Driver / co-driver: Martin Prokop and Jan Tomanék (Citroen C2 S1600).


Press conference.



Q:
Martin you are the 2009 FIA Junior World Rally champion! How does that sound?

Martin Prokop:
It is something very nice for me. We have been fighting for this for five years and the last two years we have almost won it, so this year we expected it to be a hard fight but Michal (Kosciuszko) made a mistake in Poland and so for me it was a chance to make it in two rallies. And where better than to win, than here in Finland and be World champion?

Q:
You have been third for the past two years – is it a great sense of relief now to have claimed the title?

MP:
It is something new for me! I had previously thought that it would be impossible after trying for so long, so we will see tomorrow if it has sunk in! It has been a great experience here for me and we were not ready to be champions so early in the middle of the summer. This year we did a very good job on every rally. In Sardinia we had a couple of problems, but we were helped by everybody to keep on fighting, the same in Cyprus. We have had so much experience and I was very confident.

Q:
Jan, how does it feel for you to be Junior Champion?

Jan Tomanék:
This is the biggest moment in my rally life, so I am very happy!

Q:
You have led this event from start to finish and made it look easy. You said before the event got underway that you were not feeling so much pressure, did that change when the rally started?

MP:
My race started last week on the test. On Monday we had official test and we were fastest so I was confident on my driving. I had big pressure in my head so I was quite nervous but also wanting to enjoy the rally. I knew I had to go fast and in Poland I was a little bit scared to make mistakes but not so bad here. I knew I didn't have to go flat out here.

Q:
What was the atmosphere like in the car during the final stage?

MP:
It was pretty normal actually, but then we realised that we were the World champions so I realised that I have to drive like a World champion!

Q:
You have a small chance to be Production Car World Rally Champion too. How do you feel about that?

MP:
For sure there is a small chance, and we will push to the maximum, but I think there are other drivers fighting for that title!