WRC Rallye de France Alsace 2012

2012 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP - RALLYE DE FRANCE ALSACE

Post event FIA Press Conference - Sunday 7 October

Present:

1st – Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total World Rally Team
1st – Daniel Elena, Citroën Total World Rally Team
2nd – Jari-Matti Latvala, Ford World Rally Team
2nd – Miikka Anttila, Ford World Rally Team
3rd – Mikko Hirvonen, Citroën Total World Rally Team
3rd – Jarmo Lehtinen, Citroën Total World Rally Team
Yves Matton, Team Principal, Citroën Total World Rally Team

Q:
Sébastien, huge congratulations on claiming your ninth Drivers’ title* and World Rally win number 75. Citroën claims the Manufacturers title also, and all on home soil. How do you feel?
SL:
It couldn’t get any better! I have still the memory from two years ago when we won here then – it was the best memory. And now again. On the last few rallies I thought maybe it was possible to do it here, but to do it is something else. When we started the rally a lot of people were saying we would win again… but it’s not easy – we had to fight. The conditions were really difficult this morning. It wasn’t easy to keep the car on the road, especially in our position when we didn’t have to push too hard. When it’s finished, it’s an incredible moment. In Haguenau, my hometown, it was really a relief and the feeling was incredible!

Q:
The amount of spectators this year has been incredible, were you surprised by how many supporters were here?
SL:
It feels incredible. The sensation when we drive the road sections was unbelievable. There was one stage which we were using for the first time yesterday, it was people everywhere. We didn’t believe a few years ago when we came here for the first time that it would be like this; we knew it would be some people but not like this. The atmosphere is magic.

Q:
And this is the final year of true competition after you announced you will retire…
SL:
At the moment, I don’t think so much to this. At the moment, I think to what we live, we will see next year. I try to enjoy what happens, this is the last one [World Championship] in rally. It’s not an easy decision to stop driving like that; a few years I think about it and I know one day that we have to decide. So we decide this year not to continue. For a few rallies, yes, but not the whole season. I needed something else, another challenge. We spoke to Citroën and finally we decided we want to go together in WTCC and this helps me.

Q:
There has been some speculation that you might do a selected programme and fight for a 10th title?
SL:
You think it’s possible with five rallies?

Q:
But it’s you, Seb…!
SL:
The plan is not this. The plan is for Monte Carlo – this is an important rally for me and the team. But when you see the atmosphere when it’s like this, it’s hard to say we do four [WRC rounds] and not this one, maybe we do this one – to finish my career here would be great.

Q:
Daniel, you have achieved so much together; how do you feel after title number nine?
DE:
It’s a very fantastic feeling. For me it’s important for a lot of reasons, for me it’s my last year with Sébastien. But I’m very happy that we do Monte Carlo next year, it’s important for me too! Seventy-five wins is unbelievable, but now why not 76 or 77 before the end of the year? Now it’s possible to drive without pressure, just for pleasure, which is perfect.

Q:
Did you ever imagine this was possible?
DE:
No, it’s impossible. It’s just magic and a very big dream. Fifteen years I have been with Sébastien, when he stops I stop, and maybe it’s now.

Q:
Jari-Matti, second position overall for you which equals your best result on Tarmac. Your pace here has been impressive, do you feel you have improved again on this surface?
J-ML:
In Germany we were almost two minutes behind and now we are 15 seconds behind – I think there is a step forward. I felt more comfortable than Germany. I like driving on Tarmac as much as it is clean and like the race circuit. My biggest weakness is the dirty stages, that’s the area I need to improve and this is the step difference.

Q:
Yesterday you began just 13.1 seconds behind Sébastien, but you had some drama in the morning which dropped you further behind, what happened?
J-ML:
I knew the long stage was important to fight for the win. I needed to go well on that stage. I was a bit too confident that it will be quite dry. I went to the forest from the open area, it was damp and slippery and it took me by surprise. I had notes that it was slippery in some parts, but I didn’t have that exact place. I locked the brakes and turned to the corner, but too much speed. We went to the bank on the side and stalled. I hit the start button and went, but there was so much mud it was vibrating badly. It took time to get the confidence back. That is why he [Loeb] is winning; he doesn’t make mistakes like I do.

Q:
How much pressure were you feeling from Mikko [Hirvonen]?
J-ML:
At the end of the second to last stage – a new one on this rally – it’s like a race circuit on the uphill section. I saw that it was a strong stage for me in the morning. On the second time I knew Mikko was getting closer, but I tried to do a bit more gap to him. The biggest stress was at the end of the stage, when we had a split time which said: “Hirvonen four seconds ahead”. Midway through the stage I thought: “I am driving as well as I can and I can do nothing, no more…” Luckily for me, it was the other way around and I was ahead.

Q:
Miikka, there are two rounds remaining this season. Is there a win still to come from you and Jari-Matti?
MA:
Yes, probably two… For some reason, Sardinia has been one of the favourites of Jari-Matti and we have won that rally once. I think we have a small chance for victory over there. In Spain, the Tarmac will suit us better than any other Tarmac of this year. This is our best chance, especially because we have one day on gravel. The chance, the realistic chance, is Spain and we said this from the start of the year. Now we are only 15 seconds behind Daniel [Elena] and Seb [Loeb], in Spain it’s realistic.

Q:
Mikko, you’ve been part of the success for Citroën this year. How does that feel?
MA:
It’s been really nice. For the whole year we have shown how strong we have been as a team. The team has been amazing. For me, personally, I worked hard from Germany on how to improve on Tarmac and we definitely made steps forward on this rally. I believe we can be strong in the future.

Q:
How do you feel the weekend went performance-wise? Do you feel it was a stronger Tarmac performance than Germany?
MH:
When you are fast you are always happier – the difference is not big, it’s small things. There are areas we need to improve on, but we’re working on that.

Q:
Could we see a win from you before the end of the season?
MH:
For sure, that’s something I want to do as well. Everybody is saying the same thing, but I really think there will be a big fight on these events.

Q:
Jarmo, you have helped Citroën win the Manufacturers’ title – that must be very satisfying?
JL:
It’s a relief – the job is done for this year. It was part of the plan to help the team get the Manufacturers’ title and settle ourselves in with the team. I feel proud to have been part of this.

Q:
Yves, Citroën seals the Manufacturers and Drivers’ titles on French soil and two rounds before the end of the season. That must be a satisfying feeling?
YM:
For sure it’s a great result for Citroën, two rounds before the end to have the two titles. It’s proof that we did a great job and everybody is working together.

Q:
How important is this result for the Citroën brand?
YM:
It’s very important for the brand. Citroën is using racing to make the image and to win you get the good image. We will also be here in 2013 because we are winning.

Q:
Is this result tinged with sadness because of Sébastien’s decision?
YM:
No, because we start a new story in the future. Sébastien will stay at Citroën and we are not sad.

FIA SUPER 2000 WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:
1st – Craig Breen
1st – Paul Nagle

Q:
Congratulations on your second win in succession Craig, you must be delighted?
CB:
We’re ecstatic! We’ve taken good points here and this result coupled with the win we took on Rally GB a couple of weeks ago means this is looking like a great end to the season. We’re pretty much level-pegging with P-G [Andersson, Proton driver] going into the final round. It’s certainly looking a lot better than it did two events ago. I’m really pleased.

Q:
We watched an exceptionally close battle with Hayden Paddon on Friday and Saturday morning, how enjoyable was that and how much risk were you taking to achieve fastest times?
CB:
We were very much in our comfort zone to be honest, there were no big moments. It was very tricky out there, especially on the second pass of the stages. We were 12 or 13 seconds down going into the second loop and we had thought about taking some chances, but we had trouble with the rear diff and, when we were just in front-wheel drive, we just had to get to the end.

Q:
What led to the trouble?
CB:
It just gave up. We’ve not had the time to strip it open yet. It just happened and we had to get on with it.

Q:
How difficult were the conditions this afternoon?
CB:
A lot of the standing water had gone, so it wasn’t as bad as the [being at the] front of the field. The mud was horrific, but actually I quite enjoyed it. Once we knew the conditions, we just pushed on. Then we got ahead of Yazeed [Al Rajhi] and the rest of the afternoon was just straightforward, we didn’t make any changes to the car.

Q:
Craig, what would victory in the Championship mean to you?
CB:
After this year, it would be incredible. Last year was a dream come true for me and to go along to the next natural progression and win would be a perfect way to end what has been a very low year. We’ll leave no stone unturned, and I’ll be giving it absolutely everything. I’ve a man above who I need to make proud and I’ve got everybody behind me to help me do that.

Q:
Paul, an interesting weekend. How was it for you?
PN:
It was a very interesting weekend! It was really challenging. I don’t think anybody was on the right tyres on Friday morning, one minute we were on one set, then we were on the others. We didn’t have any gravel notes, which made it tricky for us – we were going into the unknown on some corners. Then we had some problems on Saturday and it was a big challenge to try and keep the time loss to a minimum with the rear diff problem. To be in control of the situation when the car was only in two-wheel drive was very dangerous in places, but getting through the stage paid off.

Q:
The Championship’s really hotting up now…
PN:
It really is. We have to go to Spain and basically finish ahead of each other – it’s all to play for. P-G goes well in Spain. Anything can happen on gravel on the first day – ‘anything’ happened to us in Finland and ‘anything’ has happened to Hayden here. We have to offer commiserations to Hayden, he deserved this one, but that’s not always the way it goes.

Q:
You’ll need a lot of preparation before Spain?
PN:
Yes. We’ll have no stone unturned when we get there.

FIA WRC ACADEMY CUP

Present:
1st – Elfyn Evans (Champion, subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA)
1st – Phil Pugh

Q:
Elfyn, a couple of days ago at the pre-event press conference you guys said you didn’t want to think too much on winning the series and here you are! You won the event and the series! Has the dream come true?
EE:
Yes definitely. We had some slight problems before our arrival and we started by building up a bit of a lead and here we are.

Q:
Did you feel any pressure or did you put it to the back of your mind?
EE:
We certainly had a bit of pressure today [Saturday]. It was quite a long afternoon and it’s good to see the finish.

Q:
How was it to go over that finish line knowing you had won the series?
EE:
Great, as a lot of work has been done from the beginning of the season. Winning the championship with a round left is really fantastic.

Q:
It certainly is when we saw the battle last year go down to the very last stage of the final round of the WRC Academy Cup. You had four wins this year and numerous fastest times. What is the future for Elfyn Evans?
EE:
Well I will need to consider the possibilities. Obviously we will have a choice between a World Championship programme with the R2 car or select a campaign with the S2000 car. Whatever we choose it will be a case of developing and learning, and hopefully build on the experience we had, continue to pick up the speed and go for the best.

Q:
How many of your family members were here this weekend? Is Gwyndaf [father] here?
EE:
Yes he has been out on the stages during the weekend but I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. I am sure he is happy.

Q:
I am sure he was more nervous than you were!
EE:
Quite possibly!

Q:
Phil, Elfyn is the WRC Academy Cup champion but sadly you are not the co-driver champion as you were not registered. You have been there for all the wins though and it has been a fantastic season. How are you feeling?
PP:
I knew from the beginning, when Elfyn approached me for Greece, that I could not be champion. We just focused on doing our best and getting everything to work properly. If you had told me earlier in April about our results, including the ones in the British Championship… It’s an incredible set of results and I am very impressed by Elfyn.

Q:
You have co-driven quite a few guys, how do you rate Elfyn in comparison?
PP:
He is very young, only 23, and we worked a lot before the events. He now needs to take a bigger step for next year. I am sure he can handle the work.

Q:
How much did you have to calm his nerves? Is he a nervous driver when something happens or is he quite cool like Loeb?
PP:
To be honest my mind was not one hundred percent here as there was a lot going on back home with the young girl who is missing and it kind of took the nerves away. I must say that Elfyn did a fantastic job, especially in those long stages and in all the tricky places.

Q:
Compared to the many other events and achievements in your career, how goes this rate?
PP:
I know how much work has gone into this and what it means for Elfyn, and I am sure it will continue. I am very happy.

Q:
Elfyn, these are very kind words from you co-driver. Do you have anything to return the favour with?
EE:
Absolutely. When I first approached Phil I didn’t know what he would say to me. He has been in top cars for so long and I thought he would wonder what he was doing here in an R2! During the very first round of the British Championship we did together I set the top two times against much more powerful cars, in the dark, while we had never sat together before! The work he has done, and his commitment, are just incredible and I can never thank him enough for that.

Q:
You will be in Spain in a couple of weeks’ time, but with way less pressure. What is the plan for Rally Catalunya?
EE:
Well it’s going to be a real pleasure to drive a WRC rally while thinking only about the event. It will be a nice experience that will most probably be useful for next year.

* Subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA