Pre-event Press Conference

Present:

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – Kalle Rovanperä (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid

Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT – Dani Sordo (ESP), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid

M-Sport Ford WRT – Sébastien Loeb (FRA), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid

Q:

It was a big win for you last year, how confident are you of winning in Greece for a second time?

KR:

Last year was pretty good for me. I don’t know, this year it seems to be a bit more difficult – especially opening the road. From the look of shakedown maybe our pace isn’t the fastest with the car either.

Q:

While it was great for you in Greece last year, it’s fair to say it wasn’t so good for you on the last round in Belgium. What actually happened, what learnings have you been able to take from that crash and are there any lasting issues?

KR:

Belgium didn’t go so well going out on the first day. We learned from our mistake like we always try to do. That was on Tarmac and this is gravel, we hope to have a better weekend to take some points.

Q:

The recce and, of course, shakedown this morning gave you a taste of the conditions you might experience this weekend. Can you explain the main challenges you expect to face on this event?

KR:

Friday is the most loose of the stages, a lot of loose gravel. For sure it’s not easy and it will be a long day for the cars and the tyres and everything. It’s a really tough day without service. Opening the road and getting back to service without problems will be a proper job.

Q:

You open the road six times on Friday…

KR:

Of course it’s not optimal. All the stages on Saturday and Sunday would have been better to be first on the road. It’s like it is, we will just try to do our best.

Q:

Early starts can mean low-lying sun. How much of a concern will that be? How do you deal with that?

KR:

Already in shakedown we could see there were places where you lose visibility or it’s quite poor, but I’m sure we can all manage with that.

Q:

Winning the championship is, of course, a possibility here in Greece if you out score Ott Tänak by 19 points, which is hardly a small ask of course. How much thought are you giving that prospect? And what do you think of Ott’s recent run of victories and the threat he poses?

KR:

In this event it’s quite unlikely it will happen. Ott has been in a good pace for the last few events and it looks the same here. Let’s see. I’m not so confident after our test, it didn’t go so well and shakedown it showed us that the pace is maybe not there this weekend. We will try to fight back this weekend.

Q:

Turning next to Dani Sordo and welcome back to the WRC. Two starts so far in 2022 and two podiums. What are the chances of making it three in a row this weekend?

DS:

Of course I would like to be at least in the podium here and to do a good rally for me and the team and the manufacturer. I would like to fight for the win and be in the podium if I can.

Q:

Road position is always a factor on gravel events like Acropolis Rally Greece. For those new to the WRC, can you explain the advantages and disadvantages of a lower starting position, assuming it stays dry?

DS:

It’s an advantage to start in the back. The cleaning effect is quite high, but also you can see more stones coming to the road – in some places you can have bad luck with some of the other cars putting the stones in the road. But in general it’s better to start at the back.

Q:

Could dust be a problem?

DS:

You can see today [with shakedown] it could be a bit difficult. And maybe tomorrow morning with the sun in front and no wind, it can be difficult as well.

Q:

It’s been a while since you last competed on a WRC event – 95 days in fact since Sardinia. What have you done to keep busy and how much did taking part on the Ypres recce help you in your preparations for this event?

DS:

A rest, it was good! I worked with the team, I do some rally raid in different places and preparing for this rally. I do a little bit of everything.

Q:

Could rally raids be of interest?

DS:

It could be the next thing – it seems everybody goes from rally to rally raid. I follow [Sébastien] Loeb!

Q:

You’re on a carsharing arrangement with Oliver Solberg this season. Does the limited programme suit you or would you prefer more events in 2023? And what discussions have you had about next season and your possible schedule?

DS:

I don’t know nothing yet. Maybe we do some rallies or some rally raids or maybe we share with Loeb for the Dakar! I don’t know. I hope to do some more rallies, but it’s not clear yet.

Q:

Any rallies you really want to do?

DS:

I don’t know. I didn’t talk about this. Let’s see.

Q:

Turning next to Sébastien Loeb. Of your 80 WRC wins, three have come here in Greece. Where does the Acropolis rank among your personal favourites and what do you think of this year’s route in comparison to previous editions? 

SL:

It’s a rally I always enjoyed. I like to come here, the place is nice and the stages are interesting. I won three times, it’s not the one I won the most – it’s a complicated rally with the risk of puncture, but I always enjoy it and that’s why I decided to come back. The stages are a little bit different now – there are only two stages where I used to pass in the past. We have a bit of everything: fast, slow, rough, the stages are good and hopefully we will find the rhythm.

Q:

The last time the WRC visited the Olympic stadium here in Athens was in 2006. How much do you remember from that event, and driving back to service with not exactly four wheels on your Citroën?

SL:

I remember for sure. It was 2006 I drove quite a long way with a puncture and when I arrived, there was nothing left: no wishbone or brakes. I had to continue to service on three wheels. At this time we had mousse in the tyres and I had already four punctures – when I was driving like this it was destroying the other tyres. I swapped to the spare wheel and at the end I lost also the tyre on the left, nothing on the right, no tyre on the left. The car was lower and lower. I finished like that, nearly a fire on the car as well – the sumpguard was red [from running on the road] and close to the tank. Finally I finished second, so it was not too bad!

Q:

Apart from your incredible victory on Rallye Monte-Carlo and Craig’s podiums there and in Sardinia, it’s been a pretty tough season for M-Sport. What is the team expecting from you this weekend and how much pressure is on you to deliver a strong result?

SL:

For sure they hope I will do a strong result and I hope also to be in a good rhythm and to fight at the front, like all the drivers here. I will do my best, for sure. I tried to prepare for the rally as well as possible. The feeling from shakedown was okay apart from a little problem which I think we solved. I try not to take any extra pressure and I would like to finish as well as possible. To avoid problems, mistakes and have a clean rally – that’s the target.

Q:

Your team-mate Craig Breen has had a difficult run of events. What advice does a nine-time world champion like you give to a driver like Craig, who has plenty of potential but has been unable to deliver on recent rallies?

SL:

I don’t know what to say. Every rally is another one, the best is not to think about what happened in the past and do your best.

Q:

It’s been brilliant to see you competing in the WRC this year. What’s the plan for 2023 – what discussions have taken place regarding a full programme and is it something you would consider?

SL:

The same answer as Dani. Maybe some rallies, Dakar. I don’t have a clear proposition. For sure I enjoy WRC and I have fun, so why not do some rallies? I don’t plan a full season, but at the moment it’s too early to say something. I am also discussing for cross-country, but why not.

Q:

It would be a ‘no’ to a full season though?

SL:

Yes.

FIA WRC2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:

Chris Ingram (GBR), Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo

Gaurav Gill (IND), Škoda Fabia Rally2

Lambros Athanassoulas (GRE), Hyundai i20 N Rally2

Q:

Coming to you first Chris Ingram, you’re leading WRC2 Junior and you’ve got experience of the Acropolis Rally. What can you achieve this weekend? And how much are you looking forward to driving in front of 60,000 fans tonight?

CI:

I’m in a great place. I’ve had a great season and I’m really confident. I love this rally and I’m really excited about the Olympic Stadium for tonight – I’m definitely looking to win WRC2 Juniors.

Q:

As a Manchester City fan, 60,000 people is something you’re used to?

CI:

Yeah, it’s going to be an insane atmosphere and to bring rallying to a city centre and a big stadium is exactly what we need. To give all my sponsors I’ve worked so hard to find all that publicity… it’s incredible.

Q:

After winning your class in Ypres you said it meant you’d be able to compete here in Greece. Was that based on the funding struggles you face and how much of a challenge is it for a young driver to find the budget to compete at this high level?

CI:

Without any manufacturer support, it’s so difficult to compete at this level in WRC2. I have to work really hard to find the funding, I don’t come from a wealthy background – this is just my dream and I’m making it happen step-by-step.

Q:

How much work do you do between the rallies to find the budget?

CI:

It’s constant. You need to look after sponsors and give them value. Next year’s not guaranteed, so I’m looking for sponsors to help me try to win WRC2 overall – that’s something I believe I can do. We’re getting faster and faster and close to that first win.

Q:

Sébastien Loeb joined us for the first part of this press conference. How much of an inspiration is a driver like him to you?

CI:

He was my hero growing up. Even though I’m getting older, to sit in the same room as him it’s special. It’s really cool to have him still rallying all these years after he won the championship – he’s an inspiration and that’s where I want to be.

Q:

Turning next to Gaurav Gill, start number three for you in this year’s WRC but your first time in Greece if we’re not wrong. How challenging is this rally and what events can you compare it to?

GG:

It’s good to be here. This is one of the legendary rallies, this has been on my bucket list for a few years. It’s one of the toughest and roughest. Comparing it to Turkey, where I competed recently, it’s not as rough here. In Turkey there were no real roads, whereas here there’s a mix of everything. The roads are in good shape, but I’m not sure what it will be like after the leaders have been through, they will be destroyed, but to what extent I really can’t imagine right now. It’s a rally where we need some luck, to play smart and be intelligent about it.

Q:

With no midday service on Friday, what’s your strategy going to be? And how good are you and Gabriel at being mechanics if things go wrong with the car?

GG:

Friday’s going to be pretty much a decider for the event. It’s so long without service. You have to smart to nurse the car and hold back, not pushing as much as you would like. We have some spares in the car and we can work on it – we won’t disappoint the team.

Q:

India hosted the opening round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship this year, the FIA Rally Star Continental Final is due to take place in India later this month and an Indian tyre manufacturer, MRF, has just won the FIA European Rally Championship. What does that say about the strength of Indian rallying – and how realistic is a WRC event in the future and how good what it be?

GG:

It’s very interesting. To see the car market in India, it’s in the top four or five in the world – that means a lot of cars are getting manufactured, a lot of cars are getting sold and yes, we’re yet to have motorsport in the blood of the manufacturers because they’re all still into cricket. As we know that’s a very popular sport in India and rallying is the most expensive sport. It’s not easy to convince the sponsors on the return on investment. Things are changing. We do have FIA Rally Star there, it’s great to get the cross-cars shipped there and the tyre manufacturer is putting a lot of effort in and nurturing the next generation. So, yes, it’s turning around. There are more and more ideas for motorsport to the future. We have talked about a WRC round in India, it’s a reality that should come true and hopefully soon.

Q:

Turning next to Lambros Athanassoulas, welcome back to the WRC. As a Greek driver how big is this week for you?

LA:

I am really excited. It’s not the first time. Seventeen years ago I started my first Acropolis Rally in this stadium. It’s difficult, with 60,000 fans, there is some extra weight on the shoulders. My co-driver and I have set our plans and we hope we stay according to the plan and don’t have any reliability problems we had last year. Last year was the first rally in the world of our Hyundai and we had some issues, but the team is confident in the reliability. We are expecting a trouble-free rally.

Q:

How much preparation have you had for this event?

LA:

None! My last rally was Acropolis Rally last year and I only did four stages without problems. I also had serious surgery on my left leg, I’m still recovering, so no recce and I’m not quite fit enough. It’s not the first time and we will try. We’re getting older, but we’re still here trying.

Q:

I guess you never forget how to drive…

LA:

You never forget how to drive, but we are getting older and [we had] no practice at all. It’s difficult to come back at this pace. Driving for fun and trying to be the quick guy is different to trying to compete against the quick guys, but we will try. We won’t be the fastest, but I guess we can be top-10 in the stages.

Q:

What do you think of the changes to the route for this year and what stages are you particularly looking forward to?

LA:

Local guys don’t like the changes… No, the rally is better, there are some nice new stages. Some of them were really muddy and rainy [in the recce], but I guess it’s going to be 95 per cent dry. Friday is the difficult leg, everybody is talking about preserving the car, but most of the guys are going 99 per cent. There are some very small places where you need to protect the car.

Q:

You’ve experienced mixed fortunes on this event. What have been the best and worst moments for you?

LA:

This is my 10th Acropolis. I have probably three good results and the rest are problems, but that’s how it is in Greece: it’s really rough. And not being in the car every month is difficult. Half the problem is my driving and half the problem is Greece being tough for the car.

Q:

The best memory?

LA:

There are many, but 2009 and winning PWRC – now called WRC2 – was fantastic.

FIA WRC3 CHAMPIONSHIP/FIA WRC3 JUNIOR

Present:

Jon Armstrong (GBR), Ford Fiesta Rally3

Sami Pajari (FIN), Ford Fiesta Rally3

Robert Virves (EST), Ford Fiesta Rally3

Q:

Coming to Jon Armstrong first. One rally left, four drivers going for the JWRC title, double points – it’s a massive weekend, right?

JA:

I feel comfortable with the car. We had quite a good test. I feel more at one with the car than I have since Sweden, so I think we have some good pace – but also the rally is quite difficult. There are lots of sections which will be rough and we have to look after the tyres. Tomorrow we have to look after the tyres – including those that we will partially destroy tonight in the stadium. That’s not going to be simple and the Rally3 cars are amazing to drive, but they don’t have the same durability you have with the bigger cars. It’s going to be difficult to find a balance, but once we start driving hopefully we’ll figure out what we’ve got to do.

Q:

You’ve had a bit of help with your lead up to this event, tell us more about that?

JA:

So many people have helped me get here. My sponsors throughout the whole season and coming into the final rally we had to find some extra budget so we ran a fundraising night. That was really special and to have so many people come along and receive so much support was really nice. Too many people to thank, but let’s say the whole of the rally community in Ireland and further afield. I also did some testing with Igor Widłak and to get some more mileage in his car before the rally, just to find a better set-up and get more comfortable. It was nice to have so much support.

Q:

What would winning the champion mean to you?

JA:

I’m trying not to think about it too much. It’s a long way to go, so I’ll focus on the road ahead. But for sure it would be good for my career to go back to WRC2, where I’ve done a couple of events before. They were also prize drives, so I’m sort of going back through the same route again and it would be good to see what the pace is like at that level.

Q:

If you don’t win who will and why?

JA:

I don’t know. Whoever’s the smartest, but hopefully me.

Q:

Turning to Sami, you know what it means to win this title having become champion last year. How much of an advantage does that give you? How much does it increase the confidence?

SP:

Yes, of course it’s like a relief that you know something can happen. But so many things can still happen – it would be nice to achieve the championship again. Of course for the prize, but also it’s a big thing for any driver to do.

Q:

There is a chance that Finland could celebrate two world champions this weekend. How good would that be? Are you thinking to the title?

SP:

Last year it was quite the similar situation for me, now we have four drivers who can take the championship. It’s really interesting to see how it goes. It’s better not to think too much, it’s not just the pace – you need to be lucky in some places.

Q:

Next target is a full season in WRC2, right?

SP:

Yes, for sure it would be the natural movement for us. It’s too early to say something, but for sure we have some ideas. If you want to go forwards in your career, you have to make these steps and winning this championship would make this possible.

Q:

Obviously the title is the target but if you don’t win, who will and how much would they deserve to be champion?

SP:

Whoever is the smartest and I don’t know, maybe the luckiest one. There are four drivers – all of us have done a great job this year. It’s quite equal that side and anyway I’m already one time a champion.

Q:

Finally, let’s come to you Robert. Estonia has celebrated one world championship title in the past. What would it mean to you to follow Ott Tänak and become a WRC champion?

RV:

When you see the prize for coming with the title, of course for me it would be a huge help to plan the next season.

Q:

The Ford Fiesta Rally2 prize drive you get for winning the title is immense. You’ve had a bit of a taste of driving Rally2 cars in your homeland but how good would it be to compete in the WRC2 next year?

RV:

Yes, of course, if it would be possible I would do it. But to do it with your own finance or having to find the finance by yourself, I’m not saying impossible, but nearly.

Q:

How hard have you had to work to get to this final round?

RV:

It’s the same as every other event: it’s rally-by-rally, so it’s nothing special for me.

Q:

Having asked Jon and Sami the same question… if you don’t win the title who will and why?

RV:

I think Jon.

Q:

Why?

RV:

If I have to decide from this line-up, he’s been quite unlucky in some places – that’s why he deserves it.