looking forward to.”
