FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:
Ott Tänak (EST), Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team
Sébastien Ogier (FRA), Citroën Total World Rally Team
Sébastien Loeb (FRA), Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team
Teemu Suninen (FIN), M-Sport Ford World Rally Team

Q:
Ott Tänak, you lead the championship into tarmac here at the Tour de Corse. Last year you were second and showed good pace. How confident are you feeling this year?
OT:
Actually I’m feeling pretty good. I made a good start and I’ve been consistent everywhere so far. But it won’t be easy because I’m up against tough competition. And tarmac is a real challenge for me. But I had a good feeling during the Shakedown so I hope we can continue the fight here.

Q:
The route has been changed this year: seventy five percent of the stages are new. Big job on the recce to make new notes?
OT:
Yes. Everybody saw that Tuesday was quite different to the other days with the snow and everything. But it didn’t impact our recce too much and we took good notes.

Q:
What are your thoughts on the route?
OT:
It took me quite some time to understand the event and to get used to the roads. I didn’t like it in 2015 but my confidence has improved since then. Two years ago, I had a good feeling with Ford and when you’re confident, you can enjoy these roads. I know these are the best stages on tarmac.

Q:
Sébastien Ogier, a convincing win here last year, where we saw great pace from you. It has been a successful story so far for you and the Citroën C3 WRC - are you happy with the cars performance on Tarmac?
SO:
Yes I am. Like you mentioned, I’m pretty happy with the start of the season but every week-end is a new start. We’re here to do our best one more time. It won’t be a stroll in the park. Toyota is very fast as we saw in the Shakedown. Citroën was good in the past and this year, we hope to do as well. Weather looks pretty clear at the moment. But in the islands the weather can change very fast. On Tuesday it was absolutely crazy. Hopefully the sun will continue to shine.

Q:
As always, this event will be demanding. Which sector provides the biggest challenge?
SO:
The long ones are always a challenge. We all talked about the one on Saturday. It’s always a challenge to have such a long stage. It’s got dirty sections, abrasive sections, a bit of gravel and there is less grip. It’s probably a stage where you can make differences but it might also be possible on the other stages since the route is new. And let’s not forget that there is no service tomorrow so you don’t have room for any mistake.

Q:
Sébastien Loeb, welcome back to the FIA WRC after a one-event break. And welcome back to Corsica where we have seen you seal four wins previously. Good to be back on the island?
SL:
Yes, I always enjoy coming here. It’s a nice rally with nice roads. The route is new. It’s never an advantage but it’s better when we’re all starting on a level playing field. It’s the same for everybody. It’s more difficult with new notes because it’s a new challenge and you need to trust them, like Seb said.

Q:
You have tested and experienced shakedown this morning. Are you happy with the set-up that you have for the Hyundai i20 WRC?
SL:
It’s difficult to know. These are not the best roads for this car. We worked on it during the tests. The feeling is ok but I’m not sure we will be able to fight with Toyota and Citroën. We’ll see tomorrow with the news stages if we have a good rhythm.

Q:
You have had some incredible results here in the past, what is your best memory of competing here in Corsica?
SL:
When I came with my boat, on holidays! Obviously, the first title that I won here. The first one is always an incredible moment. I remember the place, the sun was shiny. It’s a very good memory.

Q:
Teemu Suninen, it is your first time here in a World Rally Car, although we have seen you with the R5 in Corsica. How did shakedown feel this morning?
TS:
The feeling is ok, the balance is ok. We made a few changes to the car this morning during shakedown. We must not make any mistake. For me the most difficult section is the 47-kilometer stage. It’s got difficult corners and the grip levels vary a lot. It’s not an easy stage.

Q:
It has been a difficult couple of events for you Teemu. We saw a complete retirement from you in Mexico. What is the objective for you here this weekend?
TS:
I’m pretty happy with the car. I want to be as close to the boys as I can. I have to set a good pace but make no mistakes, otherwise I’ll have a bad result. I’ve had a couple of those since the beginning of the season. I want to leave them behind me and do a good job here.

FIA WRC 2 PRO CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:
Kalle Rövanpera (FIN), Škoda Motorsport
Lukasz Pieniazek (POL), M-Sport Ford

Q:
Kalle Rovanperä, it is your first time competing here in Corsica. How has the experience been so far? What do you think of the stages?
KP:
It is indeed the first time for me. I only have the pace-notes to rely on. I don’t remember everything but I think it’s going to be a nice rally.

Q:
How comfortable are you feeling on Tarmac?
KP:
Tarmac is pretty good. I thought it was going to be narrower but it’s flowing, it’s fast. I’ll have to look at times, not make too many mistakes and of course, I want to win. We’ll see how it goes.

Q:
Lukasz Pieniazek, we’ve seen you compete here previously. How was the feeling on Shakedown this morning?
LP:
It’s really nice to be here. There are only two of us compared to last year. Overall I had a good recce but we took the wrong tyre decision and it’s for the whole rally. So we’ll just need to get through it. The shakedown was very tricky.

Q:
What is the objective this weekend? How confident are you on this surface?
LP:
I think I have to focus on myself and on my driving to do my job. I have to be as smooth as possible on the stages. When I’m happy with my driving, everything goes well. So I hope I will be happy.

FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:
Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA)

Q:
Pierre-Louis Loubet, very much a home event for you here in Corsica. We have seen you compete in various cars over the years here. This time it is the Škoda R5 - how are you finding the car?
PL:
Every year I have a different car. I have a much better feeling with the Škoda. On gravel it’s the best car I’ve ever driven. I hope it will be the same on Tarmac.

Q:
How was the recce? What are your thoughts on this year’s new route?
PL:
The stages are very difficult. Saturday is the hardest day of the rally. On the long one, you don’t want to have any puncture. The first day, you can push because the road is very wide in certain places. But it’s important to be cautious on the second day because a mistake can happen anytime. Honestly I don’t know what I can achieve. I just can’t answer this question on the first day. I just hope everything will go as planned.

FIA JUNIOR WRC CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:
Jan Solans (SPA)
Fabrizio (‘Fau’) Zaldivar (PRY)

Q:
Jan Solans, this is now the second round of the FIA Junior WRC Championship in 2019 and we head to your preferred surface of Tarmac. How is your feeling ahead of the event?
JS:
Well, I’m third in the Championship. Tarmac is my favorite surface. It wasn’t the case in Sweden. So maybe it’s our turn to push now. I’m happy with pre-testing. My brother helped me. He’s a former FIA Junior World Rally Champion. He’s got more experience than me so I asked him about the recce and the difficult corners. We share a lot of information and together we are a great team.

Q:
You secured a good result in Sweden and you are third in the championship, what is your objective this season?
JS:
Well, this year, my aim is to score the best result possible. Here we have to push because it’s my favorite rally of the calendar. In Finland, it’s going to be difficult. Sardinia is a gravel event so it’s going to be another tough challenge for me.

Q:
Fabrizio Zaldivar, Corsica will be your first time rallying on asphalt. You have tested, alongside Jan - how was the test and how was your experience with the car on this surface?
FZ:
It’s my first time here and my first time on Tarmac. It’s very difficult but I’m getting used to it. So I’m taking it easy because I want to build up my confidence. Then I’ll start pushing a bit more. It’s really nice to be in the FIA Junior WRC Championship. Drivers are really good. It’s motivating.

Q:
What will be your strategy this weekend?
FZ:
I’m going to start slowly. Try to get through the stages and then begin to push more at the end. The guy sitting in front of me (Jan Solans) was my coach last Friday and gave me good advice for the weekend.