Drivers / co-drivers: Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen (
BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT), Dani Sordo and Marc Marti, (
Citroen Total WRT) and
Chris Atkinson and Stephane Prevot (
Subaru WRT).
Team principal: Malcolm Wilson (BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT).
Press conference.
Q:
Mikko, congratulations for your first win of the season and re-taking the lead in the Championship. Is there a sense of relief now that you have that first win of the year under your belt?
Mikko Hirvonen:
Yes, kind of. We had a quite good start position in Monte-Carlo and Sweden. In Argentina I lost valuable points, but I am happy to be here and be able to take the 10 points.
Q:
It's the first time this season we have seen road position tactics come into play. Was that the team's strategy from the start?
MH:
Yes we had a plan after the recce and after we saw the Sunday stages. We knew that we did not want to be first on the road. We had some tactics. Seb (Loeb) did some very good times and may have upset the strategy but then he had his accident and it looked like we could try again. It worked out. To be honest I did not gain so much. Dani did some very good times this morning. It was not as good as we thought. Before the long stage the splits would not come through and he was really pushing. I was sliding all over the place.
Q:
You had a bit of a scare on Friday; did you drive more cautiously after that?
MH:
Not today. We were sliding a little all over the place. We were not out of control like Friday. I lost confidence a little after the big moment in that place on Friday, especially on all the corners and crests after that.
Q:
From a competitor point of view, do you find it more exciting with the final day being the longest – is it more of a challenge?
MH:
I try to be realistic always. We need to work on some more speed. We are close to being very competitive, but there are some small things we need to change.
