Fredy Barth targeting independents’ title

Fredy Barth is hoping to challenge for the independents’ title in his second WTCC season, but knows it’ll be a hard task against Norbert Michelisz & Bamboo Engineering’s turbo-Cruzes.

We get the low-down from the Swiss driver a week before the WTCC season’s second round kicks off their European phase.

How hard have you been working to race again in the WTCC in 2011?

” Very hard is the simple answer. I am answering emails 14-18 hours every day, even though I now have two people working full time with me. They do a great deal of work organising the various events but I am the final decision maker. This has taken a great deal of the pressure off, and I feel more relaxed in 2011 than in 2010 and noticeably more than in 2009. I am still struggling to fit in as much fitness and rest as I need.”

So what takes up the day?

“Fielding calls and emails from sponsors about events, PR requests and other admin takes up a huge amount of time. A great deal of organisation goes into every aspect. The more successful I become on the track, the more people there are who would like to share that experience with me, and the harder we have to work away from the track.”

“I also do a lot of work with clients at various race circuits doing driver training and/or car development – this takes me around Europe and means a lot of time travelling. Even ensuring I have fresh clothes when I need them is a struggle!”

So you have to spend a lot of time on the road?

“I probably drive about 100,000km a year”

Has it been all worthwhile? Is the budget in place?

“We are almost there for the full season. The cost of the season has risen in 2011 due to the development of the new engine.”

You demonstrated some impressive pace at Curitiba? Is there more to come?

“In 2010 everything was new to me, the tracks, the car, the whole WTCC environment. Although I was able to demonstrate good pace at the start of the season I hadn’t realised the level of consistency that is required in a WTCC championship. The SEAT has always been strong at Curitiba and despite not driving a race-car since Macau I felt at home in the car and was very pleased with my times.”

How far is the SEAT TDI off the Chevrolet Cruze pace?

“The timing boards say 0.75 seconds – but I don’t think Chevrolet showed their full hand; and this was at a track, as I said, that we are normally strong at. I think they (Chevrolet) were surprised by the pace of Tom (Coronel) after just one test session, but they never looked like they were having to push.”

“The real gap from us to them is greater. Not only is our engine now the weakest – 8kmh at the end of the main straight – but also the hatchback Leon has far poorer aerodynamics than either the BMW or the Cruze. I expect O’Young and Taniguchi to post some strong times when they get their Cruzes.”

How much will the new engine help?

“We haven’t tested the new engine yet, but it needs to be more powerful than the competition to put us on level terms. SEAT only won the titles in 2008 and 2009 because the TDI compensated for the poor aero package. The engine will be lighter than the TDI, which will help us massively on tyre wear. Lehmann is a real competitor, determined to win, I’m confident he will deliver a top class engine.”

Will you be able to beat Norberto to the independents title?

“Norberto is very fast. He may surprise Tom (Coronel) at Zolder – and I’m expecting him to be right at the front at the Hungaroring. I am confident that I have the ability to beat him, and any of the other drivers, on track, wherever we are.”

What are your aims for 2011?

“Simply to improve myself as a driver. The benchmark at SEAT is Gabriele (Tarquini) – if I can be consistently as fast (or faster) than him, then I know I will be in with a chance. In WTCC the margin for error is so small, a tiny mistake can cost you 0.2 seconds – which is enough to move you down 4-5 places on the grid, and outside of the top 10.”

“My biggest regret in 2010 was not getting the chance to test with the car away from the pressures of a WTCC weekend. The target is to finish in the top 10 of the overall championship, but there are far more than 10 drivers who are also capable of doing that.”

In 2011 there will be 3 Swiss drivers in the WTCC? Why and how do you think that this happened?

” This was a point made at the WTCC presentation in Curitiba, Switzerland is the most represented country (in the 2011 WTCC). I don’t really know why it has happened. We don’t have race tracks, we have a ban on motorsports and in general Swiss companies aren’t hugely receptive to motorsport.”

“On the other hand, we (Swiss) have a strong history in motorsport (Reggazoni, Surer), there are a number of good GT drivers, and also Sebastian (Buemi) in F1. Occasionally you might get a wealthy individual (of which there are many in Switzerland) who might want to back a young driver – but I have never been that fortunate. There are also many “gentleman” racers in Switzerland who are able to race at a very high level because they are able to pay for their own seat.”

After Curitiba, how do you rate the new qualifying system?

“I find it strange that to be first you have to finish 10th. It can’t be very sporting to want to finish 10th. Alain (Menu) was lucky to be able take advantage of my misfortune in Brazil and take the 10th spot, and hence pole for the second race. I’d prefer to have a system similar to the superbikes, where the grid for race 2 is decided upon based on the fastest laps from race 1.”

Will we see more of Fredy Barth in 2011?

“I hope to be at the front of more races if that is what you mean! But I’ll also be hosting WTCC coverage on Swiss Sports Television, and SEAT will be launching (in Switzerland) in May a brand new SEAT SWISS RACING by Fredy Barth Edition of the Leon and Ibiza – with 310 and 280ps respectively! As always full throttle!”

By Neil Gummow