Canarias pre-event press conference

Giandomenico Basso, Jan Kopecký, Bruno Magalhães and Yeray Lemes attended the pre-event press conference for Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés this evening. A full transcript follows.

Question to Jan Kopecký:
As last year’s winner of Rally Islas Canarias it’s only right we start with you so welcome back and tell us how you plan to make it two wins from two starts this year?

JK: “This island is really, really nice. I don’t have any plan. I start number eight and try to catch the boys in the front.”

Question to Jan Kopecký:
You tested here on Monday. What was the purpose of the test and what did you achieve?

JK: “We had a small test on Monday, the same for everyone. We just wanted to try the last small details to get the right feeling and the right confidence with the car. I think we achieved this. We had a great car.”

Question to Jan Kopecký:
There are some changes to this year’s route with new stages including two run at night. What is your view on night stages and how difficult are they for a driver?

JK: “The stages are for me more difficult than last year. They were more wider and more flowing last year than this year. Now they are more twisty and technical with difficult downhill sections. The night stages will be quite important because we only pass through these stages once at night. It will be a big challenge for each driver.”

Question to Bruno Magalhães:
Your 2011 IRC season didn’t get off to the best of starts. Tell us what happened and just how badly damaged was your Peugeot 207 after Monte-Carlo?

BM: “Unfortunately the season didn’t start the way we expect. I had a crash in Monte-Carlo. It was a pity for all the team because they worked a lot for the rally and I am sad for that. But we have to continue and get confidence. We made another rally after that, the Rally of Portugal, and I am here to do my best.”

Question to Bruno Magalhães:
You start this rally on the back of being the first Super 2000 finisher on your home round of the world championship, Rally de Portugal. How much has that win helped your confidence?

BM: “For me and Peugeot Portugal it was very important to win the Super 2000 class on Rally of Portugal and make a lot of kilometres in the car. The most important thing after the crash is to drive. We made a lot of kilometres there and we are much more confident. Because of Rally of Portugal we didn’t test with Peugeot Sport on Tarmac so the test on Monday was very important to get a good set-up and make sure everything was right for me.”

Question to Bruno Magalhães:
Last month you attended an event for Eurosport in Lisbon. What were you doing there and what do you think of Eurosport’s coverage of the IRC?

BM: “It was an important conference in Portugal to show to everybody how important is the IRC. People are working a lot and the coverage is fantastic. The championship has a lot of good drivers and good cars. Everything is in the right way for this to be a fantastic rally.”

Question to Giandomenico Basso:
We saw you on Rallye Monte-Carlo in a Peugeot 207. Now you’re driving a PROTON Satria Neo. Why the change?

GB: “This was a private team because I wanted to be on Rallye Monte-Carlo and that was the only option for me. It’s nice now to be with PROTON because I do six more races.”

Question to Giandomenico Basso:
How much running have you done in the car and what are your impressions of it?

GB: “We did a day and a half in Italy and some time here on Monday. There is a lot of work to do on the car and more power is needed at the bottom end of the engine. But I am very happy to be with PROTON.”

Question to Giandomenico Basso:
You’ve never done this rally before but what do you think of the stages after the recce and can you compare this rally to any other IRC events you have don in the past?

GB: “It is similar to Rali Vinho Madeira with a lot of hill climbing and downhill sections. It’s very tricky on the corners. It’s going to be a very fast rally and you will have to attack from the beginning.”

Question to Yeray Lemes:
You were quite late entering this rally. Why?

YL: “I am doing the WRC Academy this year and I was not sure of the money. I was looking for the money but we have found a solution and we are here for my home rally.”

Question to Yeray Lemes:
What specification is your Honda Civic and what experience do you have of driving it?

YL: “I have been in this car for one rally and the shakedown, where we tried some things on the suspension. It’s a 1.6 Honda Civic 2WD. The goal will be to do all the stages and be at the finish.”

Question to Yeray Lemes:
How much does your local knowledge help you on this event?

YL: “I am happy because nearly 90 per cent of what we will be doing I already know. It’s going to be a great help.”

Question to Yeray Lemes:
What else will be keeping you busy in 2011 – any more IRC events planned?

YL: “It all depends how I finish this rally. Perhaps there will be a possibility to do another IRC rally but the goal is to do the whole of the WRC Academy.”

Question to Jan Kopecký:
Škoda is celebrating its 110 years of motorsport participation this year. How is the company marking the celebrations and what are you doing to help?

JK: “It’s a great year for Skoda because of the celebration. Because of this we get a chance to start in the Czech championship where we used a really old retro design of the Skoda 130 RS. It was a really nice design, the car was perfect and we won the rally. If we start again in Czech we try to win but it’s always very difficult.”

Question to Bruno Magalhães:
There is run on the beach tomorrow to help the people of Japan following the terrible events there. Will you be taking part and how has the situation there affected you?

BM: “It’s a terrible situation. Unfortunately this kind of event is the only thing we can do to help. Tomorrow will be very important and I think everybody comes with a very strong motivation to give a lot of support to Japan.”

Question to Giandomenico Basso:
The Gran Karting Club stage is back on the itinerary after several years away. Can you describe the stage and what you think of it?

GB: “It’s important to put on a good show for the sponsors and the fans so I will be spectacular but I have to think about the whole rally.”

Question to all drivers:
What do you think of the fans here in Gran Canaria?

JK: “You have one of the greatest fans in the world I have to say. If you look to the stages everyone is shouting and giving you support. It’s a really great time over here.”

BM: “The atmosphere is very special around the rally. People support us a lot yesterday at the autograph session. It was incredible to be writing for 1hr45mns and we feel their support and of course there will be a lot of people on the stages for sure.”

YL: “It’s always good to have the support of the fans. We are very grateful for it.”