18-year-old Emil Gjerdrum and 36-year-old Jonas Karklys shared the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 of Liqui Moly Team Engstler NordVPN by GRT in the ADAC GT Masters. A good relationship, trust and mutual respect are essential, in order to be able to perform out on the track. But aside from tenths of seconds, tyre pressure and set-up, how well do the two team-mates really know each other? The answer, and a few anecdotes, can be found in this rather different interview.
Which of you would find a hotel?
Emil Gjerdrum: Jonas would take responsibility for that. After all, I’m still just a kid (laughs).
Jonas Karklys: I also think I would do it.
Which of you has the bigger suitcase?
Emil Gjerdrum: 100 percent Jonas!
Jonas Karklys: I am an older man, so I need more clothes and more of everything (laughs).
Which of you is most likely to leave something at home?
Emil Gjerdrum: (Laughs). Undoubtedly me. Last year, I left my helmet at home and had to drive back to my house from the airport. However, I still managed to make my flight somehow.
Which of you is most punctual?
Jonas Karklys: I am more punctual. Emil is still a baby (laughs). I sometimes have nightmares that I am too late for the start, or that I don’t have my helmet on (laughs).
Emil Gjerdrum: We are both punctual, but he is simply the more experienced of the two of us.
Which of you has the best taste when it comes to food?
Jonas Karklys: Me! He just eats bread all the time, no matter where he is. And, as a Norwegian, he is always eating old fish (laughs).
Emil Gjerdrum: No way (laughs). At the Nürburgring, Jonas said he would take us to a chic restaurant – and we ended up at a kebab shop.
*Everyone laughs *
Who is the most chaotic of the two of you?
Jonas Karklys: I am older and slower, so Emil (laughs).
Emil Gjerdrum: No, definitely not. Neither of us are untidy people.
Jonas Karklys: That is true. Neither of us are messy. However, Emil is far more aggressive when it comes to driving style, which is what I was referring to.
Which of you is most likely to have a heated discussion with your engineer or team principal?
Emil Gjerdrum: We work very well, in a structured and calm manner, both with each other and with the whole team. It is all about getting the best possible package, and that is only possible this way.
Jonas Karklys: I remember a situation when I was very loud on the radio. My engineer kept telling me that I had to push harder, while I was trying everything and simply had nothing more to give. Afterwards, it turned out that we had a technical issue with the car. That was rather frustrating.
Which of you is most addicted to using your mobile phone?
Emil Gjerdrum: I pretty much grew up with the mobile phone, but that was not really the case with Jonas. So, probably me.
Which of the classic apps do you have open?
Emil Gjerdrum: Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, all the usual things.
Which of you has the most annoying habit, and what is it?
Jonas Karklys: I don’t actually believe that Emil has any annoying habits.
Emil Gjerdrum: I sometimes annoy myself, because I always feel like I have forgotten something. For example, when packing for race weekends. I do it pretty much every week, but still check that I have packed my shoes, clothes and other things. But I actually know that I have everything.
What quality would you steal from the other person?
Emil Gjerdrum: Jonas is a very quiet person, which I like. He is also a very good businessman.
Jonas Karklys: That is only because I am more experienced at the moment. I would like to have Emil’s meticulous approach to preparation. He always has a pen and paper at hand, to jot everything down. He always wants to get the maximum out of things, which I admire.
