Thursday press conference Franck Montagny extract

By nGO
June 23 2006

Question: Franck, a busy time for you last weekend, finishing second at Le Mans.
Franck Montagny: Yes, quite a lot.

Question: Completely different to this?
Franck Montagny: Completely different, but I think it's quite exciting to do this kind of race. For me, it's one of the most important races in the world and it gives you a really good feeling when you do this race.

Question: And when you're having a tough time in Formula One, to be having a good time in another category...
Franck Montagny: It's just good, it's just good: back on the podium and to be able to set the fastest time in the car, fighting with a factory team like Audi and everything, it's a very good time for a driver.

Question: And completely different type of cars?
Franck Montagny: Yeah, but I think it's the same philosophy. People are working on the car all year for one race. They work a lot on aerodynamic specification, on consumption specification and engine power and everything. It's the same way as we work (in Formula One), it's just a different race and a different philosophy during the race but all the work beforehand is exactly the same.

Question: The team said you lost a lot of weight.
Franck Montagny: Well, they say what they want.

Question: Was it very tough physically?
Franck Montagny: Not physically, more mentally. You do 24 hours, you run for two and a half hours, you stop and then you have to go again, and you're up for more than 30 hours, so it's quite difficult at the end when you go back at midday on the day after and you still have to focus and push without making any mistakes so for sure it's a little bit difficult but it's OK, everything went well.

Question: In three weeks' time, your home Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, is it certain that you will be driving there for the Super Aguri team?
Franck Montagny: Well, I will be there for sure, 100 percent. I don't know exactly in which position I will be. I hope I will be part of the adventure there at my home Grand Prix but nobody knows yet.

Question: Is it literally race-by-race?
Franck Montagny: Kind of, yes. It's a little bit difficult, but I'm quite happy anyway to be part of it for the moment. It was a little bit difficult at the beginning. Now it starts to be OK and now I just leave it, you know, and we see what happens next.