Interview
Three very confident rookies: ART Grand Prix Pre-Season Testing Review
ART Grand Prix left pre-season testing in high spirits with all three of their rookie drivers happy with how the team performed in Barcelona, the French team completing 593 laps across the three days.
Taito Kato caught the eye throughout the test, constantly in and around the top 10 on several occasions, especially during the Qualifying simulation runs.
When times were at their fastest on the morning of Day 2, Kato was third in the timesheets, just under three-tenths away from Freddie Slater’s 1:27.020.
Speaking at the end of the test, Kato was happy with how things went for him and the French team.
“It was quite positive, I would say, especially on the new tyre performance runs” said Kato on pre-season testing. “We were always fighting inside the top five these three days.
“So, I am quite happy with the result and overall it has been really good. Long-runs, we are struggling a bit. Today, obviously, on both the first set and second set of long runs, we were missing a little bit.
“But it was getting better and better. I think last run was quite nice. So, I think we have quite good confidence for Melbourne.”
While Kato was third fastest that morning, his teammate Maciej Gladysz was just 0.003s behind him in fourth with a 1:27.320.
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The Polish driver was happy with the progression he saw from himself during the test, completing 200 laps across the three days.
“I think it was a really productive and positive test,” said Glaydsz. “We did lots of good stuff and improved every time. The first day was quite strong, the second day as well was quite strong, was even stronger.
“Today maybe got a little bit worse, but we tried some different stuff. But we know we are ready for Melbourne and also on the long runs we were quite strong. So, I'm looking forward to it. It's a different track, but I'm quite confident going there.”
Kanato Le was talking just after a big team debrief looking at the data from their long runs in the final afternoon of the test, where the Japanese driver completed 48 laps of his own.
But similarly to his two teammates, Le was impressed by what he saw from the team over one lap, making him optimistic that they can fight at the front in Melbourne.
“Honestly, I think it has all been pretty positive,” said Le. “I think from the start of day one, we've been really quick.
“I think it was better than we expected in terms of performance. We were always at the top for performance runs, so I think it's a good sign going into Melbourne.
“I think we have the car, the pace to be at the front. So, I think we just need to work on some bits and I think we should be in really good positions to fight for the win in Melbourne.”