20 Jan 08

2008 FIA WRC season launch

Questions to the Citroen team

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

You're stepping into big shoes; has the team changed in any way since Guy Frequelin left?

Olivier Quesnel: I think I've got big feet, so I should be okay. In France we used to say we don't change the winning team: the technical guys are the same, except me and Sven Smeets - he becomes the Team Manager. Apart from that, everything and everybody is the same.

Will the team's strategies be the same and do you feel pressure to maintain such winning form?

Olivier Quesnel: The team's strategy is to get both titles. Sebastien and Dani [Elena] are aiming for a fifth title. Dani[Sordo] and Marc will help us get the title for constructer.

Following Marcus Grönholm's retirement, will this year be an easy road to victory? Where do you see your greatest threat coming from?

Sébastien Loeb: It's a bit early to say it will be easy. A lot of journalists said it would be easy for me, but I'm not so sure. Mikko Hirvonen will be very fast on a lot of rallies - we saw that last year. Also, maybe last year he was playing more for the Manufacturers Championship on some events. It will be some good battles as well with Dani [Sordo] and [Jari-Matti] Latvala.

How do you think the single tyre rule will affect the way you approach a rally? Will it change the way you drive?

Sébastien Loeb: It will not change the approach of the rally. It will be different some times. Now we only have one compound, except for Monte Carlo. That will be very tough, you have to do the same in the cold and wet condition and then in the dry. You will not always be in the best condition - then you have to adapt the driving style.

Last year was a good year for you but some might say the key to winning the Manufacturer's Championship is a reliable second driver. How important is your role in helping Citroen achieve that this year?

Dani Sordo: It's very important for the second driver. The most important [thing] is the finish. With one driver in Sebastien, he is very fast and he can win a lot of races, but for me I have to take a lot of points. It's very important to have both of the cars at the finish.

You are still the only Spanish driver at the top level of WRC. How important is it for your Spanish fans for you to follow in the footsteps of Carlos Sainz?

Dani Sordo: At the moment, it's not the most. For me, I have to drive at the maximum for me and the team and the spectators.