Rally Paradise, Press Release 2005

FIA RALLY NEWS

COMING EVENT - Corona Rally Mexico (11-13 March 2005)

3rd round out of 16 in the 2005 FIA World Rally Championship, 2nd round out of eight in the 2005 FIA Junior World Rally Championship
FIA RALLY NEWS

Media Press Conference
Thursday, March 10th, 2005

Present:
Guy Frequelin - Citroen Total
Malcolm Wilson - BP-Ford World Rally Team
Gilles Panizzi - Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sports
Jani Paasonen - Skoda Motorsport World Rally Team
Markko Martin - Marlboro Peugeot Total
Petter Solberg - Subaru World Rally Team

Q:
Welcome to the press conference. Joining us are Guy Frequelin, Malcolm Wilson, Gilles Panizzi, Jani Paasonen, Markko Martin and Petter Solberg. Guy, the last rally, in Sweden, was the scene of a rare mechanical retirement for Sebastien Loeb. Have you identified the problem, and do you think that it was directly linked to the new regulation requiring an engine to last for two rallies?
GF:
For sure we have identified the cause; it was a head gasket problem. First we did many kilometers in the test before Monte Carlo Rally, getting ready for the new regulation to do two rallies with one engine. In the test we had no problem, but the rally is not the test. We had the problem in Sweden Rally. We knew also that this solution was a little bit at the limit and we prepare a new solution for the Italy Rally and we have pushed to put this new solution for this rally. We hope it’s okay now. For the new regulation, for sure when you have new regulations, when you ask two rallies with the same engine, it’s more difficult for sure. We knew the regulation before, but we didn’t have much time to improve for the new regulation.

Q:
MW: Welcome – you come to Mexico leading both championships, on the positive side. On the negative side, you have Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta with no experience of the event, and Toni has to run first on the road. Do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages?
MW:
Toni has not done this rally before. For sure he’s at a disadvantage, but in terms of the running order, it might be a small disadvantage. Obviously we have got Dani for the second driver. Dani has good experience of the rally and not a lot of experience of the car.

Q:
GF: Sebastien was leading here in Mexico, before retiring last year. Do you think that his chances of victory are better this year, now that he is not running first on the road on the opening day?

GF:
It’s very difficult to say. Normally it’s easier not to be the first, but everything can happen. I am very cautious before every rally and for sure it’s no less for this rally. You know we had a problem last year, it’s dfifficult to say. We will see.

Q:
MW: You have promoted Dani Sola to points-scoring duties here. It’s the first time he’s driven a Focus but comparatively speaking he has a lot of experience of Mexico. What is your target for him here?
MW:
The biggest problem I’m going to have with Dani is slowing him down. He’s very excited about delivering a good result here because his next event isn’t until the middle of the season. It’s the same target as for most rallies this season and that’s to get a podium position.

Q:
GF: Francois says he is still learning the Xsara WRC, but last year he finished second in Mexico. Is it realistic to expect him to match or improve upon that result this year?
GF:
To compare our position now after two rallies we need to score points. Our target is to finish the rally. The team order this morning was very clear for both drivers: we have to finish the rally.

Q:
MW: Malcolm, are you going to stick with the policy of changing the second points-nominated driver for each rally? Is this a tactic that you think could win you the constructors championship?
MW:
From now on, the next four or five rallies, we plan to nominate Roman. It was the plan to keep the pressure off him here, but then New Zealand and the hot rallies he will stay nominated. After that, later in the season, maybe Catalunya, Japan; we will have a look.

Q:
MW/GF: Finally, a question to both team principals – this is the first time that the FIA Junior World Rally Championship has ventured out of Europe. How important is it that youngsters gain experience of long-haul events? Are you surprised that only five JWRC drivers will take the start?
GF:
For sure it’s very important for a young driver to learn. The trip is very long and very expensive. Maybe it’s difficult to force every young driver to come, but for sure it’s very interesting to learn for a young driver.

MW: Absolutely. There’s no substitute for experience. The objective is to get as many of the drivers to do as many of the events as possibe. Suzuki have highlighted how important it is for their young drivers by taking them on every event.

David Williams (The Guardian-GB)
Q:
This is a question for Guy Frequelin. Do you know how much damage was done to Sebastien’s car at shakedown this morning?

GF: It was a big stone, a very big stone. It wasn’t only Sebastien who had the problem there. We need to check exactly what happened on the car. We will work on the car to see exactly what happened. It’s a very big stone.

Q:
JP: You are here with the new homologation of Skoda Fabia WRC. Can you talk us through those changes and explain what they mean to the driver? Have you done much testing for this event? How did it feel during the shakedown? There have been some aerodynamic changes – can you really feel them on a fast rally like this?

JP:
The rear bumper is new and the front wings. We have better aerodynamics and some small things in the engine: a new turbo, but nothing else big. I test in Sweden, in the very long corners I was getting better grip. The engine was better here, I felt I was getting better torque.

Q:
GP: An important development for Mitsubishi is the new active differential you will be running here for the first time. Is it a big change for the Lancer WRC?
GP:
Yes okay, we continue the development and for the first time we are using the active centre diff. It’s completely new, but already good. I am happy and the balance of the car is good. The handling is quite good, for the first time I am happy with the car on the gravel.

Q:
GP: How did you find shakedown this morning?
GP:
Shakedown is not really the rally. There were a lot of hairpins. It was not bad for Cyprus, we found the set up for Cyprus this morning.

Q:
GP: You are using Pirelli tyres for the first time. How did they work at shakedown?
GP: It’s still difficult, it’s the first time with Pirelli on gravel. We have to learn the Pirelli tyre. It’s okay.

Q:
JP: Jani, you had a bit of a problem at shakedown this morning. What happened?
JP: I hit a very big rock and destroyed the sump guard, so they have to change the engine. Shakedown wasn’t very rough, it was just one place which was really bad.

Q:
JP: Your last rally for Skoda on proper gravel was last September’s Rally Great Britain. How difficult is it to get back into the car after that period and set fast times?
JP:
It’s no problem. I found the speed on the snow in Sweden and I can do the same here on gravel. I will find the maximum attack.

Q:
GP: How much work have you and all of the drivers done since Monte Carlo and Sweden with the car?
GP:
We had one week in test for all the drivers to prepare for the next three gravel rallies. I am really concentrating to help my engineer for the development of the car.

Q:
JP: What sort of result is realistically possible for the new Skoda here? Do you think you can make the sort of big surprise like you did in Finland last year, where you finished sixth?
JP:
It’s difficult to say. I try to do the result I did in Finland, Sweden I wasn’t very happy with that result. It’s hard to say what is possible, the result is maybe sixth.

Q:
GP: What are the main areas for Mitsubishi to work on with the next developments of the Lancer WRC?
GP:
We have to improve the suspension, the centre diff. We have a lot of small jobs.

Q:
JP: Your programme with Skoda this year is not fully decided. Which rallies do you think you will be doing this year?
JP:
I know about New Zealand, that’s the next event. I have good memories of that rally, but after that I’m not sure.

Q:
And Gilles, do you know any more about your programme for this season?
GP: I am not completely sure. Maybe Sardinia. At the moment it’s the next three after Sardinia: Turkey, Cyprus and Greece.

Q:
PS: As some people will already know, Mr Kuze, the founding father of the Subaru Rally team, sadly died yesterday in Japan. How important was his contribution to your achievements and those of the entire team?
PS:
Maybe you know, it was a long time before I started. He was very important. He was the guy in charge of starting Subaru in the WRC. I don’t know if I would be sitting here driving a Subaru if it wasn’t for him. He’s done an awful lot for the team and the championship.

Q:
PS: You have a new car here: what are the changes that have made the most difference to the car? How big a step do you think it is over the 2004 version?
PS:
How the car is now, every small detail is very important, you can always do small steps, that’s where our speed is now. We have a wide track which is better on the fast stuff. And a better engine which is giving better traction. A little bit of aero has been done. I know the team is working very hard to get a better engine for NZ; a few more horsepower.

Q:
MM: You have also completed more testing with the Peugeot 307 WRC: do you feel more confident with the car now? As a former winner of Rally Mexico, do you think that the 307 will be well-suited to the conditions?

MM:
Yes. Coming to this rally we have more experience than on previous ones. We had a very good test for three days in Sardinia. Unfortunately it was a bit wet and even some snow. I think we’ve made a big step, it’s more predictable for me what the car is doing. I’m looking forward to the next stuff after this this rally. After this rally we know what we have to do and which direction we have to go in.

Q:
PS: Last year Subaru launched the 2004 car in Mexico and you were leading until you had an unforeseen electrical problem at the end of the opening day. How confident do you feel that there will be no repeat of these sort of teething troubles?
PS:
The team have worked very hard to get everything absolutely perfect. We have to cross our fingers and hope it will be perfect. I have good confidence in the team and I think we can fight for the win. The rally is very different to last year. This year you need a lot of stability, it’s a very hard surface and you could drive on tarmac tyres, you know, slicks. You can see what’s happened on shakedown, it’s easy to get one rock and it can destroy your rally, especially on the second and third days.

Q:
PS: Are you happy with your tyre nomination?
PS:Yes, everything is perfect.

Q:
MM: This rally is the shortest ever in terms of total kilometres – less than 930, but there is a big percentage of stage to road mileage, as every stage is roughly within a 50km radius of Leon. Do you think this is a positive step forward? Or is the rally too compact now?
MM:
We come to the rally to compete. It’s good to do most driving on stages rather than the roads. It’s no good to drive for hours on road sections.

PS:
PS:Petter, what do you think about this format?
PS: It’s good. Less kilometers on road sections, this is how it should be.

Q:
MM: You said in Sweden that you were surprised to be second in the World Championship, but with leader Toni Gardemeister running first on the road here you stand a good chance of coming away from here in the lead. How realistic is that possibility?
MM: I don’t know. I expected at the start of this season to lose points and be behind. After two rallies we are only one point behind. I have to admit it wasn’t so much to do with my driving that we ended up in second position. Now we have to work hard to build on that advantage from the start of the year. Now I have the same points as this time last year, when I drove a lot better. I need to get the speed back and find the reliability. I think the challenge comes from behind, not in front of me. l have to make sure the guys behind don’t catch up. This car is suited to every event, but for me I need to understand how the 307 works on gravel. I have only done today’s shakedown on dry gravel and the first time on Pirelli tyres in the dry. I’m sure there’s a lot to learn. I nominated tyres for here and New Zealand before I had even tested them. Tomorrow we will find out more about which compounds work and which compounds will last the distance.

Luis Manuel Lopez (TV Azteca, Mexico)
Q:
MM: Markko, you have had a lot of changes in your life: new car, new tyres and new team. How are you handling this?
MM: It hasn’t been easy. I expected it to be difficult, but it’s turned out even more. I am working with the engineers to find the right solution for myself. I must say I am very happy with the team, but the one area I have to work

Leading positions after the first day of the rally:

1. P Solberg/P Mills N Subaru Impreza 1hr 23min 56.0sec
2. M Gronholm/T Rautiainen FIN Peugeot 307 1hr 24min 16.5sec
3. M Martin/M Park EE Peugeot 307 1hr 24min 26.9sec
4. F Duval/S Prevot B Citroen Xsara 1hr 24min 29.9sec
5. C Atkinson/G MacNeall AUS Subaru Impreza 1hr 24min 46.6sec
6. R Kresta/J Mozny CZ Ford Focus RS 1hr 25min 12.8sec
7. H Rovanpera/R Pietilainen FIN Mitsubishi Lancer 1hr 25min 15.6sec
8. D Sola/X Amigo E Ford Focus RS 1hr 25min 25.3sec
9. A Warmbold/M Orr D Ford Focus RS 1hr 25min 32.2sec
10 T Gardemeister/J Honkanen FIN Ford Focus RS 1hr 25min 32.9sec

Driver's comments after Leg 1

1. LOEB / ELENA
I like this rally. The problem is that I really want to score points here…

2. DUVAL / PREVOT
Yes, OK the stages are very slippery. I had problems with the launch control on three stages during this leg.

3. GARDEMEISTER / HONKANEN
The last stage was OK but very slippery. There was a lot of loose dirt off the line.

4. SOLA / AMIGO
I am not really happy with my performance; the afternoon was better but I have to do more. I am sure tomorrow will be better.

5. SOLBERG / MILLS
This has been a very good day with only some small brake problems. Tomorrow I will try to control the pace. The car is perfect; it’s good to be in the new car.

6. ATKINSON / MACNEALL
It’s not been bad today but a bit up and down; I’ve still got a lot to learn. The last stage was actually a bit boring but the other two were nice. I didn’t move quite the right way on set-up today but considering it wasn’t perfect, it was still good. To be within half a second of the leaders is OK for us.

7. GRONHOLM / RAUTIAINEN
I have not been comfortable in the car all day. We have now put different brake calipers on the rear and it’s been feeling better. Tomorrow I am going to try and stay second – I don’t want to have another accident like I did in Sweden. I think it will be very difficult for anybody to catch Petter.

15. WARMBOLD / ORR
We have a transmission problem and we need to get it sorted for tomorrow.

31. P-G ANDERSSON / ANDERSSON
I haven’t had any problems with the car but sometimes it oversteers on the gravel.

32. WILKS / PUGH
On the last three stages we have beaten P-G by a lot of time, so we’re very, very happy. We think this has perhaps demoralised him and he’ll settle for second place. Now we just have to keep it going.

Leading positions after the second day of the rally:

1. P Solberg/P Mills N Subaru Impreza 3hr 01min 30.5sec
2. M Gronholm/T Rautiainen FIN Peugeot 307 3hr 02min 00.1sec
3. M Martin/M Park EE Peugeot 307 3hr 02min 54.4sec
4. T Gardemeister/J Honkanen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr 05min 42.0sec
5. H Rovanpera/R Pietilainen FIN Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr 05min 43.4sec
6. S Loeb/D Elena F Citroen Xsara 3hr 06min 19.4sec
7. A Warmbold/M Orr D Ford Focus RS 3hr 06min 50.8sec
8. G Panizzi/H Panizzi F Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr 07min 15.4sec
9. A Schwarz/K Wicha D Skoda Fabia 3hr 08min 15.0sec
10 G Wilks/P Pugh GB Suzuki Ignis 3hr 16min 56.4sec

Final positions after the third day of the rally:

1 SOLBERG/MILLS SUBARU WORLD RALLY TEAM 3:41:06.2
2 GRONHOLM/RAUTIAINEN MARLBORO PEUGEOT TOTAL +00:34.5
3 MARTIN/PARK MARLBORO PEUGEOT TOTAL +01:38.3
4 LOEB/ELENA CITROEN TOTAL +03:51.1
5 ROVANPERA/PIETILAINEN MITSUBISHI MOTORS MOTOR SPORTS +03:58.1
6 GARDEMEISTER/HONKANEN BP FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM +04:05.6
7 WARMBOLD/ORR BP FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM +06:01.0
8 PANIZZI/PANIZZI MITSUBISHI MOTORS MOTOR SPORTS +06:01.7
9 SCHWARZ/WICHA SKODA MOTORSPORT +08:05.3
10 DUVAL/PREVOT CITROEN TOTAL +16:14.2

Driver's comments after Leg 3

1. LOEB / ELENA
When I saw I could get the places back, I pushed hard and we were coming back very fast. The car cannot be perfect every time. I am very happy with the result and the battle for the Championship is never finished – in the end, everything is possible.

3. GARDEMEISTER / HONKANEN
Yesterday I didn’t have a good feeling but today I drove fast – that was a good feeling! At least we got some points.

5. SOLBERG / MILLS
I’m so pleased that we came through with the rally. There are still things to do (to the car) and with 13 rallies left, it’s still a long way. I’m very pleased – it’s almost a perfect beginning for the new car.

7. GRONHÖLM / RAUTIAINEN
For the team, it’s good. Everybody knows I can win and now they know I can come second - but this doesn’t mean I will stay second all year…

8. MÄRTIN / PARK
It’s been good all through the weekend and I am happy that the team has achieved second and third in the rally and now lead the Manufacturers’ Championship. It is a good thing that we are improving the speed of the car but there is still a lot to be done yet.

9. ROVANPERÄ / PIETILÄINEN
It was a flat right about 5 kilometres into SS14 when the windscreen was broken. I hope it was a tree but when it came it looked like a stone. The car was the same as before in the final stages. Note: Co-driver has a cut to his chin.

10. PANIZZI / PANIZZI
The team preferred to raise the car’s suspension this morning to minimise underbody damage, which meant it was moving a great deal. I tried all the time but lost the place.

18. TRIVIÑO / DEL BARRIO
Yes I drove very, very fast and had no problems. Very good!

31. P-G ANDERSSON / ANDERSSON
I’m not very happy with the driving but, OK, the results are good.

32. WILKS / PUGH
A very good weekend, I’m really pleased. I kept extending it and everybody fell by the wayside - I like leading! On the two final stages, over the big compressions and dips, we just made sure we didn’t hit the sump guard very hard, so it slowed us a bit. Everything went right – that’s the way it should be. I think it’s a good rally with quick stages!

Subaru

Ford

Peugeot

Skoda

Mitsubishi

Final positions:

FIA RALLY NEWS / Sunday, 13 February 2005

Media Press Conference

Present:
1st Petter Solberg / Philip Mills – Subaru World Rally Team
2nd Marcus Gronholm / Timo Rautiainen – Marlboro Peugeot Total
3rd Markko Martin / Michael Park – Marlboro Peugeot Total
David Lapworth, Team Principal, Subaru World Rally Team

Welcome to the final press conference. Joining us are winners Petter Solberg and Phil Mills from Subaru. In second place for Peugeot, Marcus Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen and in third place their team-mates Markko Martin and Michael Park. We also have Subaru Team Principal, David Lapworth here representing the winning manufacturer.

Q:
PS: You won with the new car. What did you think of the event?
PS: Well, first of all I’m very pleased to win with the old car in Sweden and then it’s an incredible feeling to win with the new one here. The tribute for the rally is for Mr Kuze, like I mentioned before the rally, it was him that made it possible for us to be here. It was good to do the work with the whole team and win the rally for Mr Kuze.

Q:
PM: Did you have any problems at all?
PM: Very little really. We had a few brake-fade problems, but so did the others, otherwise it was perfect.

Q:
MG: How happy are you to finish second under the circumstances?
MG: Normally not at all, but now it feels good after retiring in Sweden and not finishing so good in Monte. Next time we will push harder to make if difficult for Petter.

Q:
TR: How much time do you think the brake problems cost you?
TR: What was the difference? It was 35 seconds – then we lost 36! We were fighting especially at the start with the brake problems. Then we found a solution to change the pads after each stage, and we cooled the rear brakes with water after the stages. We could manage, but the problem was in the last kilometres of the stages and then on the road section afterwards. It was difficult to trust and find the confidence. Marcus was trying the brakes on the straights before the tight corners. It’s impossible to say how much we lost, but at least we couldn’t beat Petter.

Q:
MM: You won the event last year, how different was it this time around?
MM: Of course it was a lot more difficult to come to this rally this year, but at the same time I was quite happy with the way things went. I knew we had made some slight improvements on the set-up from Sweden. It definitely worked, but at shakedown I realised there were things we needed to change for me. We couldn’t do that in the event, so I am quite pleased to finish third which helps me and Peugeot in the Championships.

Q:
MP: Is Markko’s driving style different from Marcus’ and is that why you didn’t have any brake problems?
MP: I don’t think two drivers ever drive the same. Our car set-up is slightly different, but I don’t think it’s fair to say we had fewer problems. Our brakes weren’t perfect, but maybe not as bad as Marcus’.

Q:
PS: Was does this mean for the Championship? How strongly poised are you this season?
PS: It’s very positive for us and the team. First of all I never thought it would be possible to win this rally. I never got the proper feeling at shakedown, but I have a very good set-up after that. For the next few rallies I have a good feeling. Obviously in New Zealand, the first day will be quite tricky. You know, I have to say, I think it will be a very interesting Championship this season. The points are very close and everybody is taking points. This will be one of the greatest years for a long, long, time. I can get used to leading the Championship now.

Q:
PM: There were some new stages this season, what did you think of them?
PM: They were very good. The fast section at the end of the new one was one of the most difficult parts of the event. It’s a hard, tough event, but it’s well worthy of its place in the Championship. It’s an achievement for any crew to get to the finish.

Q:
MG: Is Peugeot on top of the reliability issues it has had in the past? Are you confident for New Zealand?
MG: I think yes, it seems to be good. We had no other problems, only the brakes here; it will be okay for the next rallies. Now we have to continue the work to make the suspension better. It looks good. I am much more confident for New Zealand; for sure it will be a good rally for me.

Q:
TR: It was you and Petter in New Zealand last season. Will it be the same again this season?
TR: I think, if we don’t roll, it will be much easier for us! And I believe we don’t roll this year.

Q:
MG: Petter says he’s going to win 10 rallies this year, Seb says he’ll have the other four, this doesn’t seem to leave any for you…
MG: There seems to be zero for us. Everything is possible….

Q:
MM: Is this the most comfortable you have felt in the car all season?
MM: It’s definitely a lot better than it was on the last rally in Sweden. The team worked really hard to satisfy me on the last test and it’s getting there for sure. I’m not 100 per cent confident in the car, but it’s getting there and the main thing is we haven’t had any technical problems. It’s good to keep the reliability and then work on the set-up.

Q:
MP: What did you think of the number and behaviour of the spectators this season? And what about the rally organisation all around?
MP: I think the number of spectators has doubled since last year, not that I see too many of them – I’m a little bit busy! They were very well behaved; I haven’t heard anybody say anything different.

Q:
DL: What does winning straight out of the box mean for the team?
DL: It’s a great reward for the whole team. When everybody thinks we’re having a holiday from the last rally of last year to the first rally this season, I can tell you we’re not. The guys have worked flat out through the closed season and this is a great reward for all of them. You are always a little bit nervous when you’re coming out with a new car. It’s very difficult to find a car which is going to work on all 16 rallies; there are so many different surfaces and different conditions. It’s hard to cover everything in testing, but we won with a new car in 1997, again in 2000 and now here.

Q:
DL: Petter didn’t seem overly optimistic on Thursday, were you concerned at all?
DL: A good night’s sleep on Thursday helped Petter. He has a very good relationship with his engineer Pierre. They know exactly what to look for and how to get the best out of the car. Petter had done some testing in the car, but he never had the chance to do any back-to-back work with the old car. I was confident coming here with the car, but Petter had to get that feeling. I think we were half-way there at shakedown and the rest came during the rally. I was much more relaxed than Petter was. I could see the objective data from the car and I knew that once he saw that and the times, then he would relax and things would get even better. Now he can go to New Zealand knowing what he’s got. He even made a couple of changes on the final stage which he liked.

Q:
DL: You said in Sweden Chris exceeded your expectations, what did you think of him here? Given Chris’ performance, do you now have an eye on the Manufacturers’ Championship?
DL: No, not at all. It may come, but there’s no change in our priority. First we want Petter’s drivers’ title and secondly we can’t take Chris’ eye off the ball. He is a future star, but he needs to finish rallies, improve his notes and things like that. We can’t put him under pressure and we don’t want to change the way he’s going about things.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR:

Carlos Camargo (Sporcar.com, México)
Q:
PS: Describe Mexico in a few words.
PS: The organisation was very good and the spectators were exceptionally good. Where they were standing on the stages was good and sensible, and in the service area. There’s been a very good atmosphere. I can’t say anything – the rally has been absolutely perfect. We’re all looking forward to coming back next year and hopefully there will be twice as many people again!

Luis Alberto Aguirre (Mural, México)
Q:
PS: How you going to celebrate tonight?
PS: Okay, we’re going to celebrate with the team. There’s a good atmosphere and structure in the team – honey and milk is how we’ll celebrate tonight!

2005 FIA JUNIOR WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:
1st Guy Wilks – Suzuki Sport
1st Phil Pugh – Suzuki Sport

Now for the final press conference of the FIA JWRC, we have the winning crew of Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh.

Q: Congratulations!
GW: Only five cars started the rally, two went out on the first loop – was this one of the strangest rallies you have done?
GW: It wasn’t the strangest. It’s been a bit funny only having five cars competing, but we still knew that P-G was there and he’s the Champion. We had a benchmark with P-G and we soundly beat him.

Q:
GW: Is it easier or harder to win a rally when you have a big lead?
GW: It depends. We had such a lead, like P-G said, we could have had three punctures, changed them and still won. We had quite a sizeable lead from the second day, so we decided just to keep pushing on. We had an overshoot on SS3, we stalled on SS7 and then yesterday we had a problem with the brakes. We lost them a couple of times, but no big problems – everybody had that. This morning was the biggest drama; we couldn’t get the sump guard back on after the chassis had moved after a bang yesterday. We used 13 minutes of our lateness; that was quite hairy.

Q:
PP: Was it a good idea to include Mexico in the JWRC?
PP: Yes. The other guys who didn’t make the trip made a big mistake. We should have had 10 people here. The people who do the finances tell me it’s no more expensive than going to Turkey. Next year we should come back and have a full squad with us.

Q:
GW: You and P-G are doing all 16 rounds, how much sharper does that make you for the JWRC rounds?
GW: It does make us sharper. There’s a different kind of pressure on JWRC rounds. I would say there’s more pressure. In JWRC there are more cars in our category whereas on the other rounds we’re up against other cars and fighting for the team. We are really enjoying doing all of these rallies.