Crash.net:
Coming up we have the back-to-back asphalt events in Spain and France. What is the target for those events?
MG:
Those two are going to be strong rallies for Sebastien and I need to really do as well as I can. It is possible to beat him in one of these rallies – that would be fantastic. But otherwise I need to finish second.
Crash.net:
Loeb has often led the way on asphalt in recent years, how difficult does that make things for you, in light of the fact that three out of the five remaining events are on tarmac?
MG:
It is true, but I don’t want to think so much about it. I will do my best and if it is possible to win I will try and do it. Ireland is a new rally – it is a tarmac, slippery one. Let’s see – it could be a different story there.
Crash.net:
You did the Galway International Rally back in February in Ireland, while
Mikko Hirvonen is going to do the Cork Rally at the end of this month. How important is all that running for the inaugural Rally Ireland?
MG:
Of course it is important preparation and now Mikko is doing the Cork Rally we can get some extra information from that. It is good.
Crash.net:
Do you think Mikko Hirvonen is ready to step up and lead the
BP Ford World Rally Team in 2008?
MG:
He has done some really good rallies this season - but he needs to step up a little bit more to really fight with Seb. I cannot say how it will be next year.
Crash.net:
If you were Ford boss Malcolm Wilson who would you be considering to partner Mikko in 2008?
MG:
[laughs] I don’t know exactly. OK, Jari-Matti has definitely had the speed and maybe he can use a different driver as well in the second car. I don’t know what he is thinking.
Crash.net:
Would it be too soon to promote
Jari-Matti Latvala from what is effectively the Ford ‘B’ team?
