Jerez Q&A with Alfonso de Orleans-Borbón: “It will be a real balancing act to get that perfect setup.”

02/10/17 Jerez Q&A with Alfonso de Orleans-Borbón: “It will be a real balancing act to get that perfect setup.”

The 2017 FIA F2 Championship has only two more race weekends to go, this weekend at Jerez and the final round in November at the Yas Marina circuit, Abu Dhabi. After a difficult series of races, Racing Engineering are once again amongst the pre-race favourites to win at the Spanish circuit which. as the team are based in Andalusia, is their home race. The last two race weekends have seen their new driver, Nyck de Vries take a second place in the Spa Sunday race and lead almost the entire Saturday Race at Monza, while Gustav Malja scored points at both venues.

Below Alfonso de Orleans-Borbón talks about the Jerez circuit, its characteristics and what makes it a popular venue with both teams and spectators alike.

After finishing the last two seasons second in the Team Championship, Racing Engineering has been fighting at the top again during the last two events in Spa and Monza. Do you think this good form can be carried over to Jerez?

It’s difficult to really say since the Jerez track has been entirely resurfaced over the summer, so we will need to see how the cars, and especially the Pirelli tires, will react during the first session. It is true that in the past we have been very quick here and we have some good data to back that up, so I don’t think we will be too far off the mark. You have to keep in mind that it is a completely different setup to what we find at the usual tracks which we are used to. Tyre degradation will be the highest of the season, so it will be a real balancing act to get that perfect setup. I will be able to tell you more after the practice session.

Talking about Jerez, this will be a very special round for Racing Engineering. The team’s headquarters are only 40km from the circuit. What does it mean to have an FIA Formula 2 race at home?

To begin with, it is the first time that an F2 race will take place in Jerez. So that in itself is special. Then, as you mention, it is our home race, so quite important for us, not to mention our local fans and guests who are all excited about visiting the track to see us race. I think it will be interesting for the other teams as well, since many of them have never raced here before. So, it will be a new experience for them, also for the drivers who have never been here before.

The Circuito de Jerez is a track loved by most drivers and you yourself have raced there as well. What is it, from a driver’s point of view, that makes the Jerez circuit so special?

Well, it is a tough track. Corner after corner without much downtime to relax. It is a track that will separate the men from the boys. Usually it’s difficult to overtake, it still has a couple of corners where the brave could make a pass, so it is a real drivers track. Then of course, there are the restaurants, beaches and golf courses than the drivers enjoy after leaving the track. It has a special ambience to it that you do not really get anywhere else. Some drivers stay after the races to visit the area, with its white hanging towns or hidden bodegas where the best Sherry is made. I think everyone enjoys this since it is different.

Racing Engineering topped the time sheets during the last GP2 test days held in Jerez. However, the track has been re-surfaced recently, which might change the variables to be factored in considerably. So, what are your expectations for this weekend?

Yes, as I mentioned before, it is going to be a real question mark for everyone before the free practice. No one really knows how the cars or tyres are going to react. Historically it is a very abrasive and bumpy track so let’s see if that has changed since the resurfacing. The track walk on Thursday will surely start to reveal some of the clues, which will help, especially for the new drivers to the track. Then it will be a scramble by all the teams after Friday practice to understand the data and driver feedback, so as to know what direction to go in. By Qualifying most will have a pretty good idea where they stand, and the first race I feel pretty confident everyone will know where they are on setup. Will our past success here help us...we will just have to wait and see.