Martin Prokop - 2009 FIA Junior World Rally Champion

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Speaking of the P-WRC, with two rounds of the series left you're trailing leader Armindo Araujo by 18 points, so there's a chance you could win that title too?
"Maybe. Let's talk again after Australia! We'll try to do out best there and see if it's possible. For now it's a small chance to make it, but if we win in Australia there might be a bigger chance. We'll see next month."

You started rallying eight years ago. What advice would you give to an aspiring rally driver who wanted to make it in the WRC?
"For me, in the beginning I was driving in the Czech Republic in Production cars and WRC cars and I think I lost a lot of time there. If, when I was 18 or 19, somebody had told me to get into the WRC in Juniors then I think I would be somewhere else now - I don't know where, but it would probably be better for me! Doing only the National Championship I think lost me too much time. So I think the best idea is to go into the WRC as soon as possible. It's not important if you are driving an R2 or a R3 or Super 1600 car, the best solution is get into the series, build experience and try to be fast everywhere. For me, the last five years [in the WRC] have been the best in my career. Yes, you lose, you crash, have troubles but that's all good experience."

How will it feel to line up with the other world title winners at the FIA awards ceremony in Monaco this year?
"That's going to be another new experience! I absolutely don't know what to expect there. Many years ago, when I was starting out, rally was just for fun and nobody was thinking I could be the best driver. In Czech nobody in cars or bike racing has ever been a world champion so I'm first, and that seemed an impossible dream when I started out. So going to Monaco and meeting all the best drivers in the world will be the biggest day in my career I think."

The battle for the World Rally Championship title between Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen is extremely tight this year. Who do you think will win it?
"I think for Sebastien it's good that there will be one tarmac event to come, and that will be good for Citroen too because Sordo can help him. Australia is a new event, so that will be the same for everybody but I think Sebastien will relax and be more confident, so he will have the advantage. It's good for the Championship when the fight goes all the way until the end. If I had to choose, well, I like Citroen and I hope they will make the title."

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