by Rob Wilkins
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH HOWARD DAVIES: CLICK HERE
Howard Davies, who co-drove Gwyndaf Evans to the BRC title in 1996, was at the 2008 Rallyday in the UK last month.
Crash.net Radio spoke to him there and got his thoughts on the World Rally Championship
prior to the start of last weekend's Rally Catalunya. Here he talks about
Mikko Hirvonen's chances of still taking the 2008 title, why he doesn't like the tactics seen this season in the WRC and why he thinks it would be bad if Marcus Gronholm comes out of retirement...
Crash.net:
Howard, this is the eighth Rallyday and the event seems to be going from strength-to-strength.
Howard Davies:
It is fantastic. The most important thing is that they have been blessed with good weather. But I was just in the tower watching some of the action and the guys seem to be enjoying themselves. It is a great opportunity for people to come - all kinds of enthusiasts and competitors. Whether you just want to come and try your car on the track or whether you want to bring your sponsors and give them a run. It is a good day out and it is pretty unique. They have got the big names here and a lot of club people too. It is just a real cross section of motor enthusiasts. It is brilliant and I think Brian [Stubbings] and Darin [Frow – Rallyday co-organisers] do a great job.
Crash.net:
How important are events like this?
HD:
It is very important to showcase our sport the best we can. In all honesty unless you come here or go to GB or Ireland you don't have the opportunity to see any World championship teams. Mikko [Hirvonen] is here today and this is a great way for people to meet him and see his Focus close up. On events they are so condensed now that people don't seem to have the time to spend with the fans. Yet on events like this you can go over there and have a chat and have a good look around. There is no panic, no rush and there is no fixed timetable really. Everybody can just get on and enjoy themselves. It is great and nice to be here and see like minded people.
Crash.net:
Looking at the WRC, do you think Mikko Hirvonen can still win the drivers' title this year?
HD:
He needs a bit of luck on his side now. The next two tarmac rallies are going to be difficult for him and if the luck goes his way he might still be able to do it. But I think he has got a bit of an uphill struggle. Sebastien [Loeb] is just brilliant and he goes well on the tarmac and so does the car. It is difficult but it is possible. Anything is possible in this sport and I don't think there is anyone better than Mikko to take the fight to him. He has done extremely well this year and it would have been so easy for him to get demoralised in Finland and New Zealand. But he hasn't. He has got out there and he has come back fighting. That is what is great about Mikko. He is a real fighter.
Crash.net:
Sebastien Loeb is, as you say, almost in a class of his own. He is very much the '
Michael Schumacher' of the WRC isn't he?
HD:
Yeah and it was interesting to see the team tactics coming into play on the Rally New Zealand and how disgruntled Loeb was at playing them. It is not his style. He wants to go out and win with raw speed. Emotionally it seems to affect him. It doesn't seem to bother Mikko - it is just part of the job. But for Loeb - people hold him in real high esteem - and he just didn't want that s**t and hassle. It is interesting to see how these guys react completely differently to these scenarios.
