The official FIA World Touring Car Championship website - www.fiatwtcc.com - spoke to Monica Sipsz after the two races at Spa last weekend. She has been Team Manager of Alfa Romeo touring car team for twelve years and won a number of national and international titles with them.

What is your role as Team Manager? “I overlook every aspect of the team so I could be involved in anything from the drivers to budget decisions. It’s difficult to explain because there is not a fixed set of duties but basically there is nothing I do not deal with!”

What is it like being one of very few women in motorsport management? “At the beginning it wasn’t easy. But when people realise you know the job and are valuable to the team, you are accepted. The most important thing is how hard you work.” Highlight of your career? “My first international experience as a Team Manager will always stand out for me. It was in 1995 DTM with Fisichella and Alboreto. Having only been involved in Italian motorsport until then, I was a new face so people looked at me in a strange way and were sceptical about what I could do. That was tough but it was the first step in my career so it will always be special.”
 

How is the 2005 season going? “This season has been hard so far. It is extremely competitive out there but that is how it should be. The organisation has done a great job in balancing the performances in the championship. The FIA WTCC is one of the best Championships in the world.”

Will an Alfa Romeo man be the 2005 Champion? “I really hope so. Our job is to try and win everywhere, and have one or more of our drivers fighting for the championship until the last race.”

The next two rounds of the inaugural FIA WTCC take place at Oschersleben in Germany on 28th August.