Present:
Lorenzo Bertelli, FWRT
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Motorsport
Elfyn Evans, M-Sport World Rally Team
Kris Meeke, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Hayden Paddon, Hyundai Motorsport N

Q:
Lorenzo, it has been a big step up for you into WRC. It was fantastic when you won WRC 2 last year but it is all different this year, how much are you looking forward to the WRC experience on home soil?
LB:
Last year we won here [in WRC 2]. We changed co-driver now, some things are not perfect but I really want to enjoy this race again.

Q:
How is it with your new co-driver? Has the relationship started working again straight away?
LB:
It’s like with a girlfriend!

Q:
What do you think of the stages?
LB:
Some are really smooth and nice but suddenly they change and get very rough so it’s more like a surprise through the rally.

Q:
What’s going be your approach then?
LB:
I want to find the rhythm and then enjoy. I hope I will find confidence with the co-driver and then push. It’s been quite a long time that I don’t have very good feelings driving and I need to do better, but it’s no pressure, just pleasure.

Q:
Jari-Matti, you mentioned it was a tough start to the season, do you still have enough confidence to go for another win here?
J-ML:
After Portugal I had a massive relief, I was happy but more relieved because 30 kilos dropped off my shoulders. It’s going to be really challenging though.

Q:
Does the Portugal win give you a huge boost?
J-ML:
I can be more relaxed, I will try to enjoy and to do the same as I did in Portugal and maintain a good performance level. Once you try to do what I did in Portugal, results will follow.

Q:
How did you feel at the end of the final stage in Portugal after all the comments from your team-mate? How did that affect you? Did you feel insulted?
J-ML
Absolutely not. I know what it is like to lose. Nobody likes to lose. For Sébastien it is more difficult with the regulations and this is a little bit affecting his feelings. For me the regulations are as they are and I can’t change them so it’s better to concentrate on what you can do.

Q:
Kris, is there the possibility to have some tyre tactics on this rally?
KM:
Yeah, it is still an option.

Q:
You had your first WRC win when you were in Argentina, are you coming here with the same kind of approach you have had so far, which is focusing only on yourself?
KM:
In Portugal the result was not fantastic but the performance was good. This is a rally I haven’t really enjoyed in the past, this year especially it’s really tight and narrow, the roads are in bad condition, but you can’t really express yourself as a driver, you just have to drive. I believe in my natural speed and hopefully will gain some experience.

Q:
Elfyn, how much are you looking forward to this event and how much do you remember of the first time you were here replacing Nasser Al-Attiyah?
EE:
It was a bit of a shock to learn that I was coming here those years ago, but I have gained a lot more experience now, so I am looking forward to it. This is a tricky one though.

Q:
The Fiesta is still a new car, what can you tell us about it under competition.
EE:
It takes a little bit to get used to it initially, obviously. The car is definitely a step forward.

Q:
Hayden, this is a one year Hyundai anniversary here for you…
HP:
For sure it’s good to come back to somewhere we have experience.

Q:
What are the biggest challenges you think you’ll face this weekend?
HP:
The road conditions are constantly changing and it makes it hard to adapt to them and find a compromise. You need to look after the car.

Q:
How do you assess your first year in the team? Are you happy with the progress that you made?
HP:
I can’t be fully satisfied but step-by-step it is coming and we also had a couple of upgrades on the car in Portugal and it was okay.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Cezary Gutowski
Przeglad Sportowy, Poland

Q:
What do you feel about what happened to Lorenzo Bertelli in Portugal?
KM:
I don’t want to push the button (emergency button) or to be in that situation. But as we saw in Mexico with Tanak going in the water, and the spectators in Argentina and then the case in Portugal, it raises quite a few questions and we still need to keep an eye on safety. It’s never going to be fully safe but we need to make sure procedures are followed.

FIA WRC SUPPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Present:
Paolo Andreucci, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Fabio Andolfi, FIA WRC 3 Championship

Q:
You are a legend of Italian rallies Paolo and its great to have you here in the WRC 2 Championship. How much are you looking forward to the weekend?
PA:
I am old as I am 50 years, for me this is a new rally. It will be a very very hard race, I think the second leg will be very very hard. I am happy to have the comparison with the other drivers of WRC 2.

Q:
It’s going to be fascinating to see you in comparison with the other drivers. Who do you think is going to be your strongest rival?
PA:
More than one, two or three drivers can win this race. The Championship is really strong.

Q:
Talking about the stages, what are they like here?
PA:
Monte Lerno is a beautiful stage and also Ardara has a lot of jumps.

Q:
What’s your objective for the weekend?
PA:
To do a good race, for me it’s important to be here. I will be very happy to arrive to the end of the event.

Q:
Have you tested the car before the event?
PA:
Yes, we have done one day and the car is okay.

Q:
Are you happy with the set-up? Are you confident?
PA:
The set-up is a little bit different for the Italian Rally, like the engine.

Q
You mentioned your age. Do you still have a great passion for rally?
PA
It’s my life, I have a lot of passion because arriving here was very hard and now I hope I can make another 10 years.

Q:
Fabio, tell us a little bit about your career so far and the rallying that you’ve done.
FA:
In my life I did 24 rallies, 16 in Italy, two in France and last year six races in the junior championship with a Peugeot 208.

Q:
You’ve got quite a lot of experience, what’s your objective for Rally Italia Sardinia?
FA:
My goal is to get to the end of the race and gain experience because the stage is very hard for me.

Q
Have you tested the car?
FA
No.