“I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the Focus RS WRC 06. It’s a sensational rally car, just amazing,” said Matt. “The only thing which isn’t ideal is the shakedown stage [on Wednesday] – it’s at Gloucester Park this year, which is a trotting track and absolutely nothing like the stages we’ll encounter for the rest of the event.”
Although Wilson has never competed in Australia before, he knows that the main thing he will have to avoid is running first on the road on days two and three. As such he will have to go reasonably quick from the off on Friday if he is to avoid the 'road sweeper role'.
“This is a rally everybody knows about. And the thing they all seem to know about is the road surface. It’s among the hardest to drive in the championship, particularly if you’re first on the road,” he continued. “The trouble with being first on the road is that there are no braking marks from anyone ahead of you. If there’s a particularly tricky corner, maybe one which tightens up a bit more than expected, then you’re going to be the one to find it. So, okay, we know about that and I’m going to have to go that bit harder on leg one to try and avoid being first on Saturday and Sunday.”
Luis Perez Companc meanwhile will drive the number two car and like Wilson Jr he is relishing the chance to again use the new 2006-specification Focus: “This is going to be all new to me as I’ve never done Rally Australia before. I have seen pictures of the stages, so I understand a little bit about what to expect – but not too much,” he stated. “The one thing I do know a little bit about this week, is the car. I drove the Focus RS WRC 06 for the first time on Rally Japan at the start of September and absolutely loved it. The old Focus really wasn’t a bad car, but the new one is better. It gives you so much confidence and power from the drivers’ seat.”
Red Bull Skoda:
[Harri Rovanpera, car #11 and Andreas Aigner, car #12]
The Red Bull Skoda tean will miss this event, as it is not one of their ten nominated rounds - their next and final event will be the Wales Rally GB, when Harri Rovanpera and Andreas Aigner will return to the fold in their Fabia WRC cars.
Production Car WRC:
In the Production Car World Rally Championship category, 13 drivers will be eligible to score points’ in Australia - however, current PCWRC points’ leader, Nasser Al-Attiyah will not be in action, as it is not one of his nominated events. Al-Attiyah could therefore lose the lead, if Fumio Nutahara wins, something that would put the Japanese driver two points in front.
