Present:
1st - Ott Tänak, Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT
1st - Martin Järveoja, Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT
2nd - Mads Østberg, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
2nd - Torstein Eriksen, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
3rd - Jari-Matti Latvala, Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT
3rd - Miikka Anttila, Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT
Tommi Mäkinen, Team Principal, Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT
 
Q:
It has been a masterclass from you this weekend Ott. You have told us each day that it has been almost perfect at the end of every day. But surely to win here, against the Finns, on their home territory must be perfect. How are you feeling?
OT:
Today, after the Power Stage, it felt perfect. Obviously, personally, Friday was really tough for me. There was quite a lot of cleaning to do, the conditions were so dry and loose, I can say on Friday I was really pushing all I could so I was in every stage maximum, I was really happy. Basically one junction where I stopped the engine, I lost some there, but other than that I did really everything I could. So after that, on Saturday, we managed to build a gap and then manage it so I can’t complain too much. Five points also from the Power Stage, so we are happy with the weekend.

Q:
You must have felt comfortable at the start of the final stage to set that kind of pace because everyone was pushing, especially these two next to you, for positions.
OT:
There was a big push yes, but I can say I knew already before the event that we had the good tools for the weekend. Obviously we did three test days, I did also a local rally in Estonia which confirmed we had a good set-up for the rally and I had the confidence in the car for sure. We were working a lot with the team and we were really trying to do everything perfectly, going very deep in the details to make sure we will be competitive here as we were on a home event and everybody is expecting a lot. It means we still have some kind of pressure. I am sure Jari-Matti and Lappi had even more pressure because it is also their home rally but still, same to me, it’s a rally which suits our car very well so I knew this is our good chance to win here and I tried to do everything we can. The team was supporting and that is how the team work goes, that’s the result.

Q:
You didn’t seem to make a mistake all weekend or put a foot wrong, but yesterday afternoon you were slightly concerned by a power steering issue. How genuinely worried were you about that and were there any issues in the end?
OT:
No, I knew what happened. I had a bit of a sideways jump and basically I bent the column a bit so it was catching and I couldn’t turn to one direction. So basically I could slide only with Martin’s side not with my own side so that was a bit troublesome but we managed to improve it so we finished the loop in a good rhythm and then still we were building the gap. So yesterday afternoon when it was very rough, for sure we were taking good care but, all alright, as I said, I had no complaints with the car. Everything was working perfectly, I was happy, I had the best feeling I have ever had in Finland. That’s the confidence you need to win here.

Q:
In 2003 we saw Markko Märtin and Michael Park take the win and that was really something special; the Estonian Prime Minister came here at the time, and most of Estonia - I think we have seen the entire country pretty much here this weekend. What does it mean to recreate some of that magic, another Estonian on the top step of the podium?
OT:
It’s amazing for me obviously, to win the same rally Markko has won. This is the first time now that I can do something that he has done, and as he has been my mentor and my good friend, it’s definitely a very special feeling and obviously with all those crowds of Estonians as you said who were here yes, I had to push. I guess I had the same pressure as Jari and Lappi so I had no other choice than to go for victory so, basically, all or nothing and this time we come out with everything so… yes I had some pressure but also a lot of support so I think in the end it worked very well.

Q:
You said before this event that you weren’t thinking of the championship title. It was more a mathematical possibility than a realistic possibility. You edge quite a bit closer now to Neuville and Ogier, who didn’t take such strong points this weekend. Are you still not so focused on the title or is there a little glimmer of hope for you?
OT:
Yes I said many times before.. we are still quite far away so I guess there is no point in imagining any dreams about the title so we still need to carry on the same way, going to Germany, trying to make a perfect rally in Germany and then the next one in Turkey and so on. As the gap is still so big you know we can’t just plan to edge like Ogier or Neuville by one position because it doesn’t make any difference. So we just need to focus on every rally separately, try to do our maximum and hopefully when we get closer to the end of season let’s see if it’s possible or not but, at the moment, we just need to focus rally by rally.
 
Q:
Tell me what it feels like to be on the top step of the podium here in Finland Martin.
MJ:
It was really great. On the road section back from the Power Stage podium I was discussing with Ott that it was the best podium ever as there were so many Estonians who were singing our national anthem so it was really a great feeling.

Q:
It must have been a great experience for you both this weekend.
MJ:
Ott was driving perfectly through the weekend. The car was perfect. The team was doing a good job so everything was perfect. The result is that we’re here. It was a good weekend.

Q:
Mads, we’ve seen a brilliant battle between you and Jari-Matti, especially today. Jari-Matti took some time out of you, you took a little bit of time out of him, but you went into the Power Stage with just a 2.5 second advantage. Were you really concerned at that point that the Flying Finn would catch you?
MØ:
Yes, nothing is really safe when it comes to Jari-Matti. He is one of the craziest guys in the field and can do anything. For sure we really had to do a strong day, we pushed quite hard this morning. We managed to take a small gap on the first stage. Then I made a really bad stage on the second one. He got some time back so it was really exciting. It still felt like I had everything under control. I did a good third stage today but he did a really impressive stage. He took quite a big gap from me there. Obviously yes I was a little bit concerned that he would catch me, but I really stayed focussed on trying to make a perfect stage. I felt this weekend that when we are doing perfect stages and I’m doing my absolute best that the speed is there. I also knew that we had been able to build a gap from Jari over the weekend only he took it back. So I just had to do what I’ve done previously and I finished the rally with probably the best or the second best stage of the weekend. That was a really amazing feeling and for sure to be able to separate some of the Toyotas on this event was a huge task but we managed that really well and I am really, really pleased and proud to be able to do that.

Q:
Your best result in Finland but how does this rate in the career of Mads Østberg?
MØ:
I think it’s definitely one of the best rallies I’ve done. OK I have some going a really long way back in time, probably Sweden 2011 which was a similar feeling and similar emotion. It was a really important step in my career and really important for Citroen as well. To be a part of that together with the team is a real honour. I feel like Citroen is a team, I’ve been there before and I really enjoyed that time and I’m pleased to be back with them. It feels natural, so I’m glad that we could do this together.

Q:
This result is a good confidence boost, can we see more of this kind of performance?
MØ:
I certainly hope so. It felt really good this weekend, we had some major steps with the car before the rally. Not really resting a lot but we had a good three days of testing over both drivers. We tried to work really hard and I think basically on my first day of testing we did all the massive steps and after that we tried to work on different scenarios during the event. We made good improvements in one day and I was practicing for two. It was quite amazing the work that we have done in the team and I was very pleased to see that it pays off with a good result.

Q:
What’s it been like for you out there this weekend in such a fantastic battle, high pressure, high speed. Enjoyable yes?
TE:
I have enjoyed it since Thursday morning when we started shakedown. The speed we have on these roads are very good for a co-driver and when the speed and the notes are matching each other it’s a perfect feeling.

Q:
What was it like going into that final stage because as we mentioned the gap had narrowed and it was just 2.5 seconds. Mads had to get everything right. You had to get everything right. Were you feeling extra pressure then? A bit of nerves maybe?
TE:
I have to say that the atmosphere in the car today was so good that I enjoyed the road sections and I was just looking forward to going into that stage. It was a really good feeling.
MØ:
We talked about it before the stage and we saw Jari and I spoke to Jari. I went back to the car and said “the strangest thing is it seems that both of us are looking forward to the stage.” It was a great performance by Torstein all weekend and I was pushing him a bit to try to enjoy it as well. He definitely did, we had a great atmosphere all the time and I think he deserves a big applause for the work he did this weekend.

Q:
You pushed as much as you could but couldn’t quite catch Mads. How were you feeling at the end of the rally Jari-Matti?
J-ML:
First of all, I must say this was absolutely his (Ostberg) best performance ever. A really, really good drive and also a strong performance from Citroen. As for me, I woke up a little bit too late for the fight. It only started on Saturday afternoon and before that Mads was all the time stronger than me, and Ott was in his own class. Then I made some changes to the car for Saturday afternoon and started to get the confidence. Then it started to improve. We had a bit of a problem with the tyres - they were almost at their end but, thanks to Michelin, they were really good even though they were slicks. Today I did what I could. Today, if I had done the first stage a little bit better, then where Esapekka was off the road, there was a warning and I took it very, very carefully and lost some time. If I had done that a little bit better then I would have had a chance. After that, I did everything I could but I was running out of kilometres and even on the Power Stage we had a very good run but in one corner I dropped the wheel into the ditch and we hung on the ditch, but that was maybe only half a second so I would not have been able to catch Mads because of the performance he did. At the end, I’m very happy. We had a great fight and we could smile at each other between the road sections and it was really nice. I think this fight will improve our chances in the upcoming events.

Q:
What was interesting this weekend was that although everyone was astonished by Ott’s performance you weren’t getting stressed out, but instead remained really composed which sometimes is a bit unlike you. You were keeping it just very chilled and cool. Were you feeling inside - why can’t I catch him?
J-ML:
Well to be fair, me and Miikka had never experienced in our career five retirements in a row before - we have now retired five rallies in a row. Coming from there, your self- confidence goes quite down and to be able to have the speed immediately, to be able to win, you need, like Ott said, a 100% confidence. The car was absolutely fantastic there’s no question, it’s just that when self-confidence is down you don’t have the confidence to push and take the risks and it took some time before I could get that level and then you have to settle and realise the level where you drive, that is the main thing and also I was thinking that with the position, the manufacturers’ points, we need to score since this will give us a very good opportunity to the end of the season.

Q:
Does that give better confidence moving forward to the rest of the events Miikka?
MA:
Yes, it’s a great way to start the season! This is a big relief for Jari-Matti and myself. We are really happy about it and it’s good that the fight was there. It shows that you can still fight and finish rallies. It’s a good boost for your self-confidence.

Q:
You have done many Rally Finlands. Did the atmosphere here this weekend bring some extra support out there?
MA:
With the atmosphere, it’s one of the best Rally Finlands I’ve experienced. Of course it’s also up to the team and Tommi, and so many fans from Finland were supporting us but also supporting the whole team. I think Ott and Martin had good support from the Finns because they are part of the Finnish team.

Q:
Tommi, two years in a row with Esapekka Lappi winning last year. Ott Tänak this year with Toyota on the top step of the podium and with the third position of Jari-Matti. This is a special event and you are making it even more special with these results. You must be delighted as Team Principal.
TM:
Yes, well of course it is a very special moment and a special feeling. We just went to the end of the last stage to wait for the cars coming there and we flew there with Katsuka in the chopper and last year we did the same. When we flew there I thought that it would be nice to make this an annual tradition. I shouldn’t say that because sometimes it doesn’t happen anymore if I mention something like that. Still,  we feel confident and try to continue like it is. Of course we are at home and one of the reasons why we were strong last year and we are strong now is that this is our home and we started our whole program and did a lot of test kilometres here in 2016 and this is the reason why we still are here. Many people think that we have done a massive amount of testing this year for the rally but we didn’t, just the normal five days preparation but we don’t need so much because our car base has been built here. 

Q:
It was the newest members of the Toyota team who took the win in Finland this year - Ott and Martin. A few words about their performance here?
TM:
It looked so easy to everybody. Ott has learned how to drive the car in these conditions and it looks so easy with no extra moments there. His driving style seems to suit these conditions. This rally is so fast and its always about finding the feeling and how to control the speed. Especially in the beginning of this rally it was amazing how fast Ott started. Absolutely flat-out immediately, and that is most difficult thing to do on the first stage.

FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Present:
1st - Eerik Pietarinen, TGS Worldwide
1st - Juhana Raitanen, TGS Worldwide
 
Q:
To win at home is a very special thing, certainly here in Finland. How do you feel at the end of it?
EP:
To finish is very, very good and this is my first rally in WRC 2 and I’m the winner.

Q:
We’ve seen incredible pace from you this weekend. It’s been a really strong performance. Have you been happy with your pace?
EP:
We drive for top times.

Q:
We saw you compete in Rally Estonia a few weeks ago. Did that help with the preparation coming here?
EP:
Yes.

Q:
What is next for you? You are a rising star in Finland. We’ve seen some great performances here at home. Would you consider competing in the WRC 2 full time?
EP:
I don’t know about next year, maybe WRC 2.

Q:
Talk to me about the weekend from your perspective. How enjoyable has it been to compete here and to take a win?
JR:
Yes we have a good rally without problems. We were driving some good times. Today we drive for safety but we win and we are happy.

Q:
We see you standing there on the top step of the podium. What does that feel like to do that at home.
JR:
It’s an amazing feeling. It’s nice.
 

FIA JUNIOR / WRC 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
Present:
1st - Ken Torn, OT Racing
1st - Kuldar Sikk, OT Racing
 
Q:
How does it feel to win here in Finland. Such a special event.
KT:
When it’s your first time here and you win it, it’s awesome!

Q:
We have seen the lead change a little bit in the Juniors this weekend. I know it hasn’t been problem-free for you, there was a puncture yesterday. Any other dramas you can tell us about?
KT:
No, it was a clean run.

Q:
You’ve enjoyed the R2 this weekend?
KT:
Yes. When you go flat-out over the crests you just keep smiling.

Q:
How much pressure have you felt on your shoulders to deliver a win here?
KT:
Not much. I just come here and do my own thing. That’s all.

Q:
We’ve seen you as part of the Junior WRC this year. How have you enjoyed the experience in the Juniors. We’ve just got one round remaining, has it been a good experience in the championship?
KT:
Yes definitely it’s quite good. You can drive the same stages as WRC and learn the stages to get the experience for the future.

Q:
Do you plan to do it next year or move on to something else?
KT:
I don’t know.

Q:
Nice to see another Estonian pairing on the top step of the podium. How are you feeling at the end of it Kuldar?
KS:
I’m really glad as the rally has been very good for us. We came here with the plan not to look too much at what others are doing and try to do our own pace and it seems that plan worked.

Q:
Whichever class you compete in, to win in Finland is special.
KS:
As Ken said, if you still do jumps flat-out, then even with a small car sometimes the suspension has to take some hits but it’s still really classy.

Q:
What’s it been like as an experience alongside Ken this weekend? What’s his performance been like? You’ve got quite a lot of experience as a co-driver, you’ve sat next to many great drivers over the years.
KS:
Yes my experience helps for sure but the driver has to trust me and I have to trust the driver. After Finland I trust Ken even more.