Munich (DE), 2nd May 2016. When the new DTM season gets underway in
Hockenheim on 7th May, Bruno Spengler (CA), Marco Wittmann (DE),
António Félix da Costa (PT), Timo Glock (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR), Tom
Blomqvist (GB), Maxime Martin (BE) and Martin Tomczyk (DE) will be in
the cockpits of the eight BMW M4 DTMs for BMW Motorsport. We introduce
each of our BMW DTM drivers in a series of interviews while we wait.
António Félix da Costa, BMW Team Schnitzer, #13 BMW M4 DTM.
António, you are heading into your third year in the DTM and
are one of the younger drivers. Do more experienced drivers have an
advantage during pre-season preparations?
António Félix da Costa: “You are always learning something new in the
DTM. And it’s no different for the guys who have been around for a
while. The regulations change slightly each year, and everyone has to
adapt to that. No doubt the drivers who have been in the DTM for a
while have a slight advantage. But when we do our job well and get the
car where we want it, experience no longer plays as much of a role.
That is the goal. But we also know that the competition in the DTM is
incredibly strong.”
Did getting your first DTM victory last year improve your
confidence?
Félix da Costa: “Yes, definitely. I managed to move to the front
after bad qualifying sessions, and I can control and win a race from
the front. I believe that I can play a good role in any situation. Now
we have to bring it all together on a regular basis. My win definitely
gave me a lot of confidence.”
What are your thoughts on the changes to the regulations and
the limited use of the DRS from now on?
Félix da Costa: “It doesn’t really change my approach. When the
regulations change slightly, the teams and we as drivers always adjust
quickly. Whoever is the first to implement the new regulations
correctly will be the first to be successful. We have to manage that –
and I’m sure that we have the right people for that in our team.”
Doesn’t it influence your driving style when you have to go
easy on activating the DRS?
Félix da Costa: “Maybe a little. But I’m used to that from other race
series, so it’s not completely new to me, perhaps even a slight advantage.”
Have you set a specific goal for the season?
Félix da Costa: “I actually look from race to race and always want to
get the maximum number of points, win races, or finish on the podium.
But above all, I want to be consistent. The main goal will be to deal
with our difficulties and weaknesses from last year. If we manage
that, we will automatically be in a good position. I am an ambitious
driver and I would be lying if I said I didn’t have my sights set on
wins and podium positions.”
With Martin Tomczyk as your team-mate, consistency prevails at
BMW Team Schnitzer in 2016. Is that important to you?
Félix da Costa: “Yes, very. I like this consistency. It is good to be
in the same team and in the same environment, and to have the same
team-mate. I’m happy about that. Hopefully we will be able to continue
to improve together.”
Have you got used to the Bavarian way of living?
Félix da Costa: “I’m a bit behind with learning German, but it’s not
that easy because I am away with the DTM and Formula E so much. But I
am trying to learn as best I can, and spend a lot of time with the
guys from Bavaria. The Schnitzer crew is just fantastic. I love the
way they work. We all have the same goal, to win races. And that’s the
only way I can work well, which is why I am very happy in this team.”
You have already had a few good races in Formula E this
season, but also a lot of bad luck. Which feeling is greater; fun or frustration?
Félix da Costa: “It is quite frustrating. I knew that it would be
difficult to fight for the title this year since we still have the
same car as the first season, without any upgrades. Despite that we
have had a few really good performances, for example, a pole position,
which was unfortunately taken away from us due to problems with the
tyre pressure. Then we were on track to finish on the podium twice,
when the car went on strike. We’ve been a bit unlucky this year, but
our performances have been good.”
A nice side benefit of Formula E is the fantastic locations in
which it is held. Which is your favourite?
Félix da Costa: “A lot of them are really beautiful, and it is pretty
special what the organisers arrange. Punta del Este is my favourite.
It’s quite close to the sea and reminds me of my home country. But it
is also fantastic to be in central Paris in the heart of the city. You
can see the Eiffel tower on one side and the Louvre on the other.
That’s impressive. Only Formula E can offer something like that, and
I’m really pleased to be part of it.”
As the “Official Car Partner”, BMW provides Formula E with the
BMW i8 Safety Car, among others. What do you think of this car?
Félix da Costa: “The safety car driver Bruno Correia is also
Portuguese and I get on well with him. We talk about BMW a lot, and
the BMW i8 in particular, which he drives. I keep trying to get the
key out of his pocket to take it for a spin. But he hasn’t let me
drive it yet. The BMW i8 is a really cool car and great to drive. It’s
great for Formula E to have a BMW i8 at the front of the field.”
The winter was very long for you, despite the Formula E races.
How did you spend it?
Félix da Costa: “Winter is always the time of year in which you can
train harder and spend the most amount of time in the gym. Fitness
levels drop slightly during the season; you’re constantly flying
around the world and have to deal with jetlag. It’s all about keeping
at your level. But in winter you can make real improvements, to
fitness and mental strength. So that’s what I do, but I also take time
to relax and spend time with family and friends. That’s very
important. I do what I enjoy, surf a little and just spend time at home.”
Many of your BMW colleagues contest endurance races in the BMW
M6 GT3. Would that interest you in the future?
Félix da Costa: “Of course. The BMW M6 GT3 looks great and is a
really strong car. But my calendar is just too full right now to take
on anything else. But wherever I can race in a BMW, I will. I like
driving all kinds of cars and switching between different models is no
problem for me.”