An interview with Michel Perridon

An interview with Trust International CEO Mr. Michel Perridon about the team, his sponsorship and his targets in GP2.

Published: Saturday March 1, 2008

How does it feel to be a title sponsor in GP2?

This is really a great feeling. It will be absolutely fantastic when we see Yelmer Buurman racing for our team as we’ll have a Dutchman racing with us. One of our main goals to sponsor this team is to give Dutch drivers an opportunity in the GP2 series so they can prove themselves and eventually make it into Formula 1. In the last few years I’ve learned that as a driver you shouldn’t pay for a seat in F1 but you should win races in GP2 to get invited into Formula 1.

What is the importance for the Trust brand?

Obviously we hope to sell more of our products. It is difficult to say what the influence of our sponsorship is for our sales but there are many advantages really. Our sponsorship is good for the image of the company and to get our brand out there.

Are you intending to invest in the team?

We started this year as a title sponsor. After one year we got to know one an other and then we’ll see if we will also take a share in the team and thus become co-owner of the team. With Argos Oil, Nawon and Riwal we have three great Dutch sponsors that joined us at the team. These sponsors are a great financial boost for the team.

Why did you choose Arden?

We talked to various team but I am really happy we chose Arden in the end. We heard many positive stories about this team and the team has a great history in racing. Arden’s link with Red Bull is also important for us. We actually hope to see a Dutch young talent become part of the Red Bull Junior programme if he proves to be a talent within our team.

So Trust Team Arden will develop Holland's next Formula 1 driver?

That is our target indeed and we will do the best we can to achieve this.

Why Yelmer Buurman? How do you see his chances?

We believe that Yelmer is ready for GP2, unlike the other Dutch drivers. He has proven last year that he is a great driver and he did extremely well in the GP2 test session in Dubai. It’s difficult to say how he will perform in 2008 but I was pleased to hear from Christian Horner that the team was positively surprised with his two-day test in Dubai.

Please tell us something about the ambitions of the team.

Obviously we would like to win races. We will do the best we can to achieve this goal. We will start the European season with a brand-new chassis and I think that could be an advantage for us as we all start from scratch. In the past Arden proved it can get a new chassis up to speed really fast. Last week I visited the factory and saw the new car and I must say this all looks really positive. We believe we can make our car faster than the other teams out there so it is all very exciting.

Can you tell us something about the other drivers, Sebastien Buemi and Adam Khan?

They are good drivers. Buemi isn’t Red Bull F1’s test and reserve driver for nothing. Khan is very important for the team in the Asia series and he is a very popular driver.

Trust also supports Renger van der Zande. Will he be the next GP2 driver?

Renger first has to prove himself in the F3 Euroseries. If he does well it is possible that he will be racing in GP2 in the next one or two years.

When are you happy?

When I see our team finish on the podium now and then and I really hope to hear the Dutch anthem this year.

• 11/05 BIZARRE RACE YIELDS ANOTHER PODIUM FOR BUEMI
• 10/05 SIXTH PLACE FOR FIGHTBACK KING BUEMI
• 09/05 CHARACTER-BUILDING DAY FOR TRUST TEAM ARDEN
• 27/04 PODIUM JOY FOR BUEMI IN BARCELONA
• 26/04 BUEMI EARNS TWO POINTS… AND A FRONT-ROW START
• 25/04 TOUGH BAPTISM FOR TRUST TEAM ARDEN
• 12/04 BUEMI 2ND AND CROWNED VICE CHAMPION
• 11/04 DOUBLE PODIUM SUCCESS FOR TRUST TEAM ARDEN
• 11/04 GOOD QUALIFICATION FOR TTA DRIVERS IN DUBAI
• 06/04 BUEMI 2ND IN SPRINTRACE BAHREIN

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