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April 01, 2001
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Richard Dickson is Dan Lawrence's latest victim to be subject to a GPVWC Exlusive interview as the Championship Manager nailed the speedy young Briton down to answer some elusive questions just after the Qualifying round of the Brazilian Grand Prix of 2001.
Dan:You decided to quit racing days before the beginning of the 2001 season. Yet you have returned within 1 race? why was this?
Richard: The main reason for my immediate return to the GPVWC was a sudden re-enthusiasm for racing and the fact that I knew I would be racing on an even par with the other fast guys was another attraction. The even par being that I was no longer disadvantaged with using a less than desirable steering device.
Dan: BA Racing gave you a chance to return to the cockpit in Malaysia, and now DPI for Brazil. You could say that you are the 'supersub' of 2001. What do you feel about this?
Richard: It certainly seems as if I can use any car and still finish near the front, hopping from team to team is certainly interesting but it doesn't really help the teams achieve much in the way of consistency and constructor's points. This will be my last race as substitute though!
Dan: It has been rumoured that you have turned down an offer to remain at DPI for the rest of 2001, to return to the team you left 2 months ago! (CVRT). - why?
Richard: The rumour is entirely true and I have also signed a contract with CVRT for the rest of the season. It pretty much boiled down to the fact that the DPI management decided for some unknown reason to leave me out of 3 races to try out other drivers... I still pride myself on not missing any session when I have had a car to drive!
Dan: Are you leaving DPI with any regrets? Would you have liked to have stayed there for the rest of 2001?
Richard: None whatsoever, what have I to regret? I have to look for the best opportunities as a driver now and unfortunately for Dan Prescott he made a mistake, these things happen!
Dan: What are your overall aims for the rest of the season? Do you think you can challenge for the Drivers Championship?
Richard: It won't be easy, but I will certainly be vying to try! It is a shame I missed Australia as it is one of my favourite tracks and I feel I could have done really well there, but there are still another 15 races to go including Brazil and that's an awful lot of points! I think the championship this year will be between myself, Neumann, Endean and Hoek.
Dan: Speaking of the rookies of 2001, how do you feel to have 2 new guys come into F1 and be instantly on the pace?
Richard: It doesn't really bother me that they are "rookies"! Ton and Christian are keyed up and it doesn't make any difference whether you've been driving for 10 years or 10 days! If you're fast, then you're fast.
Dan: Back to CVRT, do you have any reservations about your new team manager?! He was your team mate in 2000 :)
Richard: He knows now that with me and Christian in the team his chances of doing the double are incredibly high now!
Dan: So, are you happy to work under him, as opposed to alongside him?
Richard: It doesn't bother me at all! At the end of the day we are working alongside each other - I don't think there was ever a time when there was any falling out at A-Racing!
Dan: You are on the GPVWC Governing Body at the moment. Hows that going?
Richard: It's pretty quiet at the moment, although I can see there being some problems developing when we have to decide whether or not to clear out the dead wood or not...
Dan: Is the Governing Body role something you would like to continue with beyond 2001?
Richard: Time permitting then yes!
Dan: Onto todays Qualifying session now. You have qualified 2nd on the grid, 3 tenths down on Hoek, in a car that is completely new to you. A car that, up until now, has appeared to be going backwards around the circuits! - talk us through your session
Richard: Well, I haven't been feeling too well over the past couple of days anyway, full of the good old British 'flu! So going out onto the track at Brazil was a bit of a wake up call! I had found a reasonably good car setup last year, but realised that there was alot more to be tweaked on it. My initial "banker" lap was down in the 16s...so after reducing the wing settings and tweaking the roll bars a little I was able to plant one right down in the low 15s. It feels a little disappointing being so close, yet again, to my first elusive pole!
Dan: Has the pace of the DPI Cosworth surprised you?
Richard: I knew the car had the capability. It is based on a very good chassis, it is a little down on horsepower perhaps, but overall I don't see why with two good drivers in the team DPI can't move up the field.
Dan: What are your thoughts for the race? can you see yourself on the top of the podium?
Richard: Well... we'll have to wait and see about that one! I am not so much off the pace as I was in Malaysia compared to Ton and Christian, and am feeling really comfortable with the car I am sitting in now... so there is a good chance that I can give DPI a win!
Dan: Thank you, Richard Dickson.
Dan:You decided to quit racing days before the beginning of the 2001 season. Yet you have returned within 1 race? why was this?
Richard: The main reason for my immediate return to the GPVWC was a sudden re-enthusiasm for racing and the fact that I knew I would be racing on an even par with the other fast guys was another attraction. The even par being that I was no longer disadvantaged with using a less than desirable steering device.
Dan: BA Racing gave you a chance to return to the cockpit in Malaysia, and now DPI for Brazil. You could say that you are the 'supersub' of 2001. What do you feel about this?
Richard: It certainly seems as if I can use any car and still finish near the front, hopping from team to team is certainly interesting but it doesn't really help the teams achieve much in the way of consistency and constructor's points. This will be my last race as substitute though!
Dan: It has been rumoured that you have turned down an offer to remain at DPI for the rest of 2001, to return to the team you left 2 months ago! (CVRT). - why?
Richard: The rumour is entirely true and I have also signed a contract with CVRT for the rest of the season. It pretty much boiled down to the fact that the DPI management decided for some unknown reason to leave me out of 3 races to try out other drivers... I still pride myself on not missing any session when I have had a car to drive!
Dan: Are you leaving DPI with any regrets? Would you have liked to have stayed there for the rest of 2001?
Richard: None whatsoever, what have I to regret? I have to look for the best opportunities as a driver now and unfortunately for Dan Prescott he made a mistake, these things happen!
Dan: What are your overall aims for the rest of the season? Do you think you can challenge for the Drivers Championship?
Richard: It won't be easy, but I will certainly be vying to try! It is a shame I missed Australia as it is one of my favourite tracks and I feel I could have done really well there, but there are still another 15 races to go including Brazil and that's an awful lot of points! I think the championship this year will be between myself, Neumann, Endean and Hoek.
Dan: Speaking of the rookies of 2001, how do you feel to have 2 new guys come into F1 and be instantly on the pace?
Richard: It doesn't really bother me that they are "rookies"! Ton and Christian are keyed up and it doesn't make any difference whether you've been driving for 10 years or 10 days! If you're fast, then you're fast.
Dan: Back to CVRT, do you have any reservations about your new team manager?! He was your team mate in 2000 :)
Richard: He knows now that with me and Christian in the team his chances of doing the double are incredibly high now!
Dan: So, are you happy to work under him, as opposed to alongside him?
Richard: It doesn't bother me at all! At the end of the day we are working alongside each other - I don't think there was ever a time when there was any falling out at A-Racing!
Dan: You are on the GPVWC Governing Body at the moment. Hows that going?
Richard: It's pretty quiet at the moment, although I can see there being some problems developing when we have to decide whether or not to clear out the dead wood or not...
Dan: Is the Governing Body role something you would like to continue with beyond 2001?
Richard: Time permitting then yes!
Dan: Onto todays Qualifying session now. You have qualified 2nd on the grid, 3 tenths down on Hoek, in a car that is completely new to you. A car that, up until now, has appeared to be going backwards around the circuits! - talk us through your session
Richard: Well, I haven't been feeling too well over the past couple of days anyway, full of the good old British 'flu! So going out onto the track at Brazil was a bit of a wake up call! I had found a reasonably good car setup last year, but realised that there was alot more to be tweaked on it. My initial "banker" lap was down in the 16s...so after reducing the wing settings and tweaking the roll bars a little I was able to plant one right down in the low 15s. It feels a little disappointing being so close, yet again, to my first elusive pole!
Dan: Has the pace of the DPI Cosworth surprised you?
Richard: I knew the car had the capability. It is based on a very good chassis, it is a little down on horsepower perhaps, but overall I don't see why with two good drivers in the team DPI can't move up the field.
Dan: What are your thoughts for the race? can you see yourself on the top of the podium?
Richard: Well... we'll have to wait and see about that one! I am not so much off the pace as I was in Malaysia compared to Ton and Christian, and am feeling really comfortable with the car I am sitting in now... so there is a good chance that I can give DPI a win!
Dan: Thank you, Richard Dickson.
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