Crash.net:
An idea what will be your next event in the WRC?
GW:
To be honest we don't know. We are trying to get out in Ireland but budget as always, with everybody, is becoming the deciding factor. We are working damn hard to try and get more budget and we will have to see what happens. It is not only that either – it is a case of being able to get a car as well. We want to try and do it in a good car - a more modern one and try and take that power disadvantage away and see what we can do. We are working on it.
Crash.net:
What about for 2008 – how are things looking for next year?
GW:
It is not a case of how things are looking. We are working damn hard between myself - and Rob Gill. Not many people know of him but he is a bit of an unsung hero. He is very passionate about rallying and he has helped me out massively over the last two years and I am very thankful for that. We are working desperately hard for next year to try and get something. It is as simple as that.
Crash.net:
This year you have been doing the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship as well. That has probably been a bit more positive for you, although it has been up and down too.
GW:
It has been up and down, but there is one thing for sure, our pace is definitely good and we can win with our pace. We know it is winning pace. On the first rally, the Pirelli, we won every stage, bar three, when we had a problem with third gear - basically we lost it. It has been fantastic. We are very grateful to Mitsubishi. They approached me in January and by the time it came round to March we had sorted something out. It is good mileage and I am trying to do a good job for them as well. They are desperate to win the manufacturers' in the British championship and I am desperate to win a championship as well. We have all got the same goals and we are working very hard towards it. We had fantastic wins on the Pirelli and on the Manx. I made a mistake on the
Jim Clark and we had some problems on the Ulster. The pressure is definitely on us and on the team to perform from now until the end of the year. We have the Trackrod coming up and a win is the only thing that will do really.
Crash.net:
How have preparations been going for the Trackrod because you have been testing recently haven't you?
GW:
We did two days testing and we also did corporate work. Mitsubishi was very good. There were some competition winners, who won chances to have a go in the car on a test - and also some dealers there, which lets be fair, that is why we are here, we are trying to sell cars. They invited some dealers down, which was a very brave move to do. But that is how confident the team and Mitsubishi are about the product. They let those guys come down and watch and see what goes on. As the majority of people know who have been involved in rallying, they know on a test anything can happen. But they took the brave move and I think it paid off marvellously.
Crash.net:
Obviously the Trackrod coming up is a one-day event, after that the BRC concludes on the Wales Rally GB, which is a three-day rally and a double points scoring round. Will that affect your approach?
GW:
No, we are not really concentrating on Rally GB. We are taking it one at a time and that is what we have done all year. We are trying not to get ahead of ourselves. We have got to win the Trackrod and I think we have got to do it more by managing our speed as opposed to going out and trying to win it by a minute. We have got to be clever and just do enough and make sure we get those points in the bag and put the pressure back on everybody else. It is a bit of a level playing field at the moment, but we need to turn it in our favour before we go to Wales.
Crash.net:
Speed wise the Lancer seems to have had the legs over the Imprezas this season in the BRC, but the reliability seems to have been a bit of a problem doesn't it?
