WRC – Rally Turkey – Pre-occasion Press Convention Transcript

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:

Sébastien Ogier (FRA), Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Personnel

Elfyn Evans (GBR), Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Personnel

Ott Tänak (EST), Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Personnel

Teemu Suninen (FIN), M-Sport Ford World Rally Personnel

Esapekka Lappi (FIN), M-Sport Ford World Rally Personnel

Sébastien Loeb (FRA), Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Personnel

Q:

Seb, you’re main the championship as we head into Rally Turkey. The battle is heating out as we head into the tip of a unfamiliar season this yr. How are you feeling about the championship fight ethical now?

SO:

It is positively appealing, as you converse, and it’s miles close, factual like the fans prefer it – and I in actuality wish to affirm, even I admire it. It is repeatedly more luscious whilst it’s likely you’ll well well also maintain some tight competition. That is the manner you love to maintain success in a easiest-case scenario. For definite, it’s a glorious season. We would prefer to rating more rallies nevertheless we wish to manage with the similar converse like the entire world is dealing with ethical now. We’re chuffed to be right here to compete again. This rally goes to be titillating and extremely tough like repeatedly. It is titillating to rating any prediction for the weekend, nevertheless the feeling is genuine and I’m delighted to be within the lead of the championship coming right here. It’s titillating to maintain any determined plan because you love to hope to come back by with out pain and aloof maintain some scamper to fight on the entrance. It is never an effortless rally to administer.

Q:

You maintain got gotten had success right here and the maintain closing yr. Is there a secret within the market or now not in actuality a secret?

SO:

There are some sections that are truly in actuality fine, where it’s likely you’ll well well push and power as swiftly because it’s likely you’ll well well. I ponder that this could well well also be the case tonight. We talked about time and again that this short piece tonight is well-known for the remainder of the weekend to are trying and rob up a genuine birth up space. It shouldn’t be too tough. First on the avenue, you largely endure from the grip nevertheless you furthermore mght skills the stipulations, truly. It is gentle to power. It is stress-free riding nevertheless tense to stumble on the times on the tip.

Q:

First on the avenue is repeatedly going to be a downside nevertheless the extra again you sail can also be even worse with what is pulled out. Is there a pleasurable line?

SO:

It is getting rougher, for definite. It is a long way dependent upon some sections. On the stages for tonight I don’t ponder there will most certainly be so grand roughness, namely as we power them easiest as soon as. Nonetheless the second sail over the weekend goes to be very titillating. Peaceable it’s miles easiest to be as a long way again because it’s likely you’ll well well on the avenue, to be artful and never push too titillating on the rougher sections. For that, we are able to hope to be stable tonight. I talked about already that I in actuality feel genuine within the vehicle. We made some sure growth throughout the test. It is titillating to estimate how grand. Shakedown can’t give us grand of an answer nevertheless we’ll receive out soon.

Q:

You mention sure growth. In what areas of the vehicle?

SO:

I would converse the predominant areas – chassis, suspension and differential – as that’s what you largely play with to are trying and optimize the grip, the traction and the protection apart from. Whereas you sail on an occasion like this, it’s likely you’ll well well presumably like the efficiency nevertheless you furthermore mght want a stable vehicle apart from.

Q:

Elfyn, you’re second within the championship. You come right here for the second time because you missed closing yr due to the an harm.  Discontinue you feel that can well well be a downside for you?

EE:

I ponder, it’s now not a well-known downside, to be genuine. The huge majority of the stages are the similar as 2018. Undoubtedly, there are just a few stages there that we haven’t done. We effect a shrimp more emphasis on them sooner than we came to are trying and learn them as grand as that it’s likely you’ll well well ponder of and to lift up on what we missed. It shouldn’t be a serious problem. Confidently, we can carry out well on these stages apart from.

Q:

You are ethical again within the championship battle in second situation. Ott Tänak has joined you now and is third within the championship. The battle is de facto heating up. How are you feeling about that?

EE:

There’s no power as such. We’re all right here to realize our easiest, combating for the similar aim. Within the extinguish, we all wish to carry out on each occasion if we are making an are trying to rack up the aspects and are accessible in away with the goods on the tip of the yr. It’s aloof a case of going rally by rally and giving the most appealing we’ve bought.

Q:

Seb said there’s sure growth by manner of the event of the vehicle. Discontinue you feel that?

EE:

Certain positively. I ponder the guys maintain already been working reasonably a shrimp since Turkey closing yr and we began with a stronger negative with the test already. Now we maintain been ready to search out a quantity of extra dispositions, that are in actuality sure. My feeling within the vehicle is genuine and expectantly that can well lend a hand us well for the weekend.

Q:

In regards to the long stage on Sunday morning: whilst you had the lead of the rally, Mister Ogier said that, with any earnings, it’s likely you’ll well well presumably aloof in actuality feel unsafe because it’s miles this form of tough stage.  Discontinue you compromise?

EE

Certain, I would are inclined to agree. It is a long way a long and refined test, nevertheless we don’t easiest attain it as soon as. We attain it twice. It is a long way now not a ragged Sunday with three or four 10km tests that are gentle and it’s likely you’ll well well put collectively your gaps stage by stage. Sunday is terribly grand a fleshy day’s rallying in actuality by manner of the stipulations and the challenges you face. I don’t ponder of it in any appreciate as being a Sunday stroll whilst you had an earnings on Saturday.

Q:

Ott, a gigantic maintain for you at house in Estonia has effect you ethical again within the battle. How are you feeling coming right here to Turkey? Self belief ranges are high after that maintain?

OT:

Undoubtedly, it turned into as soon as fine to begin up the championship at closing. Help in a celebrated work rhythm. Undoubtedly, this weekend is fully a form of to what we faced just a few weeks ago. It is a long way a brand recent converse nevertheless we maintain been right here sooner than. We form of know what to request. Let’s stumble on. Most frequently, the efficiency of this vehicle is genuine within the tough stipulations. You can’t in actuality skills riding in these stipulations nevertheless if the vehicle is performing, let’s stumble on what is likely.

Q:

Seb said it be indispensable to be fully unsleeping for these two stages tonight.

OT:

It’s correct, as Seb factual explained, Saturday is the longest day and it’s miles awfully indispensable to maintain a genuine avenue space.

Q:

How turned into as soon as the vehicle feeling for you this morning on Shakedown? Are you delighted collectively with your situation-up for this occasion?

OT:

On the entire delighted and all is working. It turned into as soon as positively the roughest stage of the occasion, expectantly. Let’s stumble on what the weekend brings. I in actuality maintain never done this occasion on this vehicle so I’m having a count on stumble on how it performs out. Sunday is hard, Saturday is factual long nevertheless in total, it goes to now not be that tough. I bet, on Sunday we are able to maintain many surprises and I could wish to power with the eyes birth.

Q:

We’re seeing with the recent format of rallies now that Sundays maintain change into a correct day. Would you desire it to be that manner in future?

OT

No doubt I would converse that, currently, the format is somewhat fine. We are able to come to the occasion in the end later and aloof we maintain a correct competition. It shouldn’t’ factual be for this yr, it desires to be in total like this.

Q:

Teemu, it’s likely you’ll well well also maintain done well right here within the past. You maintain got gotten been competitive right here and scored genuine outcomes. How assured are you that there can also be an even bigger result right here than in Estonia?

TS:

I in actuality wish to affirm, I’m now not definite if anyone of us can also be assured thanks to the risk of punctures, and the risk of breaking the suspension is somewhat high right here apart from. We factual wish to realize our easiest and hope noteworthy fortune is with us to rating by the entire stages with out dealing with complications.

Q:

You focus on risk. Now we maintain a brief quantity of stages this evening. Would there be any warning in taking an additional tyre tonight? Or would that disrupt the steadiness of the vehicle?

TS:

I agree with that, on the predominant two stages, we’re going to steal easiest one spare. Peaceable the risk is high, as we saw on Shakedown already. Now we wish to are trying and take care of faraway from the entire stones and aloof sail flat out. It’s a grand compromise.

Q:

How turned into as soon as the vehicle feeling on Shakedown this morning? Were you delighted with the complete lot?

TS:

We did easiest three runs and the vehicle felt somewhat genuine. It would maintain been gigantic to power more nevertheless we wish to desire in thoughts that Shakedown turned into as soon as in actuality tough and we did now not are making an are trying to spoil the vehicle too grand. We factual wish to maintain a genuine feeling on the predominant stage and set our easiest.

Q:

The M-Sport automobiles maintain come straight from Estonia and been re-prepped right here in Turkey. The crew maintain done a genuine job, nevertheless you aloof would possibly well well want a dent to your roof?

TS:

Certain I aloof maintain roof aerodynamic harm within the roof, which enables more air to the rear wings. This has wide fabricate, namely right here as the rally is de facto behind!

Q:

Esapekka, discuss with us about this occasion. Now we maintain viewed success for you within the past. Last yr, you maintain been second with the Citroën. You appear to maintain learned the most important to making it work. Is this an occasion that suits you?

EL:

Not much less than closing yr, it worked out. To be appealing, it be indispensable to maintain noteworthy fortune to your facet. You can’t take care of faraway from the entire rocks that are there. The risk of puncture is de facto high yearly. It’s a matter of pleasurable fortune apart from. And it be indispensable to be artful. You can’t push each stage 100%, it be indispensable to steal care on some sections and on some a form of ones it’s likely you’ll well well even be grand sooner.

Q:

Prosperous Millener, crew boss of M-Sport, said that he feels the occasion goes to sail well with the vehicle higher when compared to Estonia. Discontinue you feel that right here goes to be the case?

EL:

I’m in actuality definite. Whereas you check the outcomes from closing yr, Teemu done fourth nevertheless he did competitive stage times so I don’t stumble on any reason we ought to now not be within the fight with the others.

Q:

We birth up this evening with two stages that rob the avenue present for the next day. How grand are you able to maximize your birth up space on these two stages?

EL:

That’s a grand one. You’ll want to be on the stable facet and to now not spoil the relaxation. Nonetheless on the similar time, you ought to even be in actuality swiftly to present you a genuine avenue space for the next day. It is a long way now not an effortless converse to steadiness that.

Q:

Sébastien Loeb, welcome again. Monte-Carlo turned into as soon as where we saw you closing. Now you come to a rally where it’s likely you’ll well well also maintain never competed at sooner than, and even whilst it’s likely you’ll well well also maintain wins in Turkey, it turned into as soon as now not on this space of the nation. What turned into as soon as your influence whilst you saw the stages?

SL:

I ponder the stages are appealing – so a lot of a form of stages with so a lot of twisty and narrow functions and some swiftly and flowing ones, some tough and some comely. So it’s miles a shrimp of the complete lot. I ponder this could well well also be indispensable to search out the ethical rhythm and adapt to the entire stipulations. It goes to even be tricky for the punctures with the huge stones. It is a long way a have to-wish to be reasonably artful.

Q:

Let’s focus on avenue positions. How well-known will they be the next day? 

SL:

It is repeatedly refined to come back again into the rhythm, namely as I in actuality haven’t competed on a rally since Monte-Carlo. I did factual in the end of checking out. Tonight, we don’t maintain any time to lose. It’ll be well-known for the remainder of the rally to maintain a genuine result tonight. All americans is conscious of that. I don’t maintain two stages to wake up. I could wish to push from the birth up and hope the feeling will most certainly be genuine.

Q:

Convey us what the Seb Loeb thought is for the remainder of this yr and subsequent yr?

SL:

I don’t know. We’re talking about some a form of rallies with the crew. This could well well rely on many issues. On which rally will most certainly be done except the tip of the season and what the championship converse is. For subsequent yr, I don’t know. I had the thought to return to Dakar nevertheless for the WRC, it’s now not determined for the time being. Certain, it could well well be the closing one. With out riding within the World Championship, perchance I in actuality wish to ponder of it. I did it within the past after which I came again. We never know.

Q:

You are on 79 wins. Eighty would be a ravishing quantity. Is there likely to lift right here?

SL:

There would possibly be likely to lift. Here’s a rally that’s de facto birth. Loads of issues happen repeatedly right here. It is a long way now not easiest a quiz of lag nevertheless also a quiz of being artful and being a shrimp fortunate. I could attain my easiest and hope to be competitive this weekend. It is a long way now not easy to fight with the guys on the entrance nevertheless I could attain my easiest.

Questions from the ground

Mehmet Ali Kantarci (TUR), Posta Newspapers

Q:

With the tough stipulations, how delighted are you collectively with your tyres for the time being?

SL:

I’m delighted with the tyres. I turned into as soon as impressed within the morning with the grip in these stipulations. The grip we maintain with this vehicle and tyres in these stipulations is extraordinary. Now we maintain the risk to maintain punctures nevertheless many of the other folks don’t agree with what we are doing with these tyres.

 

FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:

Adrien Fourmaux (FRA), M-Sport Ford World Rally Personnel

Pontus Tidemand (SWE), Toksport World Rally Personnel

Q:

Adrien, it’s your first time right here. What are your impressions?

AF:

For us, this could well well also be a serious problem because it’s miles the predominant time right here. Two wide challenges – scamper-notes and no files of the stages. It’ll be very tough, a well-known risk of punctures and we are able to hope to administer this. Even for mechanics, this could well well also be a serious problem. The rally is perchance now not done except the tip of the closing stage. I ponder we can lose one minute within the predominant stage and aloof maintain the rally. Presumably I could wish to play more with the lottery in my lifestyles. Because I ponder this rally is like a lottery. It’ll be a extremely appealing occasion. The aim is so that you need to fight with Pontus, who is seven aspects in entrance of us. It is a long way a serious problem. Let’s stumble on.

Q:

What turned into as soon as the feeling this morning at Shakedown?

AF:

It turned into as soon as crazy. I belief “what’s occurring”, I belief “perchance a Panzer (tank) in entrance”. It turned into as soon as very tough. I know I wish to be definite to know each stage where it’s miles tough to stumble on where we can push and where we will now not.

Q:

New notes for you. How did you receive the stamp-making process?

AF:

Solely a form of to Estonia. Now it’s miles terribly tricky and extremely behind corners are closing and opening, closing and opening, uphill and downhill.

Q:

Pontus, it’s likely you’ll well well the truth is maintain so a lot of skills right here in a World Rally Automobile and a WRC2 vehicle. Does that supply you self belief?

PT:

For definite, this could well well also be tricky namely with the tyres. I am hoping we can receive the stages where it’s miles a shrimp bit more comely. We are able to push a shrimp after which be careful on the tough functions This could well well even be a key level this weekend to realize the rally. Now to now not maintain too many punctures.

Q:

You had some tyre harm on the predominant Shakedown flee. Change into as soon as there any extra after that?

PT:

We easiest did one flee and we bought a reminder of how tricky it’s miles. For definite it’s miles terribly a form of to Estonia two weeks ago. We factual wish to begin up the predominant stage and stumble on how it goes.

Q:

You maintain got gotten the skills right here. It’s now not about going flat out. What does it steal right here?

PT:

You maintain got gotten to search out out the tough functions, which is namely titillating for an R5 (Rally2) vehicle and for the tyres we expend within the R5 (Rally2) category. Then you definately can also maintain the closing stage on Saturday, which is de facto comely and fine and it’s likely you’ll well well now not tumble so grand time so it be indispensable to push. It is a long way a have to to search out on which functions on the stages it be indispensable to be careful. Tonight, on the predominant stage, we desire to be a shrimp careful while the second one is awfully fine and every person will push. That shall be a plan for me.

FIA WRC 3 CHAMPIONSHIP

Present:

Marco Bulacia (BOL)

Yağiz Avci (TUR)

Q:

Marco, gentle Estonian gravel two weeks ago and what a incompatibility on this one… How attain you map this weekend?

MB:

Certain, this could well well also be an actual opposite occasion to Estonia. There we maintain been flat out from the predominant kilometre. In Turkey, now we wish to administer the flee and steal care of the tyres. These factors mark us the maintain closing yr. Now I ponder I in actuality maintain more skills with my second time right here. I ponder I could put collectively higher than closing yr

Q:

What’s your influence of the stages when compared to closing yr?

MB:

They are rougher, for definite. That can amplify the converse of the rally. We’re ready and the vehicle is terribly genuine in these stipulations. We are able to are trying and push where we can and steal care of the vehicle and tyres.

Q:

There would possibly be a charming battle occurring for the FIA WRC3 title. How grand is that to your thoughts?

MB:

This rally will most certainly be well-known within the championship. Here’s the time that I wish to steal earnings. It’ll be a well-known occasion for us.

Q:

Yağiz, it’s your private house occasion and it’s miles extraordinary to stumble on you competing in WRC3. How are you feeling?

YA:

First, it’s miles terribly genuine to be right here after a long spoil, as our season turned into as soon as initiating in April. Nonetheless, thanks to the pandemic, we had a long spoil. As a driver, I did now not power since two years. It is terribly indispensable for me to be right here. I’m very delighted and exasperated apart from. There are many difficulties with the organization nevertheless, to this level, it goes well. I am hoping it continues like this. The stages, already within the recce, are a shrimp tough and I ponder this could well well also be extra tough within the rally.

Q:

Along with your skills, what would you converse is the most important on these stages?

YA:

I drove one time sooner than within the WRC. Sooner than it turned into as soon as a national rally and it’s miles turned into as soon as now not that tough. It turned into as soon as tough nevertheless now not that erroneous. I in actuality maintain the skills from this one yr nevertheless it no doubt turned into as soon as half of an skills because we retired very early. I don’t know the stages by coronary heart nevertheless, for sure, I know the geography and the celebrated traits. I am hoping it helps.

Q:

How did the vehicle in actuality feel this morning out on the shakedown?

YA:

After the test, first I attempted to establish in thoughts easy suggestions to power a rally vehicle after two years. It came again

reasonably fleet. Within the test, I turned into as soon as very delighted with the R5 (Rally2 vehicle). In Shakedown, we factual checked the vehicle to stumble on that the complete lot worked well. I did now not push loads. We’re delighted and maintain a genuine feeling. I am hoping I’m able to even be a shrimp more on it within the predominant stage.

 

Q:

What are you hoping to stay?

YA:

To be genuine, within the WRC3 class, drivers are in actuality swiftly and they’re doing more rallies than us. I ponder they shall be very swiftly from the birth up. Our precedence is the Nationwide Championship. We’re riding for this apart from. In FIA WRC3, we are also representing Turkey. If we attain in a genuine space in WRC3, this could well well also be a genuine result. Nonetheless we are able to verify the Turkish drivers apart from.

Questions from the ground

Reiner Kuhn, Motorsport Aktuell (GER)

Q:

What attain you suspect of the roads and the intervals between the automobiles?

YA:

Three minutes. It received’t be an enviornment. I don’t ponder.

MB:

We is now not going to maintain pain with the gap nevertheless the closing automobiles can also maintain some grime and some shrimp darkness and there would possibly well well be some grime with shrimp wind. I ponder that, on the a form of days, this could well well also be most appealing.

PT:

If somebody sooner than us stops with a puncture, then we can the truth is maintain a shrimp converse.

AF:

Three (minutes) is the minimum for me.