Crash.net:
Any idea what you might do in 2008?
GE:
Not really. I am just keeping an open mind on that. If a deal came together to drive something competitive with a competitive team I think it would be very difficult to say no. But if that doesn’t happen I might, might, might just about not do much more.
Crash.net:
Is it getting to the stage now then when you are thinking you might take a seat-back and help your son, who is of course just starting to compete?
GE:
Yeah for sure, I do help him behind the scenes but I still enjoy being behind the wheel myself. Also when you can still mix it with Mark Higgins and Guy Wilks I think that has been the ‘problem’ this year. If I was miles behind them it would be quite easy to finish and stop competing. I am not saying the championship is over, but I could have won the championship this year. I am certainly that competitive. It has given me a new lease of life if you like.
Crash.net:
The Ulster Rally was very close wasn’t it - it was just that mistake on day 2 in the second stage which cost you. Other than that it was pretty nip and tuck between you and Mark Higgins all the way.
GE:
Absolutely, I was 11 seconds in front of Mark and then I hit a bank and he gained 35 seconds. In the end he won by 46 seconds and so he took eleven seconds off me in eight or nine stages - it was all very, very close. Fair play to Mark though he drove well on that rally and got the win. But I really needed the points as well and second was a good result for us.
Crash.net:
Your son, Elfyn, has been competing in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK series this season. Have you been pleased with his progress?
GE:
I am a bit surprised to be honest. Yes he has performed well and yes he did a bad mistake on the Pirelli Rally, which cost me a lot of money, but on the whole his progress has been progressively very steady. He has come along in leaps and bounds and he has certainly done enough. I promised him two years of support if he behaved this year basically and performed reasonably and he is certainly doing that. Now the fastest times are beginning to come from him and he is showing that he has improved immensely this year. We didn’t think for one minute he would do this well so soon when we started in the championship. We thought if he could nip into the top five in times by the end of the season that would be good enough. Now he is lying third I think in the championship and it has been a good season for him. If we can put the budget together we will probably do the same next year too. But I can’t keep doing it forever. I do think though that the championship is good enough and competitive enough to know if you can win that comprehensively then you are good enough to go on in the sport – and if you can’t, maybe you don’t quite have what it takes. Next year will be very interesting, but certainly I won’t be holding him back next year. I have held him back this year because I am desperate for him to do the mileage and get the experience.
Crash.net:
Do you still follow the WRC?
GE:
Yeah I still follow it. It is mainly through watching on the TV though like most of us. The pace is amazing and just watching the way the cars work and perform it is remarkable how much the suspension and the tyres have come on. That is the biggest shock to me. Obviously Sebastien [Loeb] and Marcus [Gronholm] are quite clearly a cut above the rest. They are really in a league of there own because every rally they are up there leading and there is not a lot to choose between them, which is great. Who is going to take there place afterwards, certainly with Marcus retiring, I am not sure - but for certain Sebastien is still going to be there.
Crash.net:
Do you think Mikko Hirvonen can step up and lead the BP Ford WRT team?
