Q:
Congratulations Mikko, an incredible charge from you today, especially on the first stage, and a great battle with your team-mate Jari-Matti as you were equal second at the start of the day - but was your primary objective to try to catch Loeb?
Mikko Hirvonen:
Well, it's difficult to tell because we thought the gap to Seb was going to be too big and the main thing for us was to fight with Jari-Matti and keep him behind us. Then on the first stage today we went very well and got a bit excited about whether we might catch Seb. But on the second stage I made a little mistake and went off a bit so I thought I'd better slow down a bit or I'm not going to finish this rally.
Q:
You have a great fighting spirit, and were still determined after the second service to keep pushing - when did you realise that you couldn't quite catch Loeb?
MH:
We got some split times on the first stage after service this morning and we were flat out until about halfway through the stage. Then we eased off a bit.
Q:
Jari-Matti was putting the pressure on you this afternoon also, so you were not only watching the driver in front but looking over your shoulder too - was it quite a pressured afternoon?
MH:
Jari-Matti is always going very fast and yes, he has been flat out all the weekend so it has been a big, big pressure on us and a big stress.
Q:
You still lead the Championship and that means first on the road for the Acropolis Rally…
MH:
For sure I need to improve my first day times a lot when I am first on the road, and I am working on that. Hopefully I can learn to drive the first day like Seb and Marcus (Grönholm) did last year, but Greece will be very difficult.
Q:
We have seen you in battles with Jari-Matti before, what is it like being in a fight within your own team?
Jarmo Lehtinen:
It is always a very enjoyable battle but for sure it always seems easier when you are behind and trying to catch up.
Q:
Another fantastic performance Jari-Matti. You led after the first stage before you picked up a puncture - it could have been a win here for you if it wasn't for that…
