Minassian on Spa Francorchamps - Bilingual feature - April 30th 2008

Minassian on board the #7 Peugeot 908

As the Spa round of the 2008 LMS Championship is nearly upon us, Nicolas shares his thoughts...

Q. Which parts of the famous Belgian circuit do you like best and why?

- Quelles sont tes portions, virages préférées du circuit de Spa et Pourquoi?

A. Pouhon and Eau Rouge, 2 turns in which it is necessary to push a little to find the limit and after that it is just pleasure turn after turn, I love it.

- Pouhon et eau rouge, 2 virages dans lesquel il faut se pousser un petit coup pour trouver la limite et apres c'est que du plaisir tour apres tour, j'adore.

Q. How you approach the circuit with Peugeot 908? Are there traps to be avoided?

- Comment aborde-t-on le circuit de Spa avec la Puegoet 908? Y-at-il des pièges à éviter?

The #7 908 on track at Spa

A. Spa is a long and fast circuit where it is necessary to keep an elevated speed lap after lap. It is also very well adapted to the LMS Championship style races. With the 908 it is a fantastic circuit, it is one of the most beautiful circuits in the world, but there are traps and here, as anywhere, these are to be avoided!!!

- Spa c'est un circuit long et rapide ou il faut garder une cadence elevee a tout les tours, c'est aussi tres bien adapte au courses LMS, avec la 908 c'est un circuit fantastic,c'est un des plus beau circuit au monde,les pieges,c'est comme partout il faus les eviter!!!

Q. Out of all the sessions which you have competed in at Spa, do you have a particular memory which springs to mind? Pleasant, difficult, amusing...

- Parmi toutes les épreuves que tu as disputé à Spa, as-tu un souvenir particulier qui te revient à l'esprit? Agréable, difficile, amusant...

Minassian in F3000

A. There is one memory which makes me laugh now but certainly did not in 2000. I was competing for the F3000 Championship and this was the last race. The Saturday before I was cleaning the car but the vacuum cleaner's small attachment for cleaning in the corners was missing so I decide to make one out of a plastic egg cup that I cut into a point, but I slipped with the cutter and stabbed myself in the leg, straight into the muscle!!! And the right leg to boot. Therefore although I made the race, and finished 3rd behind Goossens and Alonso, this meant I only finished 2nd in the Championship!!!

- Un souvenir qui me fais rire maintenant mais pas en 2000, je jouer le championnat 3000 a cette course la derniere, et le samedi avant je decide de netoyer la voiture mais il manquer le petit bout pour l'aspirateur pour les coins donc je decide de en fabriquer un avec un oeuf quinder en plastic que je decoupe en pointe, mais le cutter m'echappe et me rentre dans la jambe, bang le muscle!!! Et a droite en plus. Tant bien que mal je fais la courses, finis 3eme derriere Goossens et Alonzo et 2eme du championnat, le championnat me passe sous le nez!!!