Q:
I hear that between events you have become a Tarmac specialist, but not in the rally sense. What have you been up to?
P-GA:
Yes (smiling), I have been laying Tarmac on the roads in the streets. It is something between the rallies to enable me to get used to the heat.
Q:
Since his first win in Sweden, your team-mate
Jari-Matti Latvala has proved to be a worthy match, out-pacing you in Sweden and Mexico. How has that felt for you and has it put pressure on you to up your game?
Mikko Hirvonen:
No, he is just insane! He is flat-out in every corner. When he has the right line, he is very fast. He is going to be very tough to beat all year.
Q:
You are not first on the road here; how much will that benefit you and will we see an opening stage time like the one in Argentina?
MH:
We are looking to the rally here. I did not know that I would be as fast in Argentina. It felt really bad in the stage. We were sliding all the time in the corners and in the wrong direction. It was a good stage. It was better for me in Argentina. It does not make a big difference; the road will be cleaned and we will try and go flat-out.
Q:
What were your thoughts on the shakedown?
MH:
We had no problems at shakedown. I need to get used to the roads. The stages here are very technical. You need to be careful and precise. There are fast corners over crests and, if you do not see the line over the crests, you will hit a stone. It is going to be tricky and very hard for the tyres and the cars. The tyres are so hard now, that there will be no bite and they will be spinning on the top (surface). Maybe wear on the tyres will be more than normal.
Q:
It’s your first time in Jordan and you come here in the lead of the Championship. What did you think of the stages on the recce and do you think it will be a level playing field on this event?
Sebastien Loeb:
It’s not the worst rally to clean the stages, but it is not an advantage to be in the front. There is not too much gravel on the roads. I hope I start well. Then we will see. Maybe the cars far behind will have an advantage. But the second time around will be no problem.
Q:
The final day is the longest day competitively, which is unusual. Will that mean you don’t have to push so hard on the opening day? Will it lead to tactical driving in order not to be first on the road on the final day?
