Burkart is also optimistic: “I’ve got more experience on asphalt than on gravel, through rallies I’ve competed on back home in Germany. I’ve done some tests with my C2 Super 1600 since the Rallye Deutschland, which has allowed me to develop my car’s capabilities.
“Nonetheless, I know very little about this particular rally, but we’re still going to do everything we can to score points. There are two asphalt rounds left and neither Patrik Sandell nor Jaan Molder are down to score in Corsica – so I hope to be in the top four of the championship at the end of the year. This of course means that we can’t afford any mistakes in Spain.”
In total, 20 drivers’ will be able to score JRC points in Spain. JRC regulars Manuel Rueda, #41 and Aigar Pars, #42 will skip this event as it is not one of their six nominated rounds.
Other significant entries:
Around 84 crews are due to start.
All the manufacturer teams will attend the Rally Catalunya and in total there will be 24 drivers at the wheel of World Rally Cars.
In addition to the usual ‘works’ names, Jan Kopecky will be in action in his privately entered Skoda, while Gareth Jones and Andreas Mikkelsen will both compete in Fords.
Mikkelsen can’t wait for his fourth WRC event of the season: “I’ve driven a lot of asphalt rallies in Ireland and Britain so I’m feeling kind of comfortable about Catalunya and really excited to get back behind the wheel.
“I must admit I haven’t been to Rally Catalunya before even as a spectator, so the recce, shakedown and every stage of the route will be treated as a learning experience for me.
“Our only goal apart from learning and getting some more miles - is to get to the end. We won’t be thinking too much about stage times as we’ve had incidents in the last couple of events so this time it’s just important to take it nice and steady and finish the rally.”
