Present:
Robert Kubica
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Motorsport II
Ott Tanak, M-Sport World Rally Team
Mads Østberg, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Kevin Abbring, Hyundai Motorsport

Q:
Robert, this is your home event. Are you looking forward to it? Any nerves before the start?
RK:
Hello everyone. This is a good opportunity for me to be here competing again in an international event. I do not get many opportunities to compete in Poland and this is good for Polish sport and for all the spectators. Top drivers and top cars on Polish stages, I think this is good from a spectator point of view and for my crew.

Q:
What are your thoughts on the new stages this year?
RK:
I was here for the first time in 2013 when it was an ERC event – this year, the stages are new and reversed compared to last year. But, there are some bits from 2013. The stages from 2014 were different, much wider and they have been rebuilt. This is a very fast rally and it is harder than in the past. It is much better because WRC cars are demanding and are capable of destroying the roads quickly. For the other cars behind, it is better for them.

Q:
Are you happy with your pace this year? Do you think there is more to come?
RK:
It is a little topic to keep short! This year many things happened that were not planned. It is a big success to be here. After some issues, before Argentina and after Mexico, we have made a big effort to continue in WRC. We are a small team with a small budget and we are trying to do our best. There have been too many mistakes. The other thing is we are running Pirelli tyres and other teams are using different tyre manufacturers. Sometimes that is an advantage and sometimes that is a disadvantage. We need the Polish roads not to be too hot, but it looks like the hottest summer in Poland for 30 years. Cooler is better for us.

Q:
Tell us about your team?
RK:
It is not so easy from a logistics point of view and this has not been simple to do. If you are in a position that we found ourselves in during the season, it is not easy. We are trying to build up and get better. We have received technical support from the M-Sport people to work on the car. All the guys have been great and thanks to them for working hard. In the calendar there are three weeks between rallies. But, by the time you have the car back to the workshop, there is not really more than eight days and that is not much time. You are always rushing – that’s how it is. Everybody is trying to find the best way.

Q:
Does that mean that you are in this for the long-term?
RK:
That depends. We are a private team and for a full year it is a big budget. I must thank my Polish partners, Lotos and Grupa Azoty, for their support for a third year. You need a good budget to compete at the highest level and we need a lot of money. In order to move forward we will have to see. Next year, we need to start thinking about very soon. I do not want to be in this situation again. It is not so easy to come to rallies with no testing and not knowing what is going on. We have to sit down and see what is possible. I am not in a position from my side to compete equally. I am still a racing driver. I am still thinking like this.

Q:
Andreas, you celebrated your birthday since the last rally and you have also had your contract extended with Volkswagen…
AM:
First of all it feels great. Volkswagen took a chance with me in 2012 and wanted me to drive a car under a Junior contract and develop in the WRC. It has been successful and really good for both parties. I say a big thanks to them for giving me the chance. It is in all our interests to continue. I am really happy to be with the best team and the best car.

Q:
Does the new contract offer added security? Can you give it a go here now?
AM:
I do believe we have been close. I think that Poland and Sweden were like that and I have a chance of a first win. It was close last year fighting with Seb (Ogier) and we were pulling away from the others and we made a mistake. But we have the speed and, if we have a bit of luck, we are in position to challenge for first place. You need commitment and the pace notes need to be accurate. One small mistake and you lose speed and you will not win the stage. The stage times will be close. There may be a difference more on the longer stages. This rally is more about speed than survival.

Q:
Mads, are you feeling confident?
MO:
Yes I do. Poland is a rally that suits Scandinavian drivers quite well. I have a good feeling and had a good recce and you are guaranteed to enjoy the rally after a good recce.

Q:
Why does it suit Scandinavian drivers?
MO:
The trees are similar to back home…!

Q:
Are you prepared to go that extra mile to take risks?
MO:
I don’t know. We have a different situation in the team now and will need to see what happens. We have had no chance to talk. I am quite confident with no real test. This is the biggest challenge for us with no testing. Understanding what do to with the set-up is not easy with no test.

Q:
You are referring to Kris Meeke rolling on the shakedown. Can you take the win?
MO:
It is very difficult to answer for the moment. We do not have enough testing and cannot compete in WRC events without testing. That is a fact and the way it is. We need to know that we have a test plan for coming rallies. We cannot focus on a win before that.

Q:
Ott, you were Tarmac testing in Sanremo? Estonia is quite similar to here?
OT:
Yes it was quite nice and a great pleasure to drive there. I enjoyed it. The nature of the stages in Estonia are quite similar. But I have only done the rally there once. Like Mads said, the characteristic of the stages and the trees are similar to Scandinavia.

Q:
Are you planning a good push?
OT:
In Poland you have no other option. It is more or less the first rally when you don’t have to worry about the tyres. The stages are fast and flowing and one of the rallies for the drivers to go as fast as you can. I think it has been okay. I have improved since Portugal and now I have the set-up as I like it and can drive in the style and the line as I want. I feel more relaxed in the car. I hope to fight for the podium

Q:
Kevin, you had the last minute call to replace Dani Sordo in Sweden. What are your thoughts on this rally?
KA:
This feels like a new step in my career and hopefully a long one. I did this rally in 2009 and only recognised the super special stage. I did my first rally on snow in February and now this gravel rally in Poland. It is difficult to start without testing, but I am used to five gears and will only be using the first five in the beginning, for sure.

Q:
How did you find the shakedown?
KA:
We started from scratch and made a plan to try parts on the car. We need to get used to the speed. The pace notes do not communicate with the speed – yet. You need a full season to get up to speed with this.

Q:
How is your confidence before the start?
KA:
There were, after Sweden, things that made sense to me that I experienced by driving a WRC car. But, after four or five months, it’s hard to keep that in your head. I have two more events after this one and, by the end of the season, it will be better. I have no targets. I need to find a rhythm before I fight for some position. For the moment, I need to get confidence in the car.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Michal Owczarek,
www.sport.pl, Poland

Q:
Robert, how is your mood and what are your thoughts on the rally?
RK:
The shakedown will not change anything. It was only 3.5km and on a road that I know. This rally is extremely fast and you need to be on it and have confidence on these fast sections to be close to the top. At those speeds it is not so easy. I will see how the car is working and try to drive as fast as we can without taking risks. I am in a good mood and this is a good opportunity for me on a Polish event. To see the top guys on these roads is a great thing for the spectators.

FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:
Krzysztof Holowczyc
Sander Parn

Q:
Krzysztof, you have been to this rally many times. What are your thoughts?
KH:
When I received information about Polski Rally, it means everything to me and I am so happy to be here to compete with the youngsters on my home event. I like this rally.

Q:
You have made a switch in terms of your car?
KH:
Yes, this is a nice car and I have a good Polish team and they prepare an R5. This is an ideal car for this rally. This event is going to be very fast and a lot of stages in fifth gear not sixth gear all the time. It is not an easy rally. There are a lot of corners, left and right. The stages are completely new and interesting for everyone. The longest is 39 kilometres and that is a proper job. We did a 100 kilometre test before the rally and I feel better how to drive. But it is not an easy car. There are technological changes from the other car. I need to keep my speed and stay in control.

Q:
What are your thoughts on the stages?
KH:
They are really fast. There is some technical and they are generally flat out everywhere and great for the spectators. The funny stage here is damage for the tyres on the super special. Everyone will want to keep their tyres for the next day. On Friday, we have eight stages without service. This is Dakar style and will help me….

Q:
You are involved in Rallycross and will you be going to the Dakar again?
KH:
When you are my age you feel the time is coming fast. Rallycross is good fun for me. To stay on the lane at the start and reach the first corner and there is only space for two cars, that is exciting. Metal flying…. I did a good job to get the Dakar podium this year, but I promised my family to stop the Dakar. My spine was broken two times and the doctor asked me to find something easier. That’s why I am here in Polski Rally!

Q:
Sander, this is your second event in a prize drive. How are you adapting to the R5?
SP:
This is my second event with Drive DMACK and M-Sport in the WRC and my third rally in the R5 but, in Sardinia, I was out of the system. Now I have some quite okay time in the car. I feel more confident in the car than in Portugal. The roads are more familiar for me, like in Estonia. This rally is a little bit easier to keep up the speed for me with the competition in WRC 2. It is my second year in a row here. In Drive DMACK, I won last year in Poland. Luckily I have something to take from last year.

Q:
Have you carried out any testing?
SP:
Actually I have not counted the kilometres. Basically two weeks ago we did a proper test with Markko Martin in Estonia and we found an okay set-up for this rally. I did not drive more than one long day. In addition we had a Monday test in Poland with an M-Sport car and DMACK. It felt quite good and the shakedown was quite good. But I was not at the maximum pace

Q:
There is a strong field in WRC 2, isn’t there?
SP:
WRC 2 competition is at a very high level with many competitors. There were maybe 12 last year and now nearly 30. They are so fast and young drivers and it is not be easy. It is difficult to keep up the pace. At the moment we have not started, but I definitely have hopes higher than in Portugal and Sardinia.

FIA JUNIOR WRC CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:
Henri Haapamaki, FIA Junior WRC Championship
Osian Pryce, FIA Junior WRC Championship

Q:
Henri, what is your feeling for this rally?
HH:
I am really looking forward to Poland. It is now the same like Finnish. I like fast roads. It is all good now.

Q:
Have you carried out any testing?
HH:
We did about 200 kilometres on Sunday and the car feels good and is working well. Portugal was not my best rally. It was not my best driving and it was difficult for me. The ruts were hard, but the result was quite good. Now I need not to drive too fast and break the car and use my head. I want to win this rally, because this is my style rally.

Q:
Osian, in Portugal you set some incredible times. You were leading and then had a disaster. Were you happy with that progress?
OP:
We were a little bit surprised and were open minded, but I was astonished to have a couple of fastest times. But things did not go all our way. Portugal is now behind us, but this rally reminds me of when I was 16 and rallying in Latvia. The roads are similar. I want to carry that experience through.

Q:
You have issued a call for funding. Is this the last event for you?
OP:
It is still the case. We are taking everything on a rally-by-rally basis and it’s based around getting a sponsor into the door. We are desperate to get to Finland and finish the rest of the season.

Q:
Does that put extra pressure on you?
OP:
We set out the same way in Portugal. They were not perfect times but we hope to stick to the plan this time and hopefully be at the top.