Jeddah Corniche Circuit

SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX

Commentary: Cameras:

WATCH NOW
May 04, 2002
It was a productive day for Hernj-Roaldo. Testdriver Erdem Coban put 30 laps to his account. But, just like Wednesday, he wasn't the fastest of the day. Team Manager Reurink didn't care: "This is a test. Not a qualification. We all know Erdem's qualities. But I am working now on his weaknesses...in order to make him a very dangerous driver with no weaknesses. The future is for me important and he's a driver I want to have in my squad."

It was obvious Coban started again with much fuel, but this time with soft tyres. He was struggling with the car, but less than the last time. Coban practised a lot without traction-control, to try to have the car in control without traction. "It was hard", he assented, "But instructive. I normally drive with traction-control, but because this was a test, I tried to drive without it...it is tough, but tomorrow I will continue with it. I want to learn to drive without, so I have the car under control under any circumstances. I have troubles to adapt myself to the car, but I am learning. I want to understand the car, to feel every vibration, to hear every rev. Roald and I have set some goals for this test-week, and 'understanding the car' is the most important goal. Don't forget I am still learning and not a top-driver yet. I think I am at 80% now."

Coban first drove 20 laps and came into the pits. While the pitcrew was checking the car, Coban was continuously talking with Reurink. With papers [probably data from the car] in their hands, they talked almost about an hour. After that, Coban stepped back in the car and practised many starts:

We asked Coban what he and Reurink were discussing: "Ask Roald."

But Reurink had no comment for us. Then we wanted to know what Coban exactly was doing the last 10 laps: "Well, I was practising starts at the main straight...starts are these days crucial. You can win or lose a race with the start. So I practised that a lot. I have heard BA-Racing was not so happy with that. All the smoke I caused went just into their computers at the wall and decreased their sights. Sorry...!"

However Coban's mood seemed to have lightened up, after he took another pole-position in Barcelona in the F3000-championship, defeating his rival Dan Lawrence again. "Great! isn't it?" he smiled. "A victory would be even more nice and I think I am the main candidate for the victory. But we will see how it goes. I hope to have a clean start and not have an accident in the first corner with Lawrence."

Finally we wanted to know if the rumours were true: is Coban driving for KRB from Austria? Unfortunately he gave a political answer: "Yes, KRB is a good team with much potential. I am sorry that they have some problems at the moment, but I think they will figure that out. I have no further comment, thank you!"