Team
bosses
reflect:
Sweden
day two

Q. It’s been another great day for Volkswagen. Sebastien Ogier has put on a very impressive display. Do you think that he has enough time in hand now to win the rally?
Jost Capito: “It was a really great day, especially for Sebastien Ogier, and he more than achieved the target that we set for him today. So he should be in a proper position for tomorrow. If he shows the same performance that he has shown today then I think we might get a surprise.”

Q. We’ve seen an incredible performance from Ogier today. He’s been under pressure from Sebastien Loeb yet he managed to up his pace. Did you expect this?
Jost Capito: “After yesterday we could expect that he was capable of doing that - but not before. We will see what he can do tomorrow and how he handles the pressure.”

Q. Jari-Matti Latvala may have lost third position this afternoon but we’ve seen a fastest stage time for him, his first for Volkswagen. He’s growing in confidence now.   
Jost Capito: “Yes but he’s still not that used to the car yet. He’s lacking mileage and is trying different set-up changes. Some work out well and some don’t. He still has to find the balance of the car that he is comfortable with. We will try some changes for tomorrow to help him fight back for third position.”

Q. You picked up second position in Monte Carlo. Would you have thought that the possibility of a win could come so soon in Volkswagen’s WRC campaign?
Jost Capito: “Definitely not. The second position in Monte-Carlo was a surprise for us as well. I think it was 90 per cent down to the driver and only 10 per cent the car. And here too it’s the driver that makes the majority of the performance, so we’re not very sure where we are with the car. The next round in Mexico is again a very special rally and I still believe we have to wait until Portugal to see what the real potential of the car is. But, you know, it’s quite nice to be in that position.”

Q: Sebastien Loeb is second at the end of the day but there is quite a bit of time now between him and Ogier. Is the battle for the win over?
Yves Matton: “For sure with one day to go it seems to be difficult but we will keep the pressure on and try. Our aim is to try to win. Sebastien is only doing four rallies this year and he wants to win them all. He will try.”

Q: Sebastien is very motivated to win but how much risk is he prepared to take to do it?
Yves Matton: “Sebastien is not really a driver who takes a lot of risks. He is pushing very hard and he knows his limit. Today we saw that the pace is there, but the level of the cars and the drivers is very similar. It will be difficult to come back but he needs to try. On one hand thirty seconds is a lot, but on the other it’s not such a big gap.”

Q. Mads Ostberg is in third position now. He’s had a great battle on his hands today with Jari-Matti Latvala. What have you thought of his performance?
Malcolm Wilson: “To try and get in front of Jari-Matti and Sebastien was the intention this morning. But I have to say that the pace of the two Sebastiens today has been incredible so we’re very happy that we’ve managed to get on the podium. We go to some stages tomorrow that are quite close to Mads’ home, so hopefully we can still keep the pressure on.

"Being realistic, I think that unless that something happens to either of the two guys ahead then we’re going to have to probably settle for the podium. But having said that, on this event this year Jari-Matti was leading then clipped a rock and got a puncture and then Petter did the same. So you never know. Difficult stages and no service? - it could be interesting.”

Q. You’ve had a battle on your hands with Juho Hanninen and Thierry Neuville as well. We saw Hanninen make a little mistake on that final sprint this evening. What happened?
Malcolm Wilson: “There will be no more battle after that little mistake! Juho is really annoyed with himself. It was a really silly mistake and its cost him a position but in one sense its decided the positions so that’s the way they will stay.”