Crash.net:
Sweden is next up, how much are you looking forward to it?
CA:
It should be great. As long as the conditions are good it is an awesome event to compete on for the drivers. It is really, really sweet. It is massive fun and if everything is working well it is hard to have much more fun in a car.
Crash.net:
Obviously coming from Australia I can't imagine you have that much experience on snow. How different is it driving on snow compared to gravel and tarmac?
CA:
It is obviously a bit more aggressive and you have to be a bit more committed to the corners. On the other surfaces it pays off to be neat, whereas on snow it doesn't hurt to bang on the tyres and spin them quite forcefully to try and bite down into the ice. You can drive really on it and use the snowbanks and push hard. For a driver it opens up more exploration in terms of driving technique.
Crash.net:
Is the Swedish Rally an event you like?
CA:
Yeah, it is probably one of my favourites on the calendar. When the snow is good it is amazing.
Crash.net:
You took your best finish in Sweden last year when you were eighth, where are you aiming to finish this time out?
CA:
We actually made a mistake in '07. I was in fifth and with two stages to go I was in a big fight and made an error and dropped back. Definitely top five is a possibility going on last year then and that is what we are aiming for again. If we can just get some more good points, that will be the main thing. Third in Monte Carlo was great, but we can't expect that all the time. The aim will be the same as Monte Carlo - to go there targeting a top five and try to set top five times consistently and then see where we are after that.
Crash.net:
How much of a difference will the new tyre rules make in Sweden?
CA:
I don't think it will be such a big difference. Obviously there is always the risk of punctures now, especially if the roads don't have much snow on them and the gravel is coming through and it is rough. But if the conditions are good it should be fine. It is the same for everyone and I don't think there is that much difference between the new snow tyres and the old ones. It should be pretty similar to before.
Crash.net:
How did you get on with the new Pirelli tyres on the Monte?
