| WRGB 2008. Day 1 Drivers Press Conference transcript. | |||||
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| WRGB 2008. Day 1 Drivers Press Conference transcript. | |||||
| Les Kolczak | |||||
| © worldrallypics.com | |||||
| 7 December 2008, 10:34 am | |||||
| Jari-Matti from the BP Ford Abu Dhabi Rally Team, in second position we have Citroen's Sebastien Loeb, and joining us for the first time at the end of day press conference, we have P-G Anderson from the Suzuki World Rally Team. | |||||
| Welcome to you all guys, what a day it’s been out there today. Jari-Matti, just tell me what the conditions were like out there? “You know, normally the Wales Rally GB is a difficult rally but this year the conditions have been very extreme, we have seen snow ice and so heavy rain that even the wipers can’t go that quick. And, also the muddy conditions what you had in some places and like that, it’s been very very challenging, stages being cancelled, and it has also been very long days, starting very early, finishing quite late. So, I can say that it has been demanding”. So, obviously you are in the lead but how cautious have you been out there knowing the conditions have been so bad? Well I was very excited when I started in the morning, and I was very afraid about the ice. Luckily the stages were cancelled and made bit shorter so it wasn’t too bad with the ice but I started a bit cautious and then I started to increase speed when I was able to build up the confidence and it really started to go well, but the morning was difficult. Sebastien lets turn to you now, we just heard from your team boss, Olivier Quesnel saying that he would like an emergency tyre brought in for this event, what are your thoughts on it? “I think he’s right, it’s what we spoke about with all the drivers and so I agree with that. We just would like to have a cut in the tyre but everybody’s the same so it’s no advantage for anyone. But just for the safety because there is so much mud and we have no ground control like it was in the past so we have no information of the road so we always hope there’s no ice, because if it’s ice even a cut won’t change anything. But still when it’s a lot of mud we do like aquaplaining on the mud in some high speed places that’s not so nice so we would like to have just one cut which would be better than nothing. Conditions are tricky enough, so hopefully we will have it for tomorrow”. Ok, let’s hope so. Let’s talk about your position then, second overall at the moment and looking good for the Manufacturer’s Championship of course which is key for Citroen this weekend. You’ve never won here in Wales but we know you’d really love to win, are you going to be chasing Jari-Mattie tomorrow? “I will continue to drive like I feel, it is what I’ve done today. For me to go faster today, I would have had to take some big risks so I will see tomorrow how I feel. But for sure the most important is the Manufacturer Championship and at the moment it’s in a good way but the rally is long and very difficult so anything can happen”. OK thank you Sebastien, P-G let’s turn to you now, in podium position at the end of a very very difficult day one, you’ve had a good run through, what’s it been like for you? “I think we have been quite lucky with the road positions, especially the first run through the stages where you can find a lot of grip because the cars in front have cleared the road so, I was trying as hard as I could and the times came and the cars been working perfect and driver and co-driver have been very good as well, so it has been a fantastic day. Normally we loose more time maybe, then we had more rain come, it was the same road conditions for all the drivers, so it was the same road, but we managed”. It would be fantastic if you could end the rally, of course, with a podium - how much are you going to be pushing to hold onto third position? “I think it will be very very difficult, but I will try my best and we will not go along in safety mode we will try as hard as possible and hope for a lot of rain”. Let’s turn back to then, finally, Jari-Matti. You hold the lead at the moment, Ford still fighting for the Manufacturers Championship, despite the fact that Mikko obviously had that role and lost a lot of time, still a lot of pressure on your shoulders going in to day two. How are you going to approach it? “Yeah, we know that the Manufacturers Championship is not so realistic anymore for us, of coarse we have to keep it in mind as its not impossible but it’s not so realistic. I know Citroen is taking it on sensibly and making sure that they can take it. But at least if we can’t get that, I want to really win this rally, it’s very important for me and for my team”. OK, well good luck tomorrow guys lets hope for a safe day two thanks a lot Sebastien Loeb, Jari-Matti and P-G Anderson. Ends. |
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