2014 RallyRACC Rally de Espana - Press Conference

23.10.14
Transcript of the Pre-event Press Conference organised by the FIA for the 2014 RallyRACC Rally de Espana
Present:
Yves Matton, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Robert Kubica, RK M-Sport World Rally Team
Dani Sordo, Hyundai Motorsport
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Motorsport
 
Q:
Yves, let’s first look at this year and how you feel your drivers have performed. 
YM:
If I start with Mads [Østberg], he had a very good start – maybe better first half of the year than second half. This is for different reasons: he had some technical problems in the second half when he was in some very important rallies. We have been surprised how quickly he adapted, we know our car is specific and we know his style is not the fastest way to drive our car. But he adapted and he will find more here and in GB. Kris [Meeke] is like I expected, the first pass of rallies was not so easy for him, but he had no experience from these rallies, he had to improve. But, since Finland, he showed he is able to fight for the first places. He looks confident, his speed was never a problem, maybe he had some other problems, but the speed is always good and now he can manage it.
 
Q:
Yves, you are looking for drivers next year – is the door open for Robert Kubica?
YM:
I am still convinced Robert can win a rally, like we said last year. Maybe he would be better with a Citroën.
 
Q:
Is there a possibility that the second seat could be a shared role? Is it important for the team to have a French driver? When will a decision be made?
YM:
I am talking to approximately 15 drivers! In reality, it’s less than 10. It’s always important for a French manufacturer to have a French driver, but we need him to win events and I am not sure there is a French driver ready to be in a manufacturer seat and score some points. This is too much pressure for a young French driver for a full programme.
 
Q:
Is it possible you might split the programme then?
YM:
Everything is possible, the regulations are like that. I have an idea in my head, what I want, but it’s not always easy to do that. I have some plans, it’s difficult to tell you more or I will give you the final answer! You know, I am always taking the time.
 
Q:
Will we know before Wales Rally GB?
YM:
I hope to be able to announce something around GB. 
 
Q:
And we will see a change of branding next year too?
YM:
Yes, we have in the PSA Group Peugeot, Citroen and the DS car. It’s really important to know this is the DS car. The first step in this is the design. It’s very important, it’s been like this for a few weeks and months. The [DS] brand manager is here at the rally.
 
Q:
Robert, a full season within WRC for you, we saw strong pace from you in France. What are your thoughts on your performance this season?
RK:
For sure, from the performance point of view, it’s been quite an improvement. Unfortunately, for different reasons, I did too many mistakes and this is not ideal. The gravel driving improved a lot from the start of the year compared with last year – everything was new on gravel last year. The first time I drove on gravel last year was April, two weeks before Portugal. It is normal things improve from driving, but experience and the stuff which gives you additional consistency and helps to limit mistakes – you cannot buy that or learn it. Unfortunately you have to go through the mistakes, learn from them and try not to do them again.
 
Q:
You were very much on pace in France…
RK:
Yes. I have to be honest, that was closer to what I was used to. There is nothing to compare the circuit to; it’s not Germany or France. Even here in Spain the roads are closer, but still we are not on circuits. Last year I drove a fantastic car for these stages and I enjoyed those stages a lot. This year I expect a more difficult feeling on those stages. This year I have a good car on gravel, but on tarmac last year’s car was easier to drive. There was a better feeling last year on tarmac.
 
Q: 
What are your plans for next season? Do you feel you want to continue with WRC? 
RK:
It’s difficult to say. One thing I hope is to be behind the wheel of a competitive car. What will happen? I don’t know. I will look in the next weeks or month, the time is running. For sure, there’s more to learn, but it’s easier [to stay] here, the experience will be more and the hard lessons learned this year I hope will not happen again, but I don’t know if I will be here.
 
Q:
If you did stay here would it be with M-Sport or would you switch to Citroën?
RK:
Why Citroen? As I said, I have a lot to learn in rallying, it’s a complex sport – you cannot learn in 12 months or the 15 rallies I did this year. I don’t know what the future will bring. It’s not easy going against these young drivers in a customer car – I always want the best car I can get. To be honest, I have thought about doing some rallies, not all the season and maybe do some circuit, I don’t know…
 
Q:
Maybe the FIA World Touring Car Championship?
RK:
He [Matton] knows my idea and, nothing against WTCC, we have spoken 12 months ago and he knows my point of view. I would like to do the highest level I am able to do because of my limitation. The circuit would be easier because the steering input is smaller and more consistent. On the gravel, you are playing a lot with the steering wheel – that’s not so easy for me. We will see, everything is open, but it’s important for me to do what I can enjoy.
 
Q:
Dani, you are a veteran at this event!  This is the last event of the year for you with the Hyundai, how are you feeling going into it?
DS:
For me, the rally is very, very exciting. Of course Spain is nice, it's a special time of the year and I like the stages a lot. We have a little bit more advantage with the people here.
 
Q:
What about the gravel stages?
DS:
The feeling is okay. Last year I was having a good experience with the Citroën in the gravel stages. I have good pace notes and a small test with the Hyundai before. I try to drive flat out.
 
Q:
You say a small test, how many kilometres?
DS:
I don’t know… 800 kilometres! No, it was 120 or 180 or something, it was a normal test. I have a very good feeling though.
 
Q:
What is the strategy for your home event?
DS:
I will try to push hard from the start. This is an interesting stage today, but the important rally starts tomorrow. I want to push hard from the beginning
 
Q:
It’s great to have a stage here in the centre of Barcelona…
DS:
It’s very nice for the spectators. A lot of people can go to the stage, families can go, you can go from work. It’s not like the rally being in the mountains where it’s difficult to get to. Here you can see the car sliding, it's nice.
 
Q:
How’s the experience with the team?
DS:
I am very happy. We had a few problems at the start of the year, but now the car looks strong. That’s important. We are working hard as a team – and for next year.
 
Q:
And what about next year?
DS:
I don’t know yet. We will see what’s happening with the discussion. Nothing yet, we will see.
 
Q:
Do you want a full programme?
DS:
Yes, I want to do a little bit more than this year and to be fighting for the good position.
 
Q:
Jari-Matti, you come here still with a chance of the drivers’ title, but you have to risk everything to achieve that; maximum points. What is your mind-set going into this event?
J-ML:
For sure we still have a chance, but it’s not an easy one. As long as there’s a chance you have to keep fighting. There have been situations like 1998: it looked like Carlos [Sainz] had won the rally in Wales until 500 metres before the finish when the engine blew up and [Tommi] Mäkinen won. Then [Kimi] Räikkönen in Formula One was not looking so strong, but in the end he won it – there are a few stories like this. This is why we keep going…
 
Q:
How much are you prepared to risk; is it a ‘win it or bin it’ situation?
J-ML:
I think the approach of going absolutely like crazy is not necessarily bringing what you need. You have to be smart on this rally. Look at Saturday, you have a 50 kilometre stage and then the last one is also 26 kilometres, which will be very hard for the tyre. You have to have the speed, but you have to be able to save the tyres. This is the rally: managing the speed and tyres will win you the rally.
 
Q:
We come here straight from France and your first win on Tarmac, that must give you confidence?
J-ML:
The feeling is good, we also had a one-day test, but we were a little bit running out of time. I would like to have done more, but we had to stop. But the feeling is good with the car. In Australia I was happy with the gravel and in France I was happy on the Tarmac, it’s finding the combination of both of those surfaces.
 
Q
We saw the announcement today about your future – how do you feel about that?
J-ML:
I am really, really happy about the future. The future is now secured and there is no need to worry about that. The team is really strong and successful and I am really happy to continue with the team.
 
 
FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Present:
Karl Kruuda
Nasser Al-Attiyah
 
Q:
Karl, as the WRC 2 season draws to a close you find yourself battling for the championship title. How are you feeling ahead of this event and will you risk everything to achieve a win here?
KK:
If I weren’t confident I wouldn’t be here! Everything will be clear at the end, but before that everything is possible.
 
Q:
What’s the strategy here?
KK:
The strategy is to finish; I would like to break the myth that bad luck is in threes - I retired here my last two times! I want to change that. The stages are tricky with lots of rocks on the inside of corners. It is going to be a very tricky event and you have to give 100 per cent maximum concentration on the gravel. Once on tarmac, there’s a feeling of [being] more at home on there.
 
Q:
Were you extra cautious on the recce?
KK:
I knew all the places where everybody crashed. In 2012, five of us crashed in one corner, then in 2011 I was crashing just before Ken Block or Ott [Tanak] or some of the other guys – I know all of the places! Last year I was six kilometres shy of the end of the stage – so this year I have to concentrate for those six kilometres.
 
Q:
Happy with the car?
KK:
I love the S2000, when you rev the car… And I found a very good set-up. I don’t do a lot of changes, that’s not me. When I like it, I stay with it. If it’s good for Finland it’s good for everywhere.
 
Q:
Do you feel more at home on Tarmac?
KK:
I think so. It’s very fast and flowing here. I think if you are confident in the pace notes, then it’s good. You can always try the edges, if you don’t try them maybe you are not going to be so fast.
 
Q:
How do you feel about the Championship? You’re looking pretty cool, pretty relaxed…
KK:
I’ve been working on that for a couple of months – I’m actually a bit destroyed inside. It’s easier to go with the flow…
 
Q:
Nasser, it has been a good season for you in WRC 2, you have the next two rounds to go - how are you feeling ahead of this event?
NA-A:
I have a good feeling. We had a good test here and we are ready for Spain. I did this race two times and I think we need to enjoy this race and to win – it will be good for the championship.
 
Q:
What is the strategy for this event? 
NA-A:
Okay, this rally will be completely different: you have day one which is completely gravel and after you know you have Tarmac stages on days two and three. We need to have a good strategy here in this rally and I think we try to push in the gravel. There are a lot of good drivers here for the tarmac. We have experience for the tarmac and we try to be in a good position.
 
Q:
Do you find it difficult to switch between the two surfaces?
NA-A:
It will not be easy, but okay I think we can have a good feeling from the start of the stages on tarmac and after it will be okay.
 
Q:
Stage one, what a setting here in the centre of Barcelona – what do you think?
NA-A:
We did the recce and I think it’s great to have the super special here in the city. We see a lot of people and people see how the rally’s going – it’s fantastic for sponsors. But it won’t be easy: some places are very narrow, but we will try to manage.
 
 
FIA WRC 3 CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Present:
Mohamed Al Mutawaa
 
Q: 
Second round in the WRC that we see you this year Mohamed, just off the back of winning your class in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. How are you feeling ahead of this event?
MAM:
I’m very excited for this event. It’s my fourth WRC event. I picked up a lot of knowledge and experience last year – I hope to go a bit faster this year and pick up my pace.
 
Q
What do you think of the gravel stages here? 
MAM:
Overall, they are nice stages, but a bit tricky. I’m looking forward to trying to get a bit more experience on European gravel rallies. The roads here are a bit different to the ones we are using in the Middle East.
 
Q:
Have you been able to get any more experience on Tarmac since Rallye Deutschland?
MAM:
I really love the Tarmac stages. Last year I enjoyed them a lot. I hope to go a bit faster this year. I have more confidence in the notes, I hope to go onwards.
 
Q:
Your last rally was a very good one, tell us about that…
MAM:
Yes, it was the Abu Dhabi Rally. It was one of the best Middle East rallies I’ve been to so far. The gravel stages were very nice – it wasn’t just flat out with a long straight. I gained a lot of experience there. It’s a while since I drove on gravel, but this week it’s Spain and next week it’s another gravel rally, it’s busy!
 
Q:
What’s the plan for next year?
MAM:
We’ll see. The team, Abu Dhabi Racing, is very happy. I hope to impress them more here.
 
Q:
What’s the objective this weekend?
MAM:
PH Sport and Abu Dhabi Racing set up a very good car for me. I want to try to finish the rally and this year try to go a bit faster – it’s better to do this than just drive slowly. I am really looking forward to it.