Q&A with Dani Sordo

Dani Sordo is back on duty in the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship with the MINI WRC Team this week for the first time since Vodafone Rally de Portugal back in March. The Spaniard will take on Brother Rally New Zealand at the wheel of a MINI John Cooper Works WRC.

Hi Dani, welcome back to the WRC! How does it feel to be back behind the wheel of a MINI John Cooper Works WRC?

“It feels good, very good! Rally New Zealand is a special rally as it’s so fast. It’s a lot like Finland but the roads have more loose gravel on top. The gravel can be very slippery but at the same time it is good to drive in the MINI - the car is suited to fast road conditions very well. The stages over here are similar to one another, I’ve been three times now and they don’t change too much from one to the next. The new stages are very nice so I think Saturday will be the most enjoyable for me. I am just very happy to be back.”

What is your target on this rally?

“We will try to finish on the podium. Our target is also to fight against Ford and Citroen as much as we can and to continue to apply some pressure. That is what we are here for, to add pressure and to finish with as good a result as possible.”

Last time we saw you in the WRC, you were filling in for Jari-Matti Latvala at the Ford World Rally Team. Will the extra seat time help you in New Zealand?

“Well, the Ford Fiesta RS WRC and the MINI are very different. But it is always good to drive, and of course to be on a rally rather than at home! Both cars are really nice to drive but the MINI John Cooper Works WRC feels a little bit more like karting. The engine works in different places too. The MINI engine works better at lower revs, and the Ford works better at high revs. Both are different cars, and work in different ways but both are very competitive.”

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

“So I will be competing in Germany, Spain and Great Britain. We have some marketing work with Red Bull but our main focus will be on podium results in the remaining rallies. It will be nice to finish the season with Spain in November. Maybe it will rain at that time of the year so it could produce an interesting end to the season. I have tried for many years to win my home rally and I will certainly be trying again this year. Maybe this year it will be my turn.”