Sarrazin asks Subaru for gravel chance.

by Rob Wilkins

Subaru's tarmac ace, Stephane Sarrazin has revealed that he is hoping to do at least one-gravel round with the Subaru World Rally team this season, despite the fact his programme is only scheduled to include the four asphalt events.

Thus far this season, he has done three of his four events and his final appearance in the FIA World Rally Championship is coming up next month, when he takes in the Rallye Deutschland. Speaking exclusively to Crash.net Radio though, while in Cyprus to promote the Cyprus Automobile Association's campaign to raise awareness of road safety issues, he confirmed that he is pushing the team to do an event on the 'loose'.

"I don't know normally, yes," he replied, when asked if Germany will be his final outing this year in the WRC. "My programme is only for the tarmac rallies this season. But I hope to do a gravel rally at the end of year.

"I try to push the team to the maximum to give me more chances in the WRC. I need to improve on gravel. I did a few rallies last year on gravel and so I want to prove I can be fast also on gravel, so I hope [I can do another event]."

Sarrazin joined the SWRT in 2005, after winning the French Rally championship in 2004 and impressing on his first three outings in the WRC in a privately entered Impreza, which included a fourth place finish on the Rallye Catalunya. However while he took in eight events last season, this year his programme has been reduced.

"Last year I did eight rallies and I am doing only tarmac this year. That was a bit disappointing but that is the way it is," he added. "I am fast on tarmac and I can fight with the top guys and the team knows this. But on gravel I need to learn. So I am pushing a lot to have gravel in my programme. I am also racing with Aston Martin this year [in the ALMS] so I am very busy. But my target really, my first target, is to improve on gravel."

As for 2007, Sarrazin is keen to remain with the Banbury-based squad, especially as the WRC will now include an extra asphalt event, following the addition of Ireland to the schedule, something that was confirmed by the FIA last week.

"The addition of Ireland is perfect. It is very good because it is five rallies now on tarmac - so it is one more chance for me. Five rallies in 16 is quite a good percentage. I am very happy - it is good calendar for me. I want to prove I can be on podium so I hope to stay with the team next year.

"I know everybody in the team and I know the car very well and I am sure we can do very well in the future," he concluded.