Nic Minassian’s qualifying performance at Paul Ricard today, grabbing second on the grid to the charging Jota Gibson of Harry Tincknell, put smiles on faces up and down the paddock.
The Frenchman with a very English colloquial vocabulary was smiling broadly when the DSC Editor caught up with him in the garage soon afterwards:
“Yeah I’m very happy with that, I even gave myself a moment to be ****ed off that I wasn’t on pole!
“The car (the AF Racing BR01) is fast, and because of the decision from the ACO that the car won’t be legal in 2017 it means we are in a hurry for success. We’ve set it up here for speed not comfort and we want to win now, not next year.”
The move to Dunlop rubber here seems to have made a difference too?
“Look, I have a long and very happy association with Michelin but the reality is that the team needs to push on now. The change gives them one less variable with the main opposition here.”
At this point in the season there’s the inevitable question that arises. What’s happening next year?
“At this point I honestly don’t know, I’d be very happy to be back here and am certainly capable of doing a good job but I’m not worried about it in any way.
“I’m not 28 any more and I have been thinking about the future for quite a long time. One thing is for sure, when I stop driving I won’t be leaving the sport behind.”
So what would you like to do next?
“I have wanted to run my own team for a while, I have been working on it in the background for quite a few years and if the right opportunity came up I would take it for sure.”
So nothing in the immediate future?
“Nothing specific, but I’m open to an approach and am willing to do it instead of driving if the right offer came up.”
Earnest stuff from Minassian but the serious stuff evaporated in a moment as Amato Ferrari approached:
“Hey Amato, I’m not shit yet then!” amidst much slapping of backs and laughter.
