Thomas and Moore go head-to-head.

Friday, 13th October 2006

The VK Vodka Kick-backed Fiesta SportingTrophy UK will climax in a thrilling finale on the Bulldog Clubmans Rally next weekend, with the title still up for grabs and competitors aiming to make the most of their final opportunity to score points this year.

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It was the FST UK’s first season, did it go as you expected? It’s had its teething problems as anybody would have expected, but I don’t think it’s had any more than I expected to have. Despite a few little areas that needed improvement the cars have been great – they’re rock solid. I’d like a bit extra performance, but I think it’s achieved its goal of having a good steady level playing field with reliable cars. The events have been great. I said at the start of the season, one of the main reasons I came to do this championship was because of the rallies that had been chosen, they’re cracking events. We’ve been well looked after, we’ve all been on the TV, we’ve had good PR – what more do you want? It’s going to get bigger and better over the next few years and it’s definitely the championship to be in.

Best rally this season? I would say the Severn Valley has been the best rally this season because we led it pretty much from start to finish. We were a couple of seconds off on the first stage and then once we took the lead we could drive at a pace we felt comfortable and we kept on setting fastest times. It didn’t seem like we were putting anything at risk, so it was a good, confident display. I was happy, I hadn’t been there before so I was learning the stages as well and the times were just coming good.

Worst rally this season? Probably two identical moments on different rallies. On the second stage of the Pirelli Rally, on the way we were lying second or third after the first one and I said to Rich, ‘this rally’s here to be won’, then halfway through the stage we were stood at the sidelines with a broken bottom ball joint after a silly bit of tree stump on the inside of the corner. Then the same thing happened on the Jim Clark – we were lying second or third and on the second stage we broke a ball joint. It’s really depressing when you put all that time and effort in to a rally and to have it end on stage two is just horrible – both of those rallies were very depressing.