Q&A with John Westerlund of DMSv PDF Print E-mail
Written by Andreas Hultgren   
Thursday, 05 November 2009 12:26
DMSv_pic_2After a great first half of the Black Cup I decided to ask the current leaders, Danielsson Motorsport Virtuals team manager John Westerlund a few question on his feelings about STC, the DMSv team and more. But first a little backrounds review of the team.

Danielsson Motorsport Virtual is a relatively new team in simracing and is a collaboration between the Swedish racing team Danielsson Motorsport and the former RossoCorsa Simracing Svezia in an effort to expand the bonds between virtual racing and “real” racing.

Founded in the autumn of 2008 and currently with 22 drivers under contract, DMSv is a team that harbor both top international drivers and drivers with less simracing experience. The team prides itself with taking the simulation part of simracing very seriously and has developed strategies and support structures including the use of telemetry and dedicated race engineers.

Tell us a little about the team. How close is the virtual team with the real team?
DMS virtual is a separate entity with it's own management but flies the flag of DMS and it's sponsors and has the same team principal in Alx Danielsson. The participants in Alx Danielsson Young Gun program and drivers in the Swedish junior touring car championship (JTCC) are sometimes racing under both banners. The virtual and the real team has on a number of occasions had get-togethers at race meetings and on team events/training days. It's harder than one might think to schedule when the race team operates on weekdays when the virtual team is at work.. We are hoping to schedule more activities together for the next year but we don't know enough yet to be sure. The financial crisis isn't kind on racing series (or teams)

You guys raced a couple of rounds at the end of last season but this is the first full season in the Simracing Team Challenge. What were your thoughts, competition- and oranization wise, going into the Black Cup?
The Blue Cup races we participated in made us want to give it a full effort. The organization, the competitors and the competition was first class and would force us to really give our best. There are a lot of fun-racing leagues everywhere but STC was offering something more.

DMSv are one of three teams that run a "junior" team this season. Both the "Red" team and the "Green" team got of to a very good start of the season. Was it all going according to plan?
Our overall aim going in to the Black Cup is to bring home the championship trophy to Sweden. Having the teams first and second after the first couple of races were a lot better than we had hoped for.

You must be happy to be leading the standings with 4 rounds to go. Any doubts you will hold on or not 'till the end?
It's better to be leading than the alternative but there is almost nothing in it between us, DHR GP and RPM. We are going to give it our best effort but anything can happen. I hope for hard, close, fun and incident free racing and that it's settled on the track not by technical mishaps.

What about the "Green" team? What are your aims?
The podium is out of reach but we are still hoping for good individual results and a top 5 finish in the final standings.

And to finish off the interview I asked John five quick questions.

Favourite track (virtual)?
Nurburgring Nordschleife by a country mile!

Favourite corner (virtual)?
I'm not sure I have a favorite corner... The corkscrew at Laguna Seca in RaceON pops up.

Favourite car (virtual)?
A lot of them but racing Porsche's always appeals to me.

Best simracing memory?
When the Swedish anthem was played at PSRTV after Rolands win at Nordschleife. Yea, I'm a sap...

Who will win the '09 Black Cup?
DMSv of course!
Last Updated on Thursday, 05 November 2009 15:53