MEET THE CREWS SESSION DAY 1

Present:
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Motorsport
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Motorsport
Dani Sordo, Hyundai Motorsport

Q:
Jari-Matti, let’s kick off with you as you are in the middle seat. How has this morning gone for you? Are you happy with your performance in shakedown and are you feeling confident?

J-ML:
Yes, the feeling is very good. When I started this morning, I was still searching a little bit for the right feeling. The car was maybe too soft and I didn’t get the confidence, but we returned and made some changes, and now the car feels good.

Q:
It is a full-on challenge as it is the first time we have had an all-Tarmac event this year. Of course, Monte isn’t quite that all-Tarmac event. And it is a complex event here in Germany. Is it one of your favourite Tarmac event with all the changes that we have over the three days?

J-ML:
Nowadays, I also like Rallye Deutschland. In the past, it was a bit difficult for me, but I started to get more confidence here. Catalunya has been the strongest for my Tarmac performance, but it would be nice if it is turning around for me here in Germany. Last year, we finished second, so I try to keep the good rhythm and hopefully we are there to fight for a top result.

Q:
What does it take to get a win here, Jari-Matti?

J-ML:
You have to have a clean run. You can push quite easily, but also the mistakes happen easily. At times when it is very narrow, you don’t have any room to go wide, so that is the final rhythm you need to be really fast. You have to understand when there is dirt and when you have to back off, and then you can attack.

Q:
We have a real mixture of stages here and, of course, the Panzerplatte is the longest. Is that the toughest challenge, or is it up in the vineyards?

J-ML:
I think the vineyards are the most demanding. I like Panzerplatte a lot. The question at Panzerplatte is always how your front tyres are doing. When they start getting too hot, you may be struggling at Panzerplatte, but otherwise, the rhythm is very nice, very good over there. I would say that the vineyards are more demanding, because there are so many tight junctions and you really have to work and brake hard over there.

Q:
Let’s turn to your team-mate now, Andreas Mikkelsen. How much are you looking forward to this event getting underway, then? You love the Tarmac, Andreas?

AM:
Yes, I do. I really enjoy Tarmac, but it has been a long time: since Rally Spain last year. Yes, we had Monte Carlo, but that was different, so I have a great feeling from the last Tarmac round and I can’t wait to start. We had a great test coming here and the feeling is really good with the car and shakedown felt very, very nice. I feel that the recce we have done was good as well, so I can’t wait to start.

Q:
We can’t wait for you to start either. I guess the objective is to take a win here, Andreas?

AM:
It will be difficult. It is always difficult to fight at the front, but for sure, we have set our sights at Ogier. He is in first place in the championship, but we really want to close that gap. We have done it over the last couple of rallies, so I would like to continue by doing that and I am sure that means by fighting for the win, probably. We will do as well as we can.

Q:
How are you feeling about the championship? Ogier is a good number of points ahead of you, but things can change.

AM:
Yes, things can change and mistakes can be made. They were made in Finland, so it can happen again. We just have to hold on as well as we can and try to challenge every time we can, so that is our goal.

Q:
Let’s turn to Dani Sordo. Welcome back to the WRC, Dani, we missed you in Finland. Are you fully recovered now from your injury?

DS:
Yes, I am ready now and I am okay for the rally. The shakedown was fantastic, the car was really good. We also had a good two days of testing, the car was really good.

Q:
You know what it takes to take a win at this event. Are you prepared to risk everything this weekend to try and do it again?

DS:
We need to take a risk to go flat out and try to win, but we try to fight at the top. It is a rally that I like with the vineyards and Baumholder, and I am also very happy with the car, which is very important to have confidence with the car to do the maximum in the stages, so at the moment, I will do everything to fight.

Q:
I asked Jari-Matti the similar question: what do you find the most challenging here? Is it the vineyard stages or is it getting to the military region? What is the toughest aspect of this event?

DS:
The toughest element maybe will be the weather. It is always very difficult. It looks like it will rain a bit and that will be very difficult. The vineyards are very nice stages and Baumholder also, but if it is a little bit wet, it will be very difficult for us at the back. When it is completely dry, it will be fantastic and we will have some nice sensations.

Q:
So, you want to fight this weekend, don’t you?

DS:
I really want to. Afterwards, we will see, but I definitely want to fight.