WRC – Rallye Monte-Carlo – Pre-event Press Conference

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Original:

Ott Tänak (EST), Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT

Sébastien Ogier (FRA), Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Gus Greensmith (GBR), M-Sport Ford World WRT

Sébastien Loeb (FRA), Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT

Kalle Rovanperä (FIN), Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Andrea Adamo (ITA), Group Foremost, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT

Q:

We are in a position to initiate with our FIA World Champion, who for this season has changed groups from Toyota Gazoo racing to the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Group. Ott, the defence of your title begins now. At the beginning, what has the skills been esteem up to now at Hyundai and crucially, get hang of you ever tailored to the i20 WRC?

OT:

It’s been good, to be comely. I’ve been in a characteristic to feel correct and jubilant for some time. I strive to be as efficient and know everyone within the group, but it surely’s taking time to undergo in mind everyone! Needless to claim, it’s constantly a little of a downside with a brand fresh group. I’ve had a terribly good welcome within the group, but we’re additionally pushing laborious to get hang of ready for the Monte.

Q:

Why didn’t you’re taking the predominant?

OT:

I got caught [with the number eight].

Q:

It’s your lucky number?

OT:

I don’t understand it it’s lucky, but it surely’s my number.

Q:

From your testing up to now, what reside you have confidence you studied are the i20’s strengths?

OT:

The car is sturdy. It’s rapid, needless to claim. I get hang of performed finest just a few take a look at days on a rapid stretch of twin carriageway, but on this rally, we can get hang of to perceive everything. We want to know more about the feeling and we can finest note this from a day of rallying. Now we were attempting to learn to perceive how the car is reacting and discover as powerful as likely.

 

Q:

As well as the testing, we’ve considered your appearing skills being examined on your social media movies…

OT:

Yeah, but we all know we are amongst the specialists… Definitelty he [Adamo] feels at residence on this stuff.

Q:

Are you able to’re taking Monte-Carlo?

OT:

You mostly reach to the rally attempting to take. I could give my easiest and I’m in a position to claim confidently a little more when I’ve performed just a few stages. Sooner than the rally, it’s very now not going to express one thing. Truly, I’m having a mediate about forward to just a few kilometres of competing.

Q:

Sébastien Ogier, you initiate the season with a brand fresh producer at Toyota Gazoo Racing. How powerful will this one be?

SO:

It goes to be my 10th initiate right here of the total editions I’ve performed, but it surely’s never twice been the identical rally – it’s constantly one thing surprising and that’s powerful. We’re all focused on these fresh changes. It’s correct for the sport for this to be blended up. It’s correct for the fans, it’s fascinating and it’s the identical for us. OK, Shakedown didn’t give us powerful, but we can research the capability is there with the fresh car. Fancy Ott acknowledged, we need some occasions, and we need some kilometres to get hang of a sense of the build we are. Then we can get hang of a greater perceive of strengths and weaknesses.

Q:

However you adapt rapidly…

SO:

On the total, right here is one of my strengths and I hope to eradicate on that means. However it’s now not esteem I’m in a position to push the replay button and reside it automatically. I’ve performed a brand fresh downside and I’m never missing the pleasure – that’s undoubtedly there. I want to give my easiest, but we need more time to develop certain of what we get hang of, however the predominant feeling is correct. Monte-Carlo is the rally I want to take most on the calendar – I disclose this yearly, it’s no surprise to you. However nearly everyone right here tonight has the capability to take it. We want to be allotment of the sport.

Q:

And the number 17?

SO:

My favourite number change into as soon as essential, but there change into as soon as someone better than us final year! The notion is to take it merit. The reliable one [number] I may additionally mediate to change into as soon as 17. It change into as soon as the day I change into as soon as born on and the finest diverse link change into as soon as from autocross as soon as we had been childhood and my dad change into as soon as racing with that number.

Q:

Sébastien Loeb, you’ve got additionally changed your number. You’re number nine now. I’m guessing we all know the clarification for that…

SL:

Advantageous!

Q:

Serve for one other season with Hyundai, six more rallies this year?

SL:

Advantageous.

Q:

Are you able to’re taking the rally? And please don’t conclude the resolution at scoot!

SL:

Monte Carlo is continually a undeniable rally. It’s now not finest a question to be fastest in one stage, it be principal to mediate more to that, it be principal to mediate about the kindly tyre preference and this stuff. You’d additionally be on the limit within the good facets, but which you’ll additionally soundless be more cautious within the cruel facets – it’s a rally the build it’s easy to develop a mistake. The sensation change into as soon as correct within the take a look at, nothing genuinely changed. I get hang of a little more skills than final year, when I had correct chanced on the car. Hopefully I could be in a characteristic to feel the rhythm.

Q:

Portray me about the fresh stage the next day to come to come…

SL:

For me both stages the next day to come to come are fresh. The principal one change into as soon as genuinely a Tarmac stage, genuinely dry, so nothing special. Stage two change into as soon as genuinely powerful within the recce. I don’t know how [much] it will be melting. There will be some ice facets, maybe tyre preference incessantly is the predominant suppose of affairs the next day to come to come.

Q:

Which which you’ll maybe perhaps get hang of gotten reasonably just a few skills and reasonably just a few victories right here. How powerful will you share your Monte secrets and ways with the more than just a few drivers?

SL:

I’m now not the finest one who is aware of tips on how to remain it right here, the others within the group get hang of reasonably a little of skills. We strive to share, the goal is to toughen the car and the group. There are likely to be now not any secrets and ways with the drivers, we reside everything we can reside we reside.

Q:

Gus, huge lead to FIA WRC 2 Pro right here final year, but now you’re at WRC and that’s a undeniable stage…

GG:

It’s the dream for me. The motive I fell in esteem with rallying is from searching at the person in entrance of me (Loeb) riding down an cool mountain. That is having a mediate about esteem the correct Monte-Carlo rally, with conditions changing so much. I’m having a mediate about forward to it.

Q:

A fresh perceive this year, I note you’re 19 kilos lighter…

GG:

I knew that this change into as soon as going to occur this year after Finland [last year]. It’s an remarkable opportunity and I want to give everything I’ve got. OK, it’s been a depressing iciness, but it surely’s worth it.

Q:

What did you learn final year?

GG:

Other folks are on the total happier when the car’s on four wheels! I learned so much final year, this year’s about being more constant.

Q:

Andrea, gigantic success final year, what’s the goal this year?

AA:

Repeat final year.

Q:

So you don’t need the drivers’ title?

AA:

If we can get hang of it, I could be more than chuffed.

Q:

How is it working with Ott?

AA:

Fancy he acknowledged, we haven’t yet worked collectively for lengthy up to now. I would disclose it’s one thing esteem having a worth-fresh female friend: we stride out, win the plant life, things esteem that… We are in a position to research. Even though he’s now not the vogue of girl I esteem essentially the most!

Q:

What can you uncover us about changes with the car?

AA:

I acknowledged in January final year, I would now not keep up a correspondence about technical things and I don’t research any motive to change this year.

Q:

How will you address the rivalry on your group this year?

AA:

Whenever you occur to work with sensible folk – and I’m so lucky to get hang of four crews esteem that – these are rather more experiences built out of doors to develop some files on your job. When the things are decided at the tip, which you’ll additionally address the things. I don’t want to express it’s easy – that may maybe be a lie and, as final year I told you I would now not deceive you. It’s manageable.

Q:

Manageable?

AA:

Perchance it is dependent on the that means you give to the word…

Q:

We research Hyundai bringing a brand fresh R5 group this year, that’s going to learn carry fresh skills thru?

AA:

Closing year, I met with Yves Matton and his FIA folk. We talked about making a WRC Pro group and I told them it’d be likely correct for us to remain it within the ideal capability. We are in a position to research tips on how to develop this doable on this year with the ideal budget and now not too powerful compromise. When Hyundai made the i20 R5 in 2016, it has been performed in a rapid time. It improved along the year, but it surely is soundless a little at the tip of the occupation. If I get hang of now not performed one thing, then it can maybe get hang of died earlier. However we get hang of a brand fresh homologation on January 1 and that’s correct for Hyundai to get hang of this presence and it’s correct for our drivers.

Q:

Kalle, tells us about number 69…

KR:

It’s nothing special, must which you’ll additionally be on the roof, the number is soundless the identical!

Q:

How powerful of a step is it from R5 to the Yaris WRC?

KR:

At present time, it change into as soon as reasonably a huge step. Closing week, we drove in Finland on a snow event and it’s been one month between the Tarmac take a look at and this day. The principal lag change into as soon as a little cautious. However it’s genuinely good, it’s rapid!

Q:

Fabricate you’ve got your reliable head on?

KR:

I mediate there’ll be moments when I want to be faster, however the predominant thing is to set soundless and steer decided of the mistakes. If there are some decided stages and conditions then I want to be in correct tempo.

Q:

How powerful will you query Ogier?

KR:

I hope I learn so much from him. He is admittedly experienced and he’s been the fastest driver in decades. It’s good to be within the identical group and over the year, I hope we can learn from him.

Q:

Fabricate you’ve got some goal events to push on?

KR:

I mediate we can research after Mexico, as soon as we get hang of driven one rally on every ground, we can research the rate. I want to be rapid in Finland, but that form of rally, the build which you’ll additionally be the total time flat-out, it’s reasonably powerful with these vehicles.

FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Original:

Adrien Fourmaux (FRA), M-Sport Ford

Nicolay Gryazin (RUS), Hyundai Motorsport N

Q:

Nikolay, an unprecedented opportunity for you this year with Hyundai Motorsport N internal FIA WRC 2. How powerful are you having a mediate about forward to the season forward? What’s the goal?

NG:

I strive to head for the title with Hyundai. I want to get hang of used to the fresh car. I drove all my time in one other car, but I want to get hang of a stride for myself.

Q:

Closing year, we noticed huge tempo from you, along with your easiest result coming in Finland the build you took the FIA WRC 2 take. This however will be your first time competing right here at Rally Monte-Carlo – what’s going to be the scheme from you this weekend?

NG:

That is my huge opportunity to reach to the factory group and to learn so much. Monte Carlo for the predominant time is powerful, but I did one rally final year in identical powerful conditions. This event incessantly is the identical – it’s more esteem survival. It’s powerful to push, I may additionally soundless be very cautious – it’s powerful to belief every diverse (driver and co-driver) on stages esteem these.

Q:

Will you be reliable?

NG:

I could strive, scoot.

Q:

Adrien, additionally an unprecedented opportunity for you additionally, joining M-Sport for this FIA WRC 2 season. You had been second in FIA WRC 2 in Monte final year in what change into as soon as a nice demonstrate – can you bring more this time?

AF:

Honestly, I want to remain the identical or better as final year. Closing year change into as soon as the predominant WRC event, now I get hang of one season and I want to be faster. It’s a huge opportunity to be with M-Sport, I want to remain my easiest.

Q:

Portray us about your preparations…

AF:

Two weeks within the past, I change into as soon as in M-Sport. It change into as soon as heavenly, then one week within the past I change into as soon as testing. I drove this car in Spain final year, I genuinely chanced on one thing correct for the placement-up and I’m genuinely chuffed.

Q:

Your occupation has been unprecedented up to now, finest three years because you started your first rally and you’ve obtained the Rally Jeune programme, you change into French Junior Champion in 2018 and now a stout season internal FIA WRC 2. Did you ever take into consideration success would reach so rapidly?

AF:

No. Honestly this day, I change into as soon as considering that three years within the past I change into as soon as fresh to this [sport]. I change into as soon as working with my paper and now I’m within the authentic group!

Q:

What’s the notion for this event?

AF:

It’s a terribly powerful rally. No longer one of many stages are easy. There’s snow and ice – it’s changing the total time. Now we get hang of to set a watch on that. We are in a position to take care at the initiate and research what we can reside.

FIA WRC 3 CHAMPIONSHIP

Original:

Yohan Rossel (FRA)

Umberto Scandola (ITA)

Q:

How powerful are you having a mediate about forward to this, Yohan?

YR:

It’s a huge opportunity for me. I obtained the French Championship final year, but this isn’t allotment of the Monte-Carlo. I obtained [the French title] final year, but this season starts now – we can research.

Q:

You’d additionally be French Champion, does that give you self belief?

YR:

I get hang of correct self belief, but Monte-Carlo is now not the identical as the French Championship. The conditions listed below are correct unprecedented. It’s correct ice coming this week and I want to remain no mistakes. We are in a position to research for the result. I want to remain a correct rally and we can research on Sunday.

Q:

What reside you have confidence you studied about the conditions from the recce?

YR:

I don’t know. I mediate it’s now not the identical from recce to the rally. I don’t know if we’ll get hang of snow, I mediate scoot. However it’s very powerful conditions on the total stages. It’s very powerful.

Q:

Umberto, what number of rallies will we research you on this year?

US:

We initiate right here for the predominant time and that’s a nice day. We’ll be in Sweden, in Argentina and I mediate in GB additionally.

Q:

How get hang of your preparations been?

US:

We ready with a take a look at on a correct stage. The twin carriageway change into as soon as reasonably rapid, with snow and ice – ideal for the conditions on the stage and the feeling with the car is correct. It’s principal for us now not to push to reach on Sunday.

Q:

The rivalry in R5 is fierce, what can you succeed in?

US:

I don’t push, I’m beginning in these conditions. I’m now not a young driver, but it surely’s principal for me to take self belief in these stages.

Questions from the ground

Reiner Kuhn, Motorsport Aktuell (GER)

Q:

Andrea, in testing we noticed the employ within the center of the car. Did you homologate on this model, can you dispute a little bit why you potentially did this?

AA:

There is never always any politics. For diverse reasons, we decided to set it on the left. Or the ideal.

Q:

You homologate this?

AA:

Fabricate you have confidence you studied I lag the car now not homologated?

Q:

You may want to a joker or it’s likely to change, because it change into as soon as within the center, in my thought.

AA:

When it change into as soon as within the center?

Q:

Within the take a look at in the beginning of January.

AA:

Within the take a look at, we are likely to be now not required to get hang of an homologated car. Jérôme [Toquet, FIA Technical Delegate] needs to set cessation to me, but now not within the take a look at.