FIA pre-event press conference for the J-WRC

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Questions to Martin Prokop

Martin, it's been a difficult start to the year. How do you get your confidence back?
It's very difficult. For me the test was important. I've had a month rest and I feel relaxed and ready to fight. It was important for me to forget about Mexico.

We have the full entry of 17 JWRC drivers here in Sardinia. Why do you think everyone has chosen to do this event?
Maybe it's the hardest rally in the Championship - except Argentina. But I don't know why (drivers all come to Sardinia). It's hard for the car. I really don't know. We need to make a good feeling with the car. It's important for me to get the confidence. In Mexico we had too many technical problems. This year, I'm not too confident with the C2, maybe because of driving the Group N car. But we had a good test in the Czech Republic.

Sebastien Ogier has won the first two Junior events of the season and is starting to get a healthy lead in the Drivers' Championship. What have you thought of his performance? Can you stop him getting a hat-trick of wins?
We will see. It was difficult for me. I didn't compare with his times in Mexico, my car was not in good condition. We will see in this race, but I'm not going to concentrate on him or (Patrik) Sandell. I will try and to my best job.

Some of the stages have been altered slightly, are there any that stand out as being particularly difficult?
Yes. This rally is the most difficult rally in Europe. This year the organisers made it the hardest rally. This year, the weather will make it very hard. We will see.

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