Ricardo Monteiro
Coming back from Valladolid (Spain), and after an important relaxing, Ricardo Monteiro, the newest European Champion B 1/8 Off-Road, with only 16 years old, was in Modelcar, the Iberian RB distributor. The opportunity was taken to ask him about the fantastic race. Let him explain:
Modelcar: On a general view, what do you think about your race?
Ricardo: In Portugal, and now, during the Worlds of Football, we use to say “I got a feeling”, and Mr. Luis Freitas, of Modelcar, was always saying it. In fact I had a feeling. When we came to the Warm Up, in April, the race was well and we got the 3rd. place. But the most important was that we knew the track, we got a good set up and we tested a lot of things, so we were very comfortable to the Euro race and we knew that we would make a good race. Of course to make a good race is one thing and win the race is completely different. Global viewing, we think that all of us were very good, not only me, but also my father and mechanic, Mr. Eric Aita, of RB, giving me the perfect engine, and Mr. Yannick Aigoin, of Losi, helping us when necessary.
Modelcar: Can you make a small report of your race?
Ricardo: When we arrived to the track, Thursday afternoon, we were very afraid because the bad weather. It was raining a lot and was very cold. The track was impossible to be used according to the big quantity of water. Seeing the track, my father thought that all the work we made during the Warm Up race was lost, and we must begin everything again. We needed to understand again the track to find a good set up. On Friday morning we were in the track, but it was impossible to make the practice heats. So we must wait and only in afternoon we were able to run for the first time. We decided to begin with the same set up of the Warm Up race, and we checked that the car was good, stable and fast, being necessary only some small adjustments. It was very strange to us, because the track was completely different, with a different surface, without land and a lot of textile carpet. During the two practice heats, we could check that we were among the fastest, making 5th in 1st. practice and 2nd. In 2nd. And last practice, behind my team colleague and friend Carlos Durães. My car was perfect and we only changed the tyres to a softer compound. The RB B10 was also perfect, with good power and low fuel consumption.
On Friday, we had the qualifying heats, being 4 in total, with the best two. The weather and the track were better, and we could run in all heats in the first places. We made always 9 laps, between 5.02 and 5.04. Overall we got the 3rd. position. It was good to me, because I was confident and calm. My semi-final was strong, but we were there and we would fight. To the semi-final, we decided do not run any risk, and despite our B10 can make 10 minutes, we preferred to refuel two times. I was very comfortable and calm during the semi-final, beginning and finishing with the same cadence, and I could pass everybody.
To the Final, we were number 2. As we were very confident with the runtime of our B10, we decided to refuel only between 9 and 9,30 minutes. Beginning the final, Bryan Baldo and me got a small difference to all the others. We were changing in the lead, lap by lap. I was calm, and I decided do not attack and be always in his back. This strategy would press him and we knew that our refuel strategy would help us to take the victory. Unfortunally, Baldo had a mechanic problem during the 14th. lap, and we were alone in the lead of the race. Until the end, we only needed to manage and going on keeping a distance to the 2nd. I had to keep a fast driving, to keep the concentration, but with a comfortable margin of security and without any risks. I finished with 1 lap to the 2nd., that was my RB Team colleague – Carlos Durães, a perfect result to the Portuguese Team ( we also won the Nations Cup) and for RB engines & Fuel – Euro Champion and Vice-Champion.
Modelcar: Do you feel like European Champion?
Ricardo: Well, I cannot feel yet. I think I am dreaming. I’m very young and I didn’t think it was possible to get this title as soon as we got. Sometimes I stop to see if it’s true, but it seems it is. Good.
Modelcar: And about Euro Champs A, in Guarda. What can we expect from you?
Ricardo: A lot of work, but please let me live this moment. We think we must go step by step. The Euro B Champs is already a high level race, with great drivers, usually running the A Main in their National Champs. But in Euro A is all the European top drivers, with long experience, that are my idols. Being there, can talk with them, is already a good thing to me. Of course that we will try hard to get the best result. We think that to achieve the 1/4 is a good result, to arrive to 1/2 is like a victory.
Modelcar: Thanks Ricardo to this small interview. You are a good boy and we hope you can go on growing as you are. Congratulations.
Ricardo: Many thanks. Please let me take this opportunity to thanks to my parents, because they tried hard to support me and get this title. My father is the best mechanic worldwide. Then I and my father are very grateful with Mr. Eric Aita, of RB Products. He put in our hands the perfect engine. Last, but not the least, we thanks to Modelcar and Novamodel, and give my personal thanks to Mr. Luis Freitas and André Teixeira.
See you in Guarda.
Source : RB
