Q&A: Harri Rovanpera - EXCLUSIVE.

by Rob Wilkins.

Former Peugeot and Mitsubishi works driver, Harri Rovanpera was thrown a lifeline by the Red Bull Skoda team earlier this year, when the Austrian-based squad confirmed the Finn as their second driver alongside Andreas Aigner. Here speaking exclusively to Crash.net Radio Rovanpera talks about his three-events to date and what needs to be done to improve the Fabia WRC...

Q:
Harri you had to sit out the early part of the season, but managed to conclude a seven-event deal with Red Bull Skoda back at the end of March. You have done three-events since then and I think it is fair to say the results haven't been quite what you would have wanted?

Harri Rovanpera:
It is not very good and of course the results we expected were completely different, but that is not coming yet. As you say everything is going wrong but now is the time to really work with the car and then we try, try again after the holiday break.

Q:
What has been the problem with the Fabia WRC?

HR:
Could be there is many, many small things. We need to work on the engine side, dampers and suspension. With my car the steering is also not so good for me. So many small things together means it is very slow and the handling is not so good at all.

Q:
How are you finding being part of the Red Bull Skoda set-up in general?

HR:
The Red Bull team is OK. There is no problem and that is OK, but with the car side we need work.

Q:
How does the team compare to Mitsubishi?

HR:
It is of course always different. If you have a smaller team you do not have the same money and possibilities to work with car and that is always a little bit tough. But we try anyway.

Q:
I know drivers don't like to compare cars much but how does the Fabia compare to the Lancer you drove in 2005?

HR:
I do not compare cars - every car is different. But at the moment comparing, it is impossible to compare. You can only do it with the results and that means we need to work on it.

Q:
Your team-mate is WRC new-comer, Andreas Aigner. How are you getting on with him? Are you playing a mentor role?

HR:
No. He is OK. He is a young boy and I am sure he can have a good career. He is just beginning with a World Rally car and next year you will see what happens [with him].

Q:
Staying with new comers to the sport, what have you made of Daniel Sordo's performances since stepping up from the Junior WRC?

HR:
Sordo he is going very well - and on the gravel also it is nice to see how quickly he is coming up. OK he has one of the best cars also, but on the driver side he is very, very good - very confident and he looks very neat.

Q:
Realistically what targets do you have for the remainder of the season?

HR:
We will see how our test sessions go this summer and after that we will see if we can do something. Of course we need some results, but everybody always needs a result and also it is not interesting if you are not fighting.

Q:
What event are you doing next? Are you going to Germany?

HR:
Could be no. But we will see - first I like to see how everything is going on the car side. I am waiting for when we test, which will hopefully be quite soon either next week or the week after. After that I will have an idea of what we can do.

Q:
So to summarise basically whether or not you compete in Germany will depend on how testing goes. Is that right?

HR:
That is one thing, but also for Germany there is some idea for the team to use a German driver. Whatever happens that is OK for me. I really want to work with the car at the moment and then after that do the rallies. That is the more important thing not going to rallies if everything is not right.

Q:
That's great Harri - thanks for your time.