MEET THE CREWS SESSION LEG 3

Present:
Kai Lindström, Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team<
Andrea Adamo, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team
Pierre Budar, Citroën Total World Rally Team
Richard Millener, M-Sport World Rally Team


Q:
Kai, fantastic result. At the end of the day today, it is a Toyota one-two-three, with Ott leading the pack. A perfect result if it were to end like this tomorrow, but there's still a long way to go here in Germany.
KL:
Yes, Ott was very strong today. I'm very pleased with his performance once again. The unfortunate puncture for Thierry and Nicolas made it a bit easier, but it's obviously nice to have a one-two-three. That was also thanks to the help of some other drivers. But still, like you said, there's still a long day to go tomorrow.

Q:
That one-two-three would be good tomorrow, as I mentioned. What was the feeling at Toyota when you were watching your guys go through the final stage and seeing the splits that Kris Meeke was setting? He came through with the fastest time on the final stage, so were you worried at all, Kai?
KL:
I had the same worry for all the drivers. I was thinking 'please stay black, don't go yellow', so luckily it worked for him as well.

Q:
It's looking good for Ott's championship chances now. There has been bad luck for his championship rivals today and he'll be the first to say that he doesn't want it to happen like that. If he can walk away with maximum points here tomorrow, it would do his chances exceptionally good.
KL:
Well, like I said, it's been a good day today and hopefully it'll continue tomorrow. We're going a bit too far ahead at the moment.

Q:
Andrea Adamo, bad luck did hit Thierry Neuville this afternoon. Tell me your thoughts on Thierry this afternoon and how disappointed you were to see that.
AA:
Of course, we were disappointed. But you always have to be fair. We won in Sardinia because they had a steering rack problem three kilometres from the end. I think life is a turning wheel. Maybe the wheel will turn again in Australia. You have to be fair. I don't believe in luck and things like that, you also have to be a bit critical of yourself.

Q:
Neuville is behind his team-mate Dani Sordo - there is about 24 seconds difference. Dani has had a brilliant day. We are expecting Thierry to move ahead tomorrow - maybe by himself, maybe with a little help...
AA:
If he can do it himself, okay. If not, I'm paid to help him.

Q:
And how would you be doing that, Mr Adamo? I think we know, but you can tell us.
AA:
I think that everyone there is paid by Hyundai to get the best for Hyundai.

Q:
Pierre Budar, we know that Seb has had his struggles this weekend, but he's been setting brilliant times. Andrea has just said that he doesn't believe in luck, and that what goes around comes around. On that final stage we saw a really quick opening split from Seb and we thought 'right, he's going to challenge back for the podium', and then, sadly, a puncture. Do you believe in luck?
PB:
The best time to have the puncture would certainly have been at the end of the stage. Of course, the puncture was a bit of bad luck at that moment. But, overall, we have to see the complete picture and see that the performance was probably not enough to fight for the lead.

Q:
What are you thinking now when you look at the championship and the way it is playing out? What do you think of Ogier's chances right now?
PB:
I will not think about it tonight.

Q:
Richard Millener, we talked a lot about Gus Greensmith yesterday. Let's focus on Teemu Suninen today, because he was back in action after retiring yesterday morning. Brilliant times from him today. Really confident. He's talking about winning power stage points. Do you think he can do that?
RM:
I would say he could, yes. He's allowed to. It was frustrating to see the times he did today. If we could cancel yesterday, he would be in a really good position and a really good fight. Everybody has had their own bad luck today - we had our yesterday. Unfortunately, that was us for this event. It was good to see the pace today, and his pace on tarmac is very good, so let's see what he can do tomorrow.

Q:
Last year, you were there fighting for the title with Sébastien Ogier, so you know how quickly it can turn around. What do you think of the situation in the championship?
RM:
I think the two guys next to me [Andrea Adamo and Pierre Budar] have a more difficult job than they did about three hours ago.


Present:
Ott Tänak (EST), Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team
Kris Meeke (GBR), Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team
Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN), Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team

Q:
It is a little bit of a different story to what we saw last night. Ott, for you it's very similar in the middle seat. It is the lead. Three days done, one day remaining. And it's your team-mates who are behind you now. Another good day out there. Are you feeling good at the end of it?
OT:
Yeah, good feeling. We had a quiet intense day today. Obviously. in the morning Thierry was pushing really hard. He was always a bit faster than I was. But my target was always just to be very consistent and without any mistakes. We manage to do that. Military area was always going to be a bit of a lottery. First time I tried to push, but second time I had to look around everything. So, it was a bit more stress, but in the end we came through with no issues. So, a good day.

Q:
It's been a really good day. As you said, no issues at all out there. It's a tough final day. Well, everyday is tough here. And even though you have a good advantage over your team-mates, who you know are not going to put you under pressure tomorrow, it is still a long way to go. 70 kilometres tomorrow?
OT:
It's still a good rally day tomorrow. Actually, not so easy stages, a quiet specific characteristic. A lot to focus for. We still need to keep going and keep doing our job. Let's say, we have been many times one-two-three on this podium here, but it would be nice finally to be on the final podium as well.

Q:
It would be great for the team to see you one-two-three. You were quickest on the first run of the Panzerplatte stage. Your team-mate was then quickest in the final run. What did you think of his time when you saw it on the board?
OT:
It was a good time. Obviously, I saw that Sebastian had some issues. Then I understood that it should be a good situation for the team. That's where we are at the moment and we still have a job to finish.

Q:
Kris, a really strong day from you out there. Second position at the end of it and as I mentioned a brilliant run on the final Panzerplatte test. Did you expect it to be that quick when you got to the end of it?
KM:
I knew I had a good stage, but in this type of long stage - Panzerplatte - you never really know, because you don't have split times, you don't really understand if you are in a good rhythm. Honestly, I knew it was good but the objective was simply to keep Seb behind. I wasn't aware he had a puncture, but when we got the end we knew it was enough and also we took a few seconds off Jari. The team is in a very good position also. We have to try to maintain that tomorrow.

Q:
But as Ott said there are tricky stages tomorrow. It's by no means over, so what's the plan in your head going out there tomorrow?
KM:
Just to hold station to be honest. It's very rare that you've got these sort of gaps on a Sunday, especially sitting in a one-two-three position, so we really have to try to bring it home tomorrow.

Q:
Jari-Matti Latvala, we have seen so many different parts of your character today. The confused Jari-Matti, the thinking Jari-Matti and then all came together and you got it: The Jari-Matti who knew it!
JM:
The third one was the best one. After that I finally got it.

Q:
We like the third one. A great performance across the afternoon stages and it is the perfect position now.
JM:
Thank you. It was a very good day. Overall, when I look at my team-mates, they have done an excellent job. And I am also very happy about my day. The morning was a bit difficult, but towards the end of the day we started to get the feeling back. The target was to be top five and suddenly we're on the podium now. Like Kris said, the most important thing tomorrow is to hold these positions. It doesn't happen that often to have a one-two-three and you want to hold on to that.

Q:
It is important for Ott to win here for his championship, which is looking great, and also for the manufacturers. So, a level head tomorrow?
JM:
I just have to focus on a clean drive and there is no reason to start pushing. There are so many things we have to consider for tomorrow.