Norbert Michelisz

With just two weeks to go before the start of the 2016 FIA World Touring Car Championship, Honda Racing Team JAS newcomer Norbert Michelisz shares his thoughts on the season ahead.

What was the big draw in becoming a works Honda driver?

Norbert Michelisz: I’d been with my old team, Zengo Motorsport, for 10 years; the past two seasons in a Civic WTCC. It was a second family for me so it was tough to say goodbye, but I’m at a point in my career where I’ve won races in the WTCC, been the best privateer driver, and I need a strong works seat if I’m going to have a chance to fight for the overall championship. Honda have given me that chance, which I’m very pleased about. It’s been sad to leave Zengo, but I have their blessing and we still have a very good relationship. This isn’t an opportunity I could turn down.

How has your closed season been?

NM: Up to Christmas was very busy, then pretty relaxed, and pretty busy again since February. Having won the Yokohama Trophy in 2015, there was a lot of attention on me in Hungary, and plenty of questions over where I’d be driving this year. After the first test with the 2016 Honda at Jerez, my wife, Johanna, and I went on honeymoon to the Seychelles – we got married in August, but had to wait for the closed season to have the time to go – so that was great to recharge the batteries. And since then we’ve been testing a lot with the Civic.

What are your hopes for 2016?

NM: Since I started racing Hondas in 2014, I’ve always finished in the top six in the overall championship and won races and I think there’s a great opportunity to progress from that this year, now that I have a works car. Realistically, the main aim for the year is to be a more consistent threat for wins and podiums.

What were your first impressions of the team?

NM: Despite racing with a customer Honda team in Zengo Motorsport, I have been involved in the development of the Civic WTCC since late 2014, which I believe has been a major factor in helping us win the Yokohama Trophy last year. It also means that I know the engineers and mechanics at JAS well. It’s felt like I was already a part of this family for the past 14 or 15 months, and now I’m just making the next step by moving in to their house. What’s always impressed me about JAS is the attitude. They’ve had a challenging two years, but the heads never drop. That’s quite inspiring.

…And of the Civic WTCC?

NM: Having raced the Civic WTCC for the past two years, trying the latest version of the car was very interesting. From the base level up, it’s not that different, but we have made upgrades in several areas – including the engine – so I have no doubt it will be quicker than the machine we had last year. Even from the very first test, the data looked very good, and things have progressed pretty nicely since then.

What are you most excited about heading into 2016?

NM: Most drivers dream of a works deal, so I’m really excited about being a factory Honda driver and having team-mates of the quality of Rob – a former world champion – and Tiago, who has raced in Formula 1 and been one of the best touring car drivers of the past decade. Being able to properly measure myself against them with completely identical machinery is exciting for me.

What is your biggest motivation for the season?

NM: Knowing that if we can work really hard in 2016, we should have a golden opportunity progress against where we were last year against our rivals, and that’s already causing me to demand more of myself as a driver now that the stakes are that much higher. I brought my laptop on honeymoon and my wife wasn’t that happy to see me going through data now and again and trying to identify things to work on. I think you have to be on that level if you’re going to be successful in a works team.

Source: Honda WTCC