GP2 news
Jérôme d'Ambrosio interview: A discharge of adrenalin...
27 August 2009GP2 life has not been easy for Jérôme d'Ambrosio this season but the Belgian is looking to put behind him the letdowns of a frustrating campaign to focus on his home event this weekend. The local DAMS driver talks of his chances at Spa as well as the possibilities of entering Formula One at a later date.
Jérôme, you're going to race at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend. Is it a special circuit for you?
Yes, for two reasons. Firstly, I grew up with this circuit. For all Belgians it's something unique. Secondly, for a driver the layout is a real pleasure. I like it all the more since racing in GP2. The speed and power of the car make Eau Rouge and Blanchimont real balls out corners! In F3 or Formula Renault, you go through these sectors flat out without even thinking. It GP2, they take on a whole other dimension, come at you very quickly and they must be even more challenging in an F1.
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| D'Ambrosio is currently placed eighth in the championship |
What's so special about the layout?
It requires more concentration than the others. When you get behind the steering wheel you know you're going to tackle a motor racing myth and that you've got no room for error. A lap of Spa is a mixture of apprehension and pleasure, a discharge of adrenalin, which makes it very special.
What are your aims for this weekend?
I want to be on the podium on home turf. A win would be a nice little bonus! My performances since the start of the season have shown that I'm capable of fighting at the front in the races. So there's no reason to aim for any other result.
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| Jérôme is the home country's sole representative this weekend |
Why have your recent performances in GP2 been disappointing?
Above all, we've been unlucky in qualifying, for a whole number of reasons: traffic, yellow flags, being on the track at the wrong time…I've been far back on the grid; in these conditions, it's impossible to catch the front-runners and both weekend's races are ruined. I'm driving in the same way and my motivation's intact. I've made some good comebacks and my lap times in the races show that I'm among the quickest - you mustn't lose confidence just because you've had a few bad weekends!
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| Spa hosts Rounds 15 and 16 of the 20-race campaign |
Were the three points you scored in Valencia last weekend an encouragement
Yes, because before that we'd had four difficult races. After more than three weeks' interruption we've restarted the season on the right foot.
What's your programme for 2010?
My aim's still the same - get into Formula One in the near future. The difficult period the sport's gone though in the past few months hasn't helped young drivers and until recently all negotiations were frozen. Today, things are clearer. In addition, the arrival of young competitive drivers has shown the teams that it's possible to bring in a rookie who's on the pace straight away and that GP2 is a good training ground. I've got contacts but I can't talk about them, as you can well imagine! The situation's looking good and it'd be great for Belgium!
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