Drivers / co-driver: Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena (
Citroen Total WRT),
Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen (
BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT),
Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Antilla (BP Ford Abu Dhabi WRT).
Team principal: Olivier Quesnel (Citroen Total WRT).
Press conference.
Q:
Sébastien, congratulations. It's been an epic battle here in Sardinia; you picked up the lead from stage 2 after Jari-Matti dropped down the standings with a puncture. How tough has the fight been with Jari-Matti and Mikko throughout the weekend?
Sebastien Loeb:
For sure it was really difficult. We had a good start on Friday and a good lead in the evening but on the second day Jari-Matti and Mikko were very fast and I could see my lead going down and down. All I could to is push to the maximum and hope it was enough.
Q:
This morning Mikko took 10 seconds out of you on the opening stage. Were you on the limit on that stage?
SL:
Well, I drove well and made no mistakes and was pushing hard so I don't really know how he took all that time. I couldn't think about the win before the first service today. But if I had no problems after that I thought it should be okay. The victory is enjoyable but the rally was not so much fun because when you are first on the road you try your hardest and then see everyone else going faster.
Q:
In comparison to other years in the Championship how is this year shaping up so far with regard to competition - is it tougher or not?
SL:
Well, people said it would be easy for me to win the Championship this year but it is never easy to win these rallies and the fight is always hard for me. I wouldn't like to say if it is easier or harder than last year, but it is exciting, for sure.
Q:
A fantastic battle on the final day Daniel, how confident were you and Sébastien that you could stay in front?
Daniel Elena:
I was not confident at all because it was a very big fight. When you go first on the road and push 110 per cent, then you see Jari-Matti taking 10 seconds from you on each stage, it is not easy. It was only on stage 16 that we thought we might win because Seb was very fast on that stage and won back some time.
