Rally Finland Press Conference

Rally Finland - Conference 1

29/07/2010

Pre-event Press Conference

Thursday 29 July

Present:

Sébastien Ogier, Citroën Total World Rally Team

Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total World Rally Team

Mikko Hirvonen, BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team

Kimi Räikkönen, Citroen Junior Team

Jari Ketomaa, FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship

Patrik Flodin, FIA Production Car World Rally Championship

Q: Kimi, your pace on the tarmac of Bulgaria was impressive; accident aside were you pleased with your pace there?

KR: It should be a little more easy on tarmac, but then we end up upside down in the ditch. At least we can come back and we got a lot of kilometres. Speed-wise, it was pretty okay, apart from the accident.

Q: You never had the chance to compete in F1 at home but now you do in rally – what’s it like to come home and compete?

KR: Of course it’s nice to come and see the fans. And, of course, the organisation of this rally is very good and so is the driving. It’s no different from any other rallies, but things outside of the rally are definitely easier: we don’t have to travel so far. It’s great to be here, this is a great rally and the weather seems to be good at the moment

Q: You competed here last year but in an S2000 car – have you started from scratch with the notes for this time around in a WRC car?

KR: I know the roads a little bit, but most of them are okay and that helps a little. The roads are fast and it will be faster than S2000, we will try and drive our own rally. We have used the basic [notes] from last year and changed them, it was bit easier. I have driven most of the roads [before] and that definitely helps to know the road a little – hopefully that will make this event a little bit easier.

Q: Kimi, two Citroën drivers have confirmed for next season, is there any news from you?

KR: No, not yet. We have some decisions to make and I haven’t done that yet.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR:

Esteban Delgado

Delgado Agency, Spain

Q: Question for Kimi: what do you think of team orders in F1?

KR: I’m not in Formula 1, so I don’t care what’s happening there.

Jani Merimaa

MTV3, Finland

Q: Kimi, what are your thoughts of the stage where you crashed last year?

KR: I hope I don’t go off in the same place! It’s a challenging stage, the longest stage of the rally. It’s different in areas, the rhythm changes a lot. We have very good notes and we try to do our best like in every stage in Finland.

Fonte: fia.com/Dica: Miezicat

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Beijinhos, Ice-Ludy