Ahead of this year’s first speed test event, everyone is very motivated. The event itself is promising to amazing in terms of spectators and the competition is looking to be very fierce. We met Garo Haroutiounian, the 2009 King of Red Bull Car Park Drift, in MMW Garage and asked him about this season, the last minute call for the speed test and many other surprises.
What are your preparations this year?
This year we have prepared a BMW M3 E46 for Hill Climb and we decided in the last minute to participate in the speed test like the previous couple of years. We will try to test the car in the speed test. We will use this car for 3 speed test events and 3 hill climb events. In addition to this we will participate in ROL on the new Mitsubishi EVO 9 that we recently bought 3 months ago. We will also go international if everything was ok. We will try to participate in the Hill Climbs in Jordan and Syria.
Participating in Sunday’s speed test was a last minute call, what are you targeting and who are your competitors?
For me everyone is a competitor. I don’t underestimate anybody and all the guys competing have a very high level. Sunday’s participating is mainly for testing the car. If we do a good job we I will be happy, especially that in previous years were very fast.
What is the difference between this year’s speed test car and last year’s, and why did you do this change?[singlepic id=152 w=320 h=240 float=right]
We were obliged to do this change. ATCL decided that the winners of the Amateur category should not compete in the same category this year so they can open the doors for others to win. I am not very convinced with this matter. I guess the winner is winning by skill. People who are coming second or more are working to catch the first. I guess the way ATCL is handling is more like changing roles and not opening the chance for new winners. Anyway, we were preparing for the Hill Climb with this car and it’s ready so I will drive it under the prototype category. I will be in the same category with ABDO, but the 2WD cars will have their own ranking too. It will be a great event and people might say that speed test is not important, but totally on the contrary it’s very difficult and it needs precision and skill. I believe that the speed test is a school because you have an 800 meter space where you can commit a mistake. You have all kinds of curves and “turnabouts” and many other features so I guess it’s one of the best races to watch.
Every year we are witnessing a lot of spectators in speed test events, how do you think it will be this year?
I don’t expect less than what we are used too. If not much more at least we will equal the number of spectators we had in previous years.
Last year’s car will be used only for drifting this year. What have you changes in this car?
In terms of looks we have not changed anything. We have changed the engine. We installed M5 V10 engine to be more comfortable in drifting. You know you need more power and torque for drifting. We are still working on it but we will be ready in time for the Red Bull Car Park Drift.
Last year Firas Khaddaj won the Red Bull Car Park Drift and took your crown. What would you tell us about 2011’s edition?
Without any doubt Firas deserved the win. We should not forget though that I couldn’t complete except one run and my car stopped. We had some fellow drivers from the gulf who suffered from the same problem. Anyway I will do my best to win. If perform on the right level I will win. If not I will lose. Last year I was glad that a Lebanese driver won the event. At the end we are Lebanese and we prefer that the title stays in our country.
[singlepic id=155 w=320 h=240 float=left]This year we have Red Bull Car Park Drift qualification all over the region in addition to Iran and several rounds in Lebanon ahead of the finals. How do find this concept especially that it’s attracting a lot of fans?
One of the best events I watch in my life. The organization and the spectators and everything is amazing. It’s amazing because from the beginning of the event till its end you see everything in front of you and you live all the passion. It amazing what Red Bull are doing and I would salute Dado for his hard work too.
Personally where do you enjoy yourself more, in Speed tests, Hill Climbs, or Drifting?
I love motorsports in general. I also like scoring good results. I am working on myself and on improving my skills and car. My big target now is the Hill Climb. In rallies I don’t have any experience. If I participate in ROL it will be a big test for me.
Tell us more about the participation in ROL and the switch from a RWD car to an EVO 9?
We all know that BMW in rallies is not that practically and it doesn’t work. The best thing for rallies apart from S2000 cars are EVOs, so we decided to buy a car and improve it so we can participate.
I had the desire to participate in the cedars rally after 2 weeks but it’s too late now and has no time to be ready from now until then.
Did you prepare the EVO here in Lebanon?
The car is totally prepared at RallyArt, and we changed a couple of things including the springs ,the computer and some minor details.
With what team will you be participating in ROL?
We will be under the same team that is present all events we participate in which is the MMW garage, with all its crew and the whole package.
We see that you big ambitions for this year, what are your long term plans?
Well I have long term plans for the future indeed. The only criterion is the following; as long as I’m good and my results are good and I’m improving, I will keep on participating. When I start to go backwards, I will stop and become the first spectator.
At the end what message would you send for guys speeding on the roads?
I’m not very good in advice, I was not better than any of the guys speeding on the roads. I know how dangerous it is since I have experienced it several times myself. The only solution for this problem is the track. We need a track in Lebanon. Ok speed limiters are a good idea for decreasing accidents but the track would help in this matter much much more. All motorsport fans from the Arab world used to come to Lebanon to watch this sport, when we were pioneers in it, not every single country has 2 or 3 tracks. The track would help take the speeding guys off the roads.
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