TM:
He is a good driver and he has come on immensely well this year. I think Marcus has helped him quite a lot. He has put in some good performances and if he got the position of being the number one driver he would probably raise his game a little bit. It is a difficult though and I have to say on the results and on the times this year, Gronholm and Loeb have been a step above everybody else. But yes, I think he could carry the team.
Crash.net:
Who do you think Ford are considering to replace Gronholm?
TM:
I don't know - all I have done is read the odd motoring ‘paper, which might suggest one or two names. My own view is that it is a pity
Markko Martin retired and had the crash when Michael Park was sadly killed a couple of years ago. Markko more or less retired after that, but he hasn't fully retired. He is still interested in the sport and still doing things. I was with him at Goodwood and I think he would like to come back into motorsport. He was a very fast driver - and a future world champion. He is still not too old by a long way and I'd like to see him back in the team.
Crash.net:
Subaru have had a tough year again and
Petter Solberg has once again not had the car to match the top two…
TM:
No he hasn't - but he would admit that. He is very, very down and fairly low about it. He and Philip Mills, his co-driver, who I was talking to last night, basically they are very loyal to
Subaru, but the car been outpaced a bit this year. They have got a new car coming next year and that will be fantastic obviously. I can't understand why they should be so late in getting up there with the other two, the other major manufacturers' though. But they will get there I am sure and it will be next year. I feel a bit sorry for Petter because he really hasn't got the machinery at the moment. It is amazing how things move on so fast in rallying isn't it?
Crash.net:
Suzuki will step up next year with the SX4 WRC – that is obviously a boost for the sport. How do you think they will get on?
TM:
In there first year they will obviously have a few problems here and there - and a few struggles and so on. They probably won't win an event, but very few people win on their first involvement at that level and in world sport. We will see. But as you say another manufacturer is a great thing.
Crash.net:
The calendar is going to be slashed from 16 events to 12 from 2009. Do you think that is the right way forward?
TM:
Not necessarily I don't and swapping events and doing all this kind of thing – no not really. I think it is nice to have a proper championship with 16 events but I suppose they are trying to reduce the actual expenses for manufacturers in flying cars around the world. I don't think it should be watered down though or made any easier. It should stay at 16 events. I am not into the politics of it however and I do know they make lots of mistakes in these kinds of things and regret it. But this business of taking events out and putting them in a year later and swapping them and dropping them and all that - it just makes it confusing. It should be nice and simple. The general public should know there are 12 rallies and they are in every continent in the world and that is the world championship.
Crash.net:
It is quite close in the BRC too, a three-way fight between Guy Wilks, Mark Higgins and Gwyndaf Evans. How do you see things developing in the last two events?
TM:
I am not sure what Mark will be driving on the final round - the Wales Rally GB at the end of the year. He has been driving in the Irish Tarmac Championship and the PWRC and swapping cars and he has been in the wrong car on occasion. I don't know. I'd like to see Mark win and take his fourth BRC title – then he would equal Roger Clark's four BRC wins and be one behind Jimmy McRae. I'd like to see Mark win but I know all of those drivers' and they are all good lads. As you say it is a great - another battle and you have got another good championship. You have got
Formula 1 - that is going to be decided right at the end and you have also got the two main rally championships, the World and the British.
