Tour de Corse post-event press conference

The top three overall crews on Tour de Corse-E.Leclerc, round three of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, attended the post-event press conference in Ajaccio today.

Questions to Thierry Neuville

You have become the youngest winner of an IRC rally. How are you feeling right now?

TN: “I feel very good after three long days of rallying. I pushed a lot all over the stages and there were some good guys behind us pushing so much. It was difficult to keep pushing because we were quite equal with Jan. But we did a good job and worked very well and I have to thank the team of Peugeot Belgium and Kronos. It feels really good and I’m really happy to be the youngest guy to win. It’s incredible, to win this really like a dream.”

When you lost time on the first stage this morning did you start to think Jan Kopecky would catch you?

TN: “Before the first stage in the morning I was quite sure the car was working very well and I could set a good time. But after some split times I was seven seconds behind. But I really pushed down the last downhill section for eight kilometres and wasn’t so far behind. Maybe two spare tyres was not the best choice. I did not have the best speed in the morning; maybe it was too early for me. In the second stage I decided to go flat-out and set an equal time with Jan. I was very near to the limit. I saw he was pushing a lot and I couldn’t slow down, otherwise he was in front of me.”

How significant will this win be for your career?

TN: “For the moment I don’t know but I hope I will have some cards from big team directors. But for now Peugeot Belgium are very behind me and will continue this season. I hope to be champion at the end even though I know it won’t be easy with so many drivers who could be champion. It is only the start of my career and I hope there will be many more victories.”

Questions to Nicolas Gilsoul

This is your second IRC rally with Thierry. How have you managed to achieve so much success so quickly?

NG: “It’s not exactly the second rally because we have done some rallies together in the past before joining forces again this season. But there is no secret. We see things in the same way and work well together. The result is this.”

From the outside Thierry always seemed calm and in control. What was it like in the car?

NG: “In fact the appearance was the reality. He was calm and was always in control. There were one or two moments but nothing that was out of control. Obviously this win was the result.”

Questions to Jan Kopecky

You reported on a number of occasions that you weren’t happy with the handling of your Skoda Fabia. What exactly was wrong and what improvements did you make?

JK: “Maybe it was not the car! It was difficult, Corsica is a very specific rally, with smooth Tarmac, lots of corners, quick, wide and narrow sections and to find the perfect set-up was impossible. Okay we didn’t have complete confidence in the beginning but today everything was perfect. We changed the differential set-up and other small things and today the car was really good.”

It’s been quite an intensive schedule with the rally run from three locations covering 320 competitive kilometres. How tough was it for you as a driver?

JK: “I have to say it was a very long week for everyone. The recce started on Monday and by Thursday we had done more than 700 kilometres on twisty roads. Every morning we wake up at 06:00hrs and it was very difficult. But we enjoyed it very much. Why not to go to other places on the island if we come back to this rally in the future?”

Questions to Petr Stary

It’s been more than a year since Jan won in the IRC. What does he need to do to get back to the top of the podium?

PS: “I don’t know. Maybe for me this result is very good because it was a very difficult rally. I have started here four times and this year it was more difficult. For next year I don’t know. Maybe it’s a little bit faster.”

Next stop on the IRC schedule is the Prime Yalta Rally, a new event for all the crews. How will you prepare for the event?

PS: “It’s a new rally for us; maybe it is the same for everyone.”

Questions to Freddy Loix

Third place gives you the lead of the championship. How important is that for you going forward?
FL: “Very soon in the race after one day of driving it was clear that the speed of Thierry and Jan was too quick for me. Sooner or later I knew I had to start to drive to take the lead of the championship before going home and the lucky thing is we managed to do this. The next event is Ypres; I don’t think by Ypres I will still be leading but this gives me more fighting spirit to be back as the leader after Ypres.”

You weren’t quite able to fight for the victory this weekend. Why was this?

FL: “Maybe my age, I don’t know! It’s difficult to say but it was very clear that the first time of Thierry was very impressive, even the second time. We were working a little bit on the car but it was impossible for me to do the speed Thierry was doing. From that moment on I had to drive to take the points. Why not quicker? I don’t know but I will try to show that still I can be quick on some other races.”

Questions to Frederic Miclotte

Tour de Corse was quite a challenge this season with an all-new route covering a lot of the island. What were the advantages and disadvantages of this from your side?

FM: “First of all it was a great event and the organisers did a very good job so I am happy about that. Of course it’s great to be back on a route that was just like the old days. Okay there was a lot of recce and for the teams but it’s part of the rally.”

You’re not due to return to IRC action until your home event in Ypres in late June. How do you and Freddy plan to remain sharp in the meantime?

“First of all we already have another event in Belgium next week, a round of the Belgian championship where we will have a big fight against World Rally Cars so it will be even more difficult to get a victory or a podium. Before Ypres a big test session to prepare us to have a good result.”