J-ML:
I really hope to finish in the top three - as I said - and I really hope I can fight for the victory as well.
Crash.net:
After Finland, the WRC goes to Germany. Germany is one of three asphalt events in the second half of the year. How are you and Ford feeling about those tarmac rounds, which
Sebastien Loeb and
Citroen tend to excel on?
J-ML:
My start to the season in Monte Carlo on the tarmac wasn't so good. But I will get two days of testing on asphalt before the Rallye Deutschland and I feel alright. I know as a tarmac driver I am not on the same level as Sebastien [Loeb] and Dani [Sordo]. If I can finish in the top five though, I will be very happy.
Crash.net:
Looking back on the first half of the season, how much will that experience help you in the remaining seven events?
J-ML:
Of course it will help because we have had some good results and lots of kilometres. We have done a lot of testing too. It is easier then to prepare for the second half of the season. The last rally in Turkey went really well and that has taken a bit of pressure off me. I feel comfortable going into the second half of the season. There are some very nice gravel events coming up.
Crash.net:
We saw Ford use some clever tactics in Turkey. The response from the fans was mixed. Will you and Ford do that again?
J-ML:
I think if there is a chance to use tactics everybody will. We have been in that situation and we have used them. I don't want to say what is right or wrong. But as long as the possibility is there everybody will use it and so we might see tactics again during the second half of the year. But if we don't want them, then we need to change the regulations.
Crash.net:
Your team-mate
Mikko Hirvonen leads the drivers' championship at the moment. Are you going to try and help him win the drivers' title?
J-ML:
I still want to fight for wins in the second half of the season. But of course, if Mikko gets closer to winning the title and beating Sebastien, I will try to help him. Let's see what happens and what the situation is at the end of the season. If he is close to winning the drivers' title then I will try and help.
Crash.net:
How tough a rival is Sebastien Loeb?
J-ML:
He is a four-time world champion. He doesn't make many mistakes and he is very consistent. Also he is very clever. He is a very, very clever driver. He doesn't push or risk too much unless he knows it is worth it. He thinks about the championship and knows it is not always about speed. Speed is not the only thing that makes you world champion. You need to think about the whole picture and that strategy works really well for Sebastien. That is why he is a really tough driver to beat.
