GP4 2005 - Post-league interview with Roman Ivanov

On the brink of the new season, the LFRS Times asked last season's winners what it was like, and more! Here is the story of Class D Drivers Champion Roman Ivanov.

Q - Hello, Roman, congratulations! You became LFRS 2005/2006 Class D Champion! Tell us about your feelings!

Roman: That's certainly great to win Championship in such strong and famous league, last year I only dreamed of it, and my dreams became true!

Q - What can you say about the whole 2005 season? Was it interesting for you, how do you estimate the organization level of the Championship?

Roman: The season was very interesting and well-organized, I enjoyed driving among pilots of different countries, and compete with such big associations.

Q - Do you remember your races? What of them were the most successful, what unlucky? What moments can you remember?

Roman: The most unlucky race was Monaco for sure. Dissapointing retire at last lap and second place on podium after 5-minutes leading in front of Aleks. As for successfull, two races in B class were the most interesting and exciting, I am proud I won both.

Not mentioned by Roman: 9 wins in 10 races, enough to secure the championship even while missing 3 races!

Q - And what about your dialogues with your opponents and team mates? Did you communicate with other pilots much or not?

Roman: Yes, I always talked to several pilots and made good friends with them, this is very important fact in championship interest I think. As for my teammates, of course I know all of them very good, I drove all my career with Dmytry in 1 team and we know each other very well and always communicate durring Grand Prix and in other life too.

Q - Tell us about the team where you were driving this season. Was it a real team where pilots make setups and race strategy together, or was everybody working only for himself?

Roman: Orphelin Racing Team is very famous team in Russia. And it is really a team, cause all pilots, that are driving together, always help each other and work a lot to get success. And success comes :)

Q - Now I'd like to ask you about your plans for the next LFRS season. Are you going to take part there? What, do you think, can be added there as new features or something else? How do you see next season?

Roman: I will drive in B class against best keyboard racers of the World, and I hope to have the greatest competition in my life! The Championship will have a little upgrade for sure, so it will become more interesting for pilots and teams, and I hope, much people will have motivation to drive here.

Q - I'm sure, many pilots would like to know about your non-sim-racing life. What do you do in your real life, what are your hobbies?

Roman: I'm a student, studying for journalist career. I also work with PC's, to get $ for my real racing career which is most important for me of course. And I play bass-guitar, love heavy music too :)

Q - Do you know any of your sim-racing opponents in real life? What do you think about idea of LFRS Megameeting, where all pilots from different countries may come? Will you come, if such a meeting will be planned?

Roman: I know very much of russian sim-racers in real life, we had a russian sim-racing megameeting at Renault F1 Roadshow in Moscow in august 2005. As for world megameeting, this is good idea for sure, and I hope this idea will become true one day, I will do my best to come for this meeting of all GP4 pilots.

Q - Many people are excited with the question of real racing and sim-racing uniting. What do you think, can sim-racers be strong in real racing? Do you think if it would be great if real team bosses were interested in virtual drivers?

Roman: Well, in Russia many sim-racers have success in real racing, so I hope real team bosses will notice this fact and do something to make sim-racers more popular among real racers too :)

Q - Do you like real racing? What competitions do you watch by television? Who are your idols? Do you like to visit racing events?

Roman: I watch Formula 1 since 1992 year and my idol was always Michael Schumacher. I'd like to visit some races and watch them not only by television, but I have no such possibility nowadays. Maybe in future...

Q - Let's get back to sim-racing world. Do you play some other simulators except for Grand Prix 4? What simulators do you prefer?

Roman: Nope, I just have no time to play computer games more. Maybe I will try netKar Pro, but I still don't know if I will do it.

Q - Finally, what forecasts can you make for next LFRS season? What pilots will be strongest there, or in other championships?

Roman: We'll see, I just hope to see a good competition in all classes, no forecasts, this is not thanksgiving business :)

Thank you for your answers! I hope to see you here next season, when such press-conferences will be more regular! Good luck!