Questions and answers with Stefan - part 2

Here's the second part of what Stefan had to say when we talked at Brands Hatch.

Q: What have been the big differences between last year and this year, between Formula Palmer Audi and Formula 3?

Stefan: The Palmer Audi's a much more powerful car but it's got much less aerodynamic grip, so this year it's just been getting used to the aero and the grip that's in the Formula 3 car, especially through the high-speed corners. But then again you're not relying on the turbo for the power, it's just the engine. So in a Palmer Audi you try and get on the power early in the corner to get the turbo spinning so you have the turbo built up for when you go full power, but you've got to be a bit more patient in the Formula 3 car. Also, the difference mainly is the set-up of the car - you're fully in charge of setting the car up and there's so many different things you can change compared to Formula Palmer Audi, so that's really been a difficult thing to learn about it. It's about making the right changes and the driver's in control of some of that and he's got to make the right call, so that's probably the main difference.

Q: How do you start learning about doing the set-up, because in Formula Palmer Audi it was more or less done for you, wasn't it?

Stefan: Yes, we had very little input in Palmer Audi and really it's just something we've started working on this year. We've had a new engineer come in to work with me and try to help me learn and that's having a big impact on the season. We've slowly started moving further up the grid and we're definitely starting to get competitive.

Q: You've got quite a lot of telemetry and data to study. How hard is it to get to grips with all the different bits of data?

Stefan: Not too hard. We've always had data in whatever series I've done, in karting we had data, so I know what I'm looking at when I'm looking at the data. It's just a lot more channels in Formula 3.

Q: A lot of the races this year have been wet. Obviously you can't go as fast as you'd like to in the wet, but what do you think about driving in the rain - do you actually like it?

Stefan: We did very little running in the wet last year, so I'm glad to some extent that this year has been so wet because it's really taught me to drive a single-seater car in the wet. I'm used to doing it in karts, but it's only my second year in car racing and it's been good that it has been so wet because it's allowed me to gain that knowledge, so when I go into the next series I know what to expect and I can compete well in wet conditions. But I'd prefer to have it dry for the rest of the season because part of Formula 3 is the downforce and the grip levels, so I'd like to experience that and just learn more.

Q: What do you think are your main strengths as a racing driver?

Stefan: I'm really dedicated and really competitive. You know, I've really got my eye set on reaching the highest level in motorsport and I'm determined to do that. I think I'm very consistent as a driver and I don't like making mistakes - I normally don't make too many mistakes, although this weekend [Brands Hatch] I've made a few. I really really like the actual racing and overtaking in races. I know in Formula 3 it's very difficult to do that but I think I've shown this year that I have made some overtaking moves work - though some of them haven't. But that's what I love about motorsport, it's just the thrill of overtaking and, you know, sort of entertaining - making the crowd gasp as they don't think it's possible to make an overtaking move there. I just enjoy that sort of side of it. I enjoyed that in karting and I think that is another one of my fortes.

Q: So you do look on it as entertaining people and putting on a show? Are you enjoying being in the limelight a bit? - because obviously since you got the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award last year you've had a lot of attention.

Stefan: Not so much that aspect, but I like the fact that we're here to race and race hard and overtake. I don't want it to just be a boring race where we sit in each other's wheeltracks, I want the movement. I love it on the ovals in America in IndyCar where they're always dicing for positions and it's always on the limit and entertaining, which is what we're supposed to be doing.

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