Marc Gene Interview

By Andrew Hooper
January 31 2003

 

 

  
Marc Gene Interview
 
What do you think of the new option of forfeiting test days and instead gaining an extra two hours of practice on the Friday before the GP?

That’s a very good rule, which can increase the performance density between the small teams and the top teams. The smaller teams can only afford about ten test days as it is. For them the extra hours present a good opportunity to prepare themselves in terms of brakes, tyres and car set-up. But you can’t carry out real development work during this time, which is why we decided against it.

Which is the best test circuit?

For me it’s Barcelona, without a doubt. On the one hand because it’s my home track, of course, and I can sleep in my own bed and have breakfast at home. But on the other hand, it’s because the Circuit de Catalunya offers all kinds of turns, is well equipped and has outstanding logistics.

Which is your favourite test programme?

What I enjoy most is doing tyre tests, and best of all I like to try out soft compounds because they allow me to put in some really fast laps. Number two on my wish list are research projects – innovations where nobody knows whether they will ever come to fruition. That involves very close, intensive work with the engineers.

You obviously have to compare notes with the team drivers. How does that work?

If I think something is very important, I’ll ring them up. But usually we’ll get together on the Thursday or Friday before a GP. Then I tell them, for example, which tyres were particularly good or critical in which turns.

Who comes closer to your driving style – Montoya or Schumacher?

There isn’t a great deal of difference. Every driver aims for neutral handling during the set-up work, avoiding both under- and oversteer. We always end up with very similar results. Perhaps Juan, who has a more aggressive style, is better at handling slight oversteer.
 
 
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