Drivers / co-drivers: Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena (Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT),
Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen Motorsport), Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio (Abu Dhabi
Citroen Total WRT).
Team principal: Yves Matton (Citroen Total Abu Dhabi WRT).
Press conference.
Q:
Sebastien, congratulations on winning Rallye Monte-Carlo for the seventh time and in dominant fashion. Was it one of the toughest 'Monte's' with the weather conditions this year?
Sebastien Loeb:
Yes, it was a really difficult rally this year. We had wet, dry, snow, ice and already yesterday evening some melting snow – it was really tricky. The first [thing] was to go to the end and finally we were there. For sure, it was really difficult and I am really happy to be at the end.
Q:
You said Turini was undriveable. How difficult was it?
Sebastien Loeb:
It was not fun. I like to drive and we have done some great stages like St Jean en Royan, which was 20 kilometres in good snow and now that was really enjoyable to drive. Yesterday evening, the only thing was that I could lose everything at every corner. I was driving really slowly in the stage. I was looking in the mirror to see if Seb [Ogier] is coming behind – I was so slow. I didn't know what I was doing.
Q:
What other great stages were there?
Sebastien Loeb:
A lot of good stages, full of snow – something we didn't have in Monte-Carlo in a few years. For me this was the first Monte-Carlo like that and St Bonnet was incredible, really slippery. For this you have to be really perfect in your driving and I enjoyed that.
Q:
Is there a sad feeling that this could be your last Rallye Monte-Carlo?
Sebastien Loeb:
No, it's a good feeling to win this one. For the rest, I don't think to it. I have new projects in the future, but I am really happy to win – this is the toughest one I have won.
Q:
Daniel, your seventh win and maybe the last at the Rallye Monte-Carlo, your home event. How do you feel?
Daniel Elena:
I'm sure I start next year and I try to win driving myself! I am very happy to have this victory, especially standing on the podium and listening to the national anthem. For me, this is a good emotion.
Q:
What's the most difficult aspect of this event?
Daniel Elena:
It's the question of the pace notes. Each corner we have to read the corner and the correction and it's very difficult. But it was so slow – so we have time to read! There is a lot of pressure on road sections to make all the corrections. When we started the last loop on Turini, I finished the last correction at the Time Control. In these conditions, it's very hard for the co-driver.
Q:
Sebastien, the first time we see the Polo R WRC in competition and we see fastest stage times and a podium. Did you imagine the result could have been so good?
Sebastien Ogier: