2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

RALLYRACC RALLY DE ESPANA

 

Post-event FIA Press Conference

Sunday 27 October 

 

Present:

1st - Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Motorsport

1st - Julien Ingrassia, Volkswagen Motorsport

2nd - Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Motorsport

2nd - Miikka Anttila, Volkswagen Motorsport

3rd - Mikko Hirvonen, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team

3rd - Jarmo Lehtinen, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director

 

Q:

Sébastien, what an incredible result! How do you feel?

SO:

Quite good. I was mentioning I didn’t come here [to the press conference] since 2008 and then it was only the pre-event press conference for JWRC. Since then I never have a good result. I crash in Juniors then for two years I have engine failure and finally we are here with a good result and the best we can get. It was not an easy weekend. Our strategy was to push from the start and make a gap, we had a good start on Friday night, but I was not completely on the pace and I was struggling with the tyre wear. Normally this is my strength, but this time I was using the tyres more than others. Something was wrong, and definitely I need to work on the tarmac to make a better set-up. Yesterday I took risks and pushed, but then I had the puncture. Finally, it was a nice strategy, we were fourth on the road, but this was not an easy job. We had the dust, but I think we were the only ones who took time from Jari-Matti [Latvala]; we had to take risks, it was very accurate and I am very happy. It’s not the most important – that is the title for Volkswagen.

 

Q:

This morning you started 45 seconds off the lead. Did you wake up thinking you were going to absolutely go for it?

SO:

I knew there was a chance but it was difficult to estimate how much we could get at the beginning but I knew we would have trouble with dust and that happened. When it was clear, I took time and the cleaning gave me an advantage. But the dust was horrible. At midday service I believed more and more of my chance with only 15 seconds to catch on the second loop. I was quite confident I could do it. It was also difficult for Jari-Matti being first on the road on the second loop because he still had to clean a little bit in his position.

 

Q:

There must be a lot of bravery – you just kept the pace in the dust. Did you feel brave?

SO:

I don’t enjoy this condition. I was motivated to fight for the win. I didn’t want to lose my chance and the price for that was to take risks. The only moment was another puncture, this time we were lucky, it was only four kilometres with the flat tyre. You always need a bit of luck to win in rally. We had some with us this time.

 

Q:

You’ve had many wins this year Julien; this was a great fight back though. How does it compare to the other victories?

JI:

This is not fair to ask me this! We’ve had eight victories this year and got a real taste for it since the first one in Sweden, then the one in Mexico with the atmosphere, the one in Finland was great, the one in Portugal where Seb was really sick but managed to finish in first position and then in France three weeks ago. Each of them, we must take inspiration from the value of each of them. At Christmas or in January I will tell you which victory was the best.

 

Q:

Tell me about the puncture – did you still think you could win

JI:

For sure we knew we lost 50 seconds and this was a big gap. It was another rally the next day on gravel. We expected to push hard – but Seb took the maximum risk. It was a strange feeling in the dust, he was listening to the notes 200 per cent! It was great excitement – you need to be even more perfect than usually. We knew it would be hard, but checked our notes and we were ready on Sunday morning.

 

Q:

You started the day sweeping the road. It was always going to be a touch challenge especially with Sébastien Ogier so motivated. How are you feeling after all this?

J-ML:

I have to be honest I was disappointed when you fight for the victory and you get technical problems. It was a difficult position being first car on the road. I was gaining a little bit this morning not having the dust problems like the cars behind but it was difficult running first on the road with all the gravel. The cleaning effect was bigger than I expected. Also in the afternoon I knew it was not easy. There was a bit of a cleaner line but it was still very narrow from the cars running behind. The grip level was better but was changing a lot. At the end of the short stage the transmission gave a strange feeling and then in the second last stage it broke completely the front diff. On top of that we got a fire. There was a fuel pipe leaking and we were lucky to come back here. It was a close call to finish the rally but the marshal taking the fire down at the end of the stage saved us. 

 

Q:

A lot of dramas! You didn’t get the rain you wanted. Did you benefit from no dust?

J-ML:

We knew in the past there had been dust in these stages and I knew there might be a section where I could gain. But even the zero car had given some dust for me and it was difficult with the sun shining low. I don't think it was the best place to be first on the road. It would have been very difficult to take the win. My mood was there. I wanted to have the moment to be manufacturers’ champion and I knew I couldn’t risk absolutely everything for the rally. But still I love the fighting. That’s the way it is. At least the team is manufacturers’ champion and that is very important.

 

Q:

You have contributed to Volkswagen winning the Manufacturers’ Championship. How does that make you feel?

J-ML:

It feels good. I have been running in the World Rally Championship now for 10 years – 10 years – and now I am [part of] winning the manufacturers’ championship for the first time. There is still some work to do being a driver but now it’s a very good feeling for the whole team.

 

Q:

This is a great morale boost for the team…

J-ML:

It is a great feeling in the team. In the way Volkswagen has come through the season, it’s incredible how strong we are. It’s amazing. But I have to say the team is a big thing, every time when you win or the team wins they are arranging some nice moments for the team and the people. The team itself is keeping all the time everybody motivated and I think this is part of the secret why we are so strong.

 

Q:

Finishing second is good points for the Championship. How good is this result?

MA:

For sure I feel very relieved to have got the manufacturers’ title for Volkswagen. Basically we are there in the team to get the manufacturers’ title - that was the main target since the start of the season. For sure it’s a good feeling even though we did not win the rally but our team got a one-two and that’s a great experience for the whole team.

 

Q:

Did you think you might not claim the podium?

MA:

When the problems started and the car caught fire, I thought at that point it doesn’t look so good. But fair play, the marshals did it. When they use the extinguishers it doesn’t look so good – the cables and sensors are so sensitive, but the fire went down and we carried on and got some airflow. When I saw the flames, there were some heart movements.

 

Q:

Mikko, you said you were planning to keep the pressure on the boys in front – if anything went wrong then you were there to pick up the pieces…

MH:

Yeah I’m happy to be on the podium but I’m not so happy for Dani [Sordo] because it would have been nice to see him finish the rally and get a podium on his home event. I had a strong event in any case and it was better than in France and that was the main thing. I didn’t have a good pace there and after a rally like that you want to get behind the wheel and go testing and find a better solution.

 

Q:

Was it down to conditions or did you change the way you tackle Tarmac?

MH:

Conditions were more consistent. We changed a few things around the car, but the main thing is how I got the feeling and felt more confident. It was more down to that.

 

Q:

Was the feeling better on gravel or Tarmac?

MH:

Of course the dust was a bit of a problem and I didn’t feel so confident in the dusty conditions like Seb and I slowed down quite a lot in some places. But I was still confident in catching Jari-Matti and Dani. That didn’t happen in the second loop so we took it a bit easy just to get to the finish.

 

Q:

Talk to me about the season. Can you reveal anything about 2014?

MH:

We are still talking and waiting…

 

Q:

Who are you talking to?

MH:

I can talk to you if you want! There are lots of people I am talking to.

 

Q:

What teams are you talking to?

MH:

You try to keep all the doors open.

 

Q:

But you have the passion to come back next year, right?

MH:

Yeah – I want to be in a position to get back and fight for the title.

 

Q:

Jarmo, how are you feeling about the result?

JL:

I’m always happy to be on the podium, but not fully satisfied with the performance – it was still a bit up and down.

 

Q:

Mikko, what are you laughing at?

MH: 

He’s been like that all weekend…

JL: 

Well, after the first stage, I’ve been messing up the pace notes all the time! What was the question? Yes! I’m happy to be on the podium, the performance wasn’t brilliant, but here we are.

 

Q:

One more round left to go – Wales Rally GB – how much of a hope is there for ending the season with a victory?

JL:

As much as before every rally. Everybody is on zero when we start on the start line and it’s possible for everybody.

 

Q:

Congratulations Jost. Volkswagen has a one-two in the rally, and the title*. What an incredible season. How do you feel?

JC:

France was incredible for Sébastien and the drivers’ championship. We had a reasonable chance here, but we know it went wrong in Australia and it could go wrong here. It was nearly the same in the last two stages here – it was upside down. Just when we think we won, we went to the phone with trouble with Jari-Matti’s car. But now it’s a great feeling to win the two championships with a new car and a new team. We don’t realise it yet, but I hope they will realise it tonight.

 

Q:

Jost, was there a time when you thought Jari-Matti might not make it to the finish?

JC:

Yes. It was very close. We felt very sad for him. He drove an outstanding rally and tonight we celebrate two wins. Last night a tarmac rally ended and this was his first win on tarmac, so we celebrate and we are very happy for him!

J-ML:

Thank you, Jost, thank you.

 

Q:

What Sébastien Ogier did was spectacular. What did you think?

JC:

No need to say anything. When he got the 50 minutes… sorry 50 seconds… back it was amazing. It shows when he is really under pressure he can really do miracles. 

 

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

 

Marcus Stier

Sport Auto, Germany

 

Q:

Jost, who was responsible for the music that was played when the cars arrived back at the Volkswagen service area?

JC:

You have to find out tonight! Maybe the same songs will be played and you will see who the DJ is.

 

Marco Giordo

Autosprint, Italy

 

Q:

Jari-Matti, this is the first time you have won a title in your life. How are you feeling – why don’t you smile?

J-ML:

I try to smile. You are right. If you think about it I haven’t even won a Finnish Championship, I’ve finished second. I finished fourth in the Production Championship. In the previous year I was second and then third so I don’t have victories yet but this is my first victory so I have to be happy. It was a really hard job for me on the last stage because I had a really nasty moment when I nearly went off the road because of the transmission problem. I was really tired at the end of the stage and it was a big effort to get back to service.

 

 

FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP (event and Championship winner*)

  

Present:

1st - Robert Kubica

1st - Maciek Baran

 

Q:

Robert you have said the title wasn’t your aim, but this must be nice?

RK:

It’s a nice feeling. It’s definitely a good day for us. As you say, I repeat from the beginning – it’s because of my situation from the accident in 2011. Before the accident, I was working only for the results. This was always the priority, but when you have limits and you are not healthy 100 per cent your health is the priority - you can’t do anything without it. But still it’s nice to achieve in motorsport. I have seen this last year, when I did some small rallies, but even on the surface where I don’t have the experience – the gravel, it was good. On the gravel, you need more input in the steering, still my arm is not perfect, but it’s enough to perform well and drive safely and at good speed.

 

Q:

You’ve battled back from adversity and you’ve kept going so it must be good for your soul knowing you are continuing to get much, much better and much, much stronger?

RK:

For sure. I’m quite a demanding person, especially from myself. I know there is a long way to go and I hope the improvement of my arm and hand is not finished, otherwise I think the most important thing is that you believe in it and you work on it. Until I have full movement I don’t give up and the motivation will stay very high. I can still drive very well but I would love to come back to where I was, not because rallying is secondary motorsport category but it’s normal that I work for many years to become an F1 driver and after many seasons in F1 to become a stable F1 driver then suddenly it all stopped. But that was a long time ago, now we are in Spain and have won the World Championship and we should talk about that.

 

Q:

How did you find the Tarmac sections, the night time stages?

RK:

Everybody said Spain is perfect for the circuit driver. To be honest the circuit drivers are not used to run on the road, more on the circuit where they know every centimetre. Here the stages are demanding, they are very wide and have two lines – I saw this from the recce and you can’t take the perfect line. On left corners [during the recce], the first time I was trying to stay on my line – this puts a lot of questions before you jump in the rally car. The stages were very nice. I can imagine in a WRC car they are even nicer I can imagine… but also they were challenging in the RRC. But we had a very good pace and made some extremely good times on some stages. Today was a difficult day, but it was a big surprise. We didn't have to push too hard today, which made it a bit easier.

 

Q:

Did you find it difficult switching from Tarmac to gravel today?

RK:

Yes and no. I always find it very difficult when you don’t have to push on gravel. It was the same in Greece, the same in Sardinia. In a gravel-spec car you need to put some effort, some energy into the suspension, the dampers, the tyres to make it work, to make it produce the grip level you need to go fast. When you slow down all these factors make it difficult to drive fast. This is very difficult, especially when you move from the circuit where you drive very smoothly, very gentle. On gravel you need to force it to make the car work, you need to put some effort into the tyres, the suspension and things. I have this habit from the circuit I got from 20 years you try to be as smooth as possible but on gravel you need to be more aggressive. Today it was not easy but with my lead I didn’t have to perform straight away. 

 

Q:

Maciek there have been lots of challenges on this event - how was it for you?

MB:

There’s not so much to say. We are the World Rally Champions WRC 2 – I want to say thanks to Robert and the whole team and everybody who helped us do this season on this beautiful journey through all of Europe. This rally was really demanding. The last day was long and the six stages take me more years than one day…

 

Q:

It’s a special moment to win a world title – how much does it mean to you?

MB:

Maybe I will know tomorrow…

 

Q:

Robert, Wales Rally GB and a World Rally Car await. How do you feel?

RK:

We have to stay very calm. I know many people would like to see me go very fast in GB, but I think it will be very difficult. It will be impossible for me to be on pace or close enough to the top five or six, otherwise – with all the other drivers’ experience, something will be wrong in the system. I cannot be 20 years circuit driver, then jump into the stage at the end of March and in six months be able to fight with the top guys in the world, where they are the best. We have to stay calm and I am staying very calm. I don’t think GB will make any difference to my season or to next year. I take it with thanks to Citroën and Abu Dhabi and I say thanks to Lotos – they have to say yes for this and they support me quite a lot. I am here thanks to them. I didn’t have budget without them. Back to GB, this is a great opportunity to learn a new rally and new stages. This is my target. This is a bonus for me, normally my season ends today and now I have to thank for the opportunity, Citroën and Abu Dhabi. I see it as fun, if this guy has the chance from six months to drive the factory car for the first time, then I would say this is good.

 

Q:

What’s the situation for next year – when will we get a decision?

RK:

To be honest I think it’s like you know the silly season as in F1. Everybody puts their own idea and we can have a big lottery and somebody will get it right. To be honest, and it’s not a secret that I have some opportunities to drive next year in a WRC car, but with whom or if I will drive or if it’s the right moment, to be honest I don’t know. Rally GB will not change my mind but if I commit to an important role I need to be sure I am able to do this. Believe me, after a difficult period I have to say it’s not so easy as it looks from the outside. I need to be sure I can play an important role in the team. Fifty per cent of the rallies will be new to me and it depends a lot on what people expect by putting me in the car. I have an idea for next year. If I stay next year I will continue on the learning curve because you can only judge the level of a driver after three years in the WRC. For sure if after three years I am not able to fight at the top it means I have made a mistake and I am not good enough. But it’s too early to say this. We have to be honest because I drive first time in gravel in March so it’s a long way to go. 

 

 

FIA WRC 3 CHAMPIONSHIP 

 

Present:

1st – Enrique Garcia Ojeda

1st – Borja Odriozola

 

Q:

Congratulations! Did you have any problems during the rally?

EGO:

No, a little problem with the brakes on Friday night at the finish of the special stages, but after no problem.

 

Q:

Congratulations on your result. How are you feeling at the end of the rally?

BO:

We’re very happy with the result, not only for the result in WRC 3 but also the overall result because we were racing with a car that’s less performing than the others. Considering the issue with the brakes on the night stages it’s a good result and we’re very happy.

 

 

FIA JUNIOR WRC CHAMPIONSHIP 

 

Present:

1st - Yeray Lemes

1st – Rogelio Penate

 

Q:

Talk to me about the weekend – have there been any problems, any big moments on the stages or has it been plain sailing? 

YL: 

The weekend went very good. On Friday and Saturday we pushed more than usual but after our main rivals left the race we took it easier just to make sure we stayed in the race.

 

Q:

Are there any plans, any options you can tell us about for next year?

YL:

I will keep on working hard for the rest of the season to try to have some options for 2014 for a World Rally Car.

 

Q:

We saw a great battle on the opening night before Jose [Suarez] and Pontus [Tidemand] both rolled.

RP:

The feeling on this rally was good. In the start we were thinking maximum attack for the win and the finish. But Saturday morning there was no complication for us because Tidemand and Suarez were out and after we went slowly to finish the rally. The objective was to win and now we are here.

 

 

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA