Proteam expect anything can happen in Macau

Proteam goes into the final round of the World Touring Car Championship leading both the independent drivers’ standings with Sergio Hernàndez, and the teams.

TouringCarTimes met up with the Tuscany-based outfit team owner, Valmiro Presenzini Mattoli, who spoke about the team’s chances to clinch both titles in Macau.

TcT: What are your expectations for the Macau race?

“Well, we have a 21 points advantage from O’Young. I am well aware that this is not a small gap, but I also know it’s not big enough; We are talking about Macau, where anything can happen.”

“As for the teams’ trophy, we have a very similar situation; We have some advantage, but it’s not enough to be able to relax.”

“I think the situation we have at the moment in the Independents’ Trophy is pretty much like the fight for the outright title: We have a good advantage but it’s not finished. Sergio’s spin in Okayama was not a good moment, we could have had a bigger gap compared to O’Young. Of course, in a situation like the one we had in Okayama, aquaplaning was expected to cause problems for someone, and unfortunately that someone was us.”

TcT: How is Proteam getting ready for the final race of the year?

“First of all, Stefano D’Aste will not be with us, and it’s not going to help us. The more good drivers you have in the team, the better. Of course we have Nobuteru Taniguchi with us, and he will take on D’Aste’s car. Last year he didn’t know the track, but this year he has the chance to deliver good results. We were already impressed with his pace in Okayama, and I can’t wait to see him again in the car.”

“Chen is learning the car at the moment, and Macau is not an easy track, as everybody knows. As usual, we’re doing our best to get to the track in the best possible shape.”

“I think Franz Engstler could unintentionally help us. He has a light car and a sequential gearbox, and that should give him a boost. The more points the others take, the better for us. If we have a good weight situation, we can have a good result. We are waiting for the weights’ list at the moment, and we hope they will take a few kilos off our cars. That would be a huge boost not only to our title hopes, but also to our morale.”

TcT: Looking back to the 2010 season, what were your highs and lows?

“I can’t really pick a high or a low moment. This season has not been easy. The weights system has proved to be uneffective, as it penalized us too much compared to the Lacettis. The weight was our big problem, especially in Brands Hatch, when the ‘old model’ controversy started.”

“I still regret not being able to compete at the very same level as Colin Turkington and WSR, people I really respect and admire as a team.”

“I think that overcoming the problems and being competitve from the beginning to the end of the season is the greatest satisfaction for me as a team owner. We need to capitalize all the hard work done with a championship win, though!”

TcT: What will be your approach to the Macau race?

“We will not make it easy for our opponents to win, that’s for sure. We have three good drivers, three good cars and we want to win the championship after leading it all the way from the first race to now. Macau is unpredictable, so the best we can do is to go there and try to make it work. ”

Proteam have taken five race wins this year, four with Hernàndez and one with D’Aste.