Q&A with Jost Capito

Back in the service park in Loutraki, here’s what Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito had to say about Saturday’s competition:

Q. We’re used to seeing Sebastien Ogier leading rallies, but tonight it’s Jari-Matti Latvala. How are you feeling about his performance?

JC: “I think Jari-Matti has shown a perfect performance and we’re very happy for him. He’s done a brilliant day today - an outstanding performance. At the same time we feel a little bit sad about Sebastien because he was good in qualifying and it was our fault that we messed his rally up.”

Q. Were you concerned at the way Latvala was battling with Novikov this morning – that he might push too hard, perhaps?

JC: “No, we were not concerned because we had a good briefing and he knew what he had to do. We said okay, you go at your speed and your rhythm and then we see what happens. When you come back at lunch then we’ll decide how to move on at that point. In the event it was all sorted by then.”

Q. Have you noticed any difference in Jari-Matti from the start of the season?

JC: “Yes, I think he’s becoming ’at one’ with the new Polo. In Argentina we could implement the changes he wanted for the set-up, so he’s now very happy with the car and I think that is in his mind as well. We see him improving and I think he will get better now he has more mileage with the Polo. I think there is still room for improvement.”

Q. Andreas Mikkelsen was involved in a thrilling battle with Nasser Al-Attiyah today. What do you think of Mikkelsen’s chances of taking fourth tomorrow?

JC: “We thought the chances today were pretty good but in the last two stages he had punctures in each and I think that damaged his chances for tomorrow. For sure he will attack and try to get the position back, but tomorrow’s stages are very tricky. Everything can happen but I know he’s desperate to fight for it.”