Rally of Turkey: three questions to Sébastien Loeb

The 2010 season’s got off to a good start for you with a second place and then two victories. You’ve already built up a good lead…

That makes me smile as some said that my second place in Sweden showed a drop in motivation on my part! Just so as there’s no misunderstanding, I have no intention of stopping the clock at fifty-six victories. What’s interesting is that the 2010 season doesn’t boil down to a duel between Mikko Hirvonen and me. There’s also Jari-Matti Latvala, who now seems able to combine speed and consistency, as well as Petter Solberg and Sébastien Ogier. They’ll all able to fight at the front and that includes Dani too. For the moment that plays in my favour but it could also make my job more difficult.”

Rally Turkey is being held on a new route. What does that change for you?

“I’m going to have to concentrate a lot more during reconnaissance. When we’ve got our old notes and the route hasn’t changed all that much in relation to the previous event, I know where the major traps and bumps are and I don’t have to worry too much. In this case, we just fine-tune the details. When we reconnoitre a stage for the first time it’s a lot more complicated. At 70 km/h (NB: in reconnaissance, the speed is limited and checked by GPS), I have to try and imagine at what speed we’ll arrive there in the race to note the corners and the bumps. First time through in the rally we always give ourselves a bigger scare than usual! So it’s preferable to allow yourself a bit more leeway and then correct the notes for the second run.”

Once again sweeping will be a sore point…

“Yes, and I don’t like that very much. It’s a shame that all the attention is focused on this aspect rather than on the battle between the crews. My point of view hasn’t changed for over two years. I think that reversing the running order of the first fifteen on the second and third days is the best solution. There are no calculations to be made and everybody has to push from start to finish. The idea of using the shakedown as a form of qualifying to allow the drivers to choose their starting order makes sense too. Whatever! I just hope that the FIA will soon modify the regulations to give everybody a level playing field.”