How did you get involved in motor sport?

It was actually by chance. I was working at the Marketing Department of the RACC when the rally became part of the World Championship in 1991. As I spoke English and French they came to me and asked me whether I would like to help out with the rally. I said yes and helping out became my new job. I immediately loved it.

Why rallying?

Once in the Sports Area of the RACC I had the chance to get involved in all of the events organised by the RACC, such as rallying, Formula One and MotoGP. Rallying was definitively what I liked most. I was immediately hooked.

How did you progress to the role you have now?

I started from scratch, with loads of enthusiasm and eager to learn. I was lucky to be able to work with the best teachers ever in the world of rallying in my country: Aman Barfull, Ramon Corominas and Nuria Port. I owe them every little thing I know about this sport.

I started at the rally secretariat then became CRO, followed by Assistant to the Clerk of the Course, Teams and FIA Coordinator and in 2009 I became Deputy Clerk of the Course. I also acted as a Steward at several events.

What are the chief responsibilities of the Deputy Clerk of the Course?

It is basically relieving the Clerk of the Course of the tasks related to the organisational aspects of the event, so that he can focus on the running of the rally, and to assist him whenever he has major decisions to take, based on the information we have.

What’s involved in the run-up to an event like Rally de España?

There are countless aspects involved in preparing for an event like this. From the definition of the route, which involves talking to town and city councils, to organising venues, staff, volunteers, drawing up documents, such as regulations and rally guides. It is difficult to list everything that needs to be done!

Once the event is underway how important is teamwork in the safe running of a rally?

Teamwork is key if you want to have a safe and smooth rally. We all need to rely on each other. We spend countless hours together, so we have to understand each other well. Everyone has a specific task but it is only with the support and assistance of the others that you can make sure that everything is perfectly taken care of.

Over the years we have been able to build a team of highly professional people, a group of rally friends. I’m not only talking about the core team at the RACC, but also about the many volunteers that help us on the road, people who love rallying as much as I do.

Where are you based during the event itself, who is there with you and how hard is it to monitor everything that’s happening on a stage?

During the event I am at the rally HQ, in the Clerk of the Course’s office, right next to Race Direction. I’m available full-time and obviously my phone is always with me. We also have assistants to take care of paperwork and to delegate the tasks that come up during the staging of the rally. As I said, it’s all about teamwork.

What’s been the most pressured or intense situation you’ve ever faced in your time as Deputy Clerk of the Course for Rally de España or in motor sport as a whole, and how did you deal with it?

The worst are obviously unexpected things. A clear example is difficulties with crowds of spectators, which might lead to a stage being cancelled for safety reasons.

It happened several years ago. I remember our staff going out in the middle of the night to remove cars that were obstructing the stage. From then on we changed our procedure completely. The roads leading to the stage are closed from midnight and there are people driving around to make sure that the roads remain clear for the next day.

Is it still a thrill to work on an event like this or does it become routine?

A rally is never routine. It is always thrilling.

What does the future hold?

My greatest wish would be to build a great and successful World Rally Championship with the help of the FIA, the promoter, the manufacturers, the organisers, the media and all the fans.