MH:
There is some testing still to do and then with being away so much, I just want to try and relax and spend some time with my family and friends back in Finland. I just want to calm down and relax over Christmas.
Crash.net:
Do you think you can challenge for the title in 2008 and beat Sebastien Loeb?
MH:
I will definitely go for it - but I think in the last four seasons everybody has seen how difficult it is to beat Sebastien. I am looking forward to it however and if I have a perfect season I think I have a chance. Of course though, it needs to be absolutely spot-on - every rally. It is going to be a difficult challenge but I will try.
Crash.net:
The new season will start at the end of January with the Rallye Monte Carlo. What can you do there?
MH:
It is a long rally - we have four days of rallying and it is going to be the first rally with new tyres, with Pirelli. The whole tyre construction is going to be completely new in 2008 as well. I think on the tarmac the new tyres are going to make a bigger difference than on snow or gravel. We will have to see if that changes anything, but
Citroen are always very strong in Monte Carlo. Hopefully I can be close and get as many points as possible from there and then in Sweden I will go after the win.
Crash.net:
I guess with no-run flat mousse all the drivers' though will have to take it that bit more cautiously?
MH:
I think on asphalt maybe a little bit, but everybody is saying they are going to make the tyres stronger anyway. At the moment, all the testing we are doing, we don’t have any mousse - and even with the previous tyres you could really go over big stones and they are actually pretty strong. So on tarmac maybe - but we have to do some testing first before we know for sure.
Crash.net:
Thanks for your time Mikko and good luck in 2008.
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH MIKKO HIRVONEN: CLICK HERE
