RALLY SWEDEN
Pre-event Press Conference
Thursday 11 February
Present:
Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total World Rally Team
Mikko Hirvonen, BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Kimi Räikkönen, Citroën Junior Team
Marcus Grönholm, Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team
Patrik Sandell, FIA S2000 World Rally Championship
Martin Semerád, FIA Production Car World Rally Championship
Q: Kimi, welcome to the WRC. We will see you compete this year with the Citroën Junior team; is this year going to be one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career?
KR: I think it’s definitely going to be. It’s not going to be easy, I will enjoy it and enjoy the challenge. This will be one of the toughest events; the conditions are not easy. I need more time in the car to get used to it.
Q: The preparation is now complete, we have watched you test the car and compete at the Arctic Rally; do you feel fully ready to compete here in Sweden?
KR: Any kilometres we can do will obviously help. This is the learning process, we will learn a lot in Sweden and I expect once we go on the gravel it should be more easy. I hope we can finish and do some good times.
Q: What have you found the most enjoyable and the most difficult aspects of your WRC experience so far?
KR: Everything is nice. It’s all exciting. I did F1 for many years, and when you change it’s a nice experience. There are so many new things to learn. The difficult thing is to learn the roads and make the pace notes, that will take time to be as good as the others guys. This is the main thing, let’s see how it goes.
Q: Can you be in the top 10 here?
KR: That would be good. I really don’t have any idea where we’re going to be. We want some good speed. It’s more easy second time through (the stages); we will try to do the best we can.
Q: You’ve got World Champions sitting next to you. Have you had some good advice from them? KR: They have been very helpful, but, unfortunately, you cannot teach the other guy to drive – you need to learn it yourself. It’s the experience that helps. They have maybe six years, Marcus has 20 years or something. It’s why I’m here to learn more.
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Alain Pernot
Sport Auto, France
Q: Kimi, how useful was the shakedown for tuning the car?
KR: We tried two things, but it was the first time since the Arctic Rally, so it was nice to get back in the car. The car feels okay, but I can improve my driving rather than changing the car.
Marco Giordo
Autosprint, Italy
Q: Kimi, what you think about rally people, the media and the people? Are they different from F1?
KR: So far, it’s been friendly, if it stays like that..! For sure it’s a different atmosphere. I have enjoyed it. It’s been positive.
Eric Briquet
Auto Hebdo, France
Q: In the Arctic Rally you did some good times Kimi, you were one second behind Dani (Sordo) – is it possible to be one second behind the leader here?
KR: It will be more difficult. At least in the Arctic Rally, I was there one year before. If we can do that speed I’m very happy. But definitely the stages look very difficult and hopefully we’ve made good notes.
Marcus Stier
Sport Auto, Germany
Q: Kimi, you have a one-year programme this year, will you try to build a career in WRC or go back to F1?
KR: I have not made my mind up. This year I have a contract with Red Bull and with Citroen helping me. I have no plans for next year or for the years after. If it goes well, there’s a good chance [to stay in WRC], if not then there’s nothing planned. After a year there might be some new plans, we’ll see.
Source: RallyBuzz
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