Influencer Mirim interviews TMG Racing driver and follows sprint race at Autódromo Velocittà in Mogi-Guaçu
Felipe Massa, representing TMG Racing, secured the first victory of the 2024 season in the Stock Car sprint race held at Velocittà Autodrome in Mogi-Guaçu on March 23rd. Felipe’s achievement solidifies his strong phase in Stock Car. He marked his fifth consecutive podium in the series and his third victory in the category.
The drivers faced challenges with the unstable weather, with rain threatening to interrupt the race. Due to the start procedures, they couldn’t change from dry tires to wet tires before the start. The rain stopped, and tire change wasn’t necessary. Massa showed skill and composure navigating his car on the wet track. His experience was crucial in taking the lead in the final moments and crossing the finish line first. Ricardo Zonta and Felipe Fraga completed the podium.
With this victory, Massa leads the championship with 137 points. His team was also praised for their impeccable performance during the race. With more challenges ahead, Massa and his team are determined to maintain the pace and continue seeking success in the competition.
Influencer Yuri Turbo closely followed the race and conducted an interview with the former Formula 1 driver in English, discussing the strategy adopted in the Sprint race, considering it the slowest track of the season and the short available time, as well as the issue of unused tires, and how the former driver managed to give his best in these circumstances.
Massa showed enthusiasm and praised Yuri’s linguistic progress while sharing his satisfaction with the day’s race performance. Felipe emphasized the importance of patience, tire conservation, and the ability to maintain a consistent pace as part of the strategy to achieve victory:
“The feeling (of victory) is wonderful. Patience was crucial (for success). With two cars ahead of me and two more behind, I kept calm, turning fast but taking care of my car.”
He also mentioned that when the opportunity for a pit stop arose, he took advantage of using all available power to overtake competitors, taking the lead of the Stock Car championship for the first time. Felipe expressed his happiness with the team’s performance and acknowledged the hard work still needed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus and determination throughout the season.
Yuri observed the driver’s behavior during the race, emphasizing not only the calmness but the patience demonstrated and inquired about how this patience would affect the driver’s performance in the race the next day. Massa humorously responded: “Patience tomorrow? None (laughs). Tomorrow, we will give our best. I have many resources to use, great tires for the race, but there will be no patience. I’ll be attacking constantly, trying to advance. Certainly, I hope to stay on the track, as we know anything can happen in Stock Car. However, I believe we have a competitive car, an exceptional team, and a solid strategy to score many points. Who knows, maybe even climb the podium while keeping up the pace.”
Another point discussed in the interview was Massa’s career in Formula 1 and an article about one of the biggest accidents in the history of the category. Yuri inquired about the possible impact of this serious accident on the driver’s career. Massa shared his perspective, emphasizing how close he was to ending his career due to the accident and the luck he had in coming out unscathed. He acknowledged the importance of safety advances in motorsport, such as crash tests, carbon helmets, and other developments that have contributed to saving lives.
Yuri concluded the interview with a simple question to bring Massa closer to the audience, and the driver revealed a preference for Italian and Brazilian dishes, inviting the influencer to visit his restaurants in São Paulo. In the end, Yuri thanked Massa for the interview and accepted Massa’s invitations, demonstrating a friendly and open interaction between them.
Check out the full interview at: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C44IVVALIV2/?igsh=MWM3NzJrZnh0ZnAzbg==