Artem Markelov wins !!!

23-6-2009

Artem Markelov, driver of Hugo Motorsports wins round Rotax Max Challenge Russia

Here you can read the interview after the race:

Q. Artem today you are on podium on the first place, what is the feeling?
A. It has been a very tough road for me. I had not won a race for more than 1 year. My first win was immediately at the first race at Rotax Max Jr. when I just transferred to this class from class Raket and then I came into the black zone of not winning at all. I was third, second, whatever, but not first. I want to say that the black zone is a very tough thing to beat. It comes to the point that I was thinking that it never ends.

 Q. You said you were in the black zone, can you tell us more about it?
A. I don’t want really discuss it, because I cut it out from me and I am looking only forward for more and more wins. My next target is a win in the race of Dutch championship where I left unfinished business and the races in Eurochallenge.

Q. Can you tell us about Dutch championship and Eurochallenge?
A. Dutch championship is in my opinion the strongest championship in Europe in Rotax Max class especially. The drivers over there have lots of experience and lots of driving time that we lack in Russia because of the weather factor. In Russia races stopped since October to May but in Holland they run the championship in the winter and the drivers are always ready to fight during the year. This is why I feel that the Dutch championship is a very good championship and I respect all the Dutch drivers a lot, they are really fighters.

Q. What kart do you drive in Holland?
A. In Holland and at Eurochallenge I drive Kombikart.

Q. Why Kombikart?
A. At first Kombikart is a very experienced team in Holland and in Eurochallenge. I like the team, the people in the team, the trainer of the team. I got a lot from them.

Q. Who is your trainer over there?
A. My trainer over there is Hugo van der Haam, but also I always have Michael Gusteshov, my Russian trainer with me when I race there.

Q. How it is possible to have two trainers at the same time? Can there be a conflict?
A. Not at all. Hugo is a main trainer for me in Holland and in European races, Michael is in Russia. By the way Hugo is not only my trainer during the race, he helps other drivers in other classes as well, I want to say he is a very good guy and I think he knows what he is doing because I see other drivers came through Kombikart and now they are all upfront.

Q. You are now first in Russian championship after two rounds but only by one point. Two of your main competitors have the same amount of points and they are only one point behind you. Another one is just six points below you. What do you think how will the championship end up for you?

A. My goal is to win this year Russian championship, few races in Holland and in Europe. We will see what I can do, I am very much interested myself about it.