Rallye Sanremo post-event press conference - News

Question to Giandomenico Basso
Congratulations on joining Colin McRae as a two-time winner in Sanremo and for your sixth victory in the IRC. What was the secret behind your success?

GB: “Maybe not doing so many rallies but doing them well! I am very happy to be here winning. Sanremo is a fantastic event and it’s not just winning here in Sanremo that’s important it’s also winning here in Sanremo as part of the IRC. It’s a very esteemed series, which I have a lot of affection for.”

Question to Giandomenico Basso
How does this result compare to your other victories – is it perhaps your best win?

GB: “They’re all nice but every single one makes me feel very special and emotional. Every win is hard to get and they are all very special.”

Question to Giandomenico Basso
It looked from the outside that you had no real problems. Was this really the case or did you encounter some issues?

GB: “Maybe from the outside it looked easy but no win is ever easy at all in particular in Sanremo. I was able to make a difference on Ronde last night and then today I was able to control my advantage in order to finish with a good lead. But certainly it was not easy although everything came together very well on this event as it should.”

Question to Giandomenico Basso
What’s next for Giandomenico Basso – Eurosport Events, the current IRC promoter, will become the promoter of the European Rally Championship next season – would you consider chasing another European title?

GB: “That would be fantastic. I have no programme in place but the European championship would be excellent especially with the involvement of Eurosport, the television coverage and the promotion they do. I have won the European championship in the past and I would love to have the opportunity to repeat the achievement. I am trying to put together a programme and I am working on some projects to do that.”

Question to Mitia Dotta
Your performance on the Ronde stage on Friday night looked exceptional. What was it like from inside the car?

MD: “It was fantastic. Certainly Giandomenico has always gone well at night and on that stage. We were able to make the difference and for sure it was an important part of building this victory. We had no problems and managed to achieve a good result on this stage. It was certainly one of the key parts, if not the key parts of this victory.”

Question to Jan Kopecký
Congratulations on second place Jan, a result that secures a third IRC manufacturers’ title for ŠKODA. How satisfying is this achievement and what, in your view, makes the Fabia so successful?

JK: “It’s the third time ŠKODA has won the IRC manufacturers’ title for sure. The car is really fast and in the category of Super 2000 it is the best car you can have. It was really important to come to the finish after Juho went out of the road yesterday. It was great to have one ŠKODA on the podium and it’s great I managed to do this. I am really happy now.”

Question to Jan Kopecký
You said at the regroup in Sanremo this morning that you wouldn’t be pushing this afternoon, just trying to secure second place, yet you won the final three stages. What happened?

JK: “Nothing. I think Giando was not pushing. For us we were just driving through the stages. We changed a bit the set-up and the behaviour of the car was a bit better. I wanted to go fast because if you are slower you lose concentration. I tried to go fast but I was not pushing at 100 per cent.”

Question to Pavel Dresler
Two factory ŠKODAs started this event yet only one finished. What happened to your team-mates Juho Hänninen and Mikko Markkula?

PD: “I don’t know! Probably Juho tried to go very fast and he pushed but I don’t know exactly.”

Question to Alessandro Perico
Congratulations on your first IRC podium Alessandro and for being back on the podium in Sanremo. How good are you feeling right now?

AP: “I’m very happy obviously. This was always my objective for the rally. I was pushing hard and had a good feeling with the car throughout the two days of the rally. It was nice to achieve the objective and the feeling now is a very good one.”

Question to Alessandro Perico
How hard did you have to push today because you started this morning in a close battle with Stefano Albertini?

AP: “I pushed hard. It was obviously important to get to the finish and important to have two Peugeots there. It was difficult but we got the right result without any problems even though it was not an easy result as they never are.”

Question to Fabrizio Carrara
It’s been sunny today but there were damp sections and even fog to deal with yesterday. How tough were the conditions on Friday?

FC: “They were very tough on the first three stages and on the long stage it was quite slippery too. It was about balancing the need to go quickly with the necessity to finish the rally. Definitely today the conditions were better but we were in a tight battle. On this rally it’s never easy with the conditions but luckily we were able to master the conditions.”

Question to Paolo Andreucci
How difficult was it to drive this rally and get the result that ensured your seventh Italian title?

AA: “It was difficult. We were in a very tight battle for one and a half stages and then Umberto had his problem. After that it was hard work managing the situation. We knew we had to finish and this was the challenge. There were some occasions when it was stressful but we got to the finish and got the result we hoped for.”

Question to Paolo Andreucci
What do you put your lengthy and successful sporting life down to?

AA: “Mother Nature has been kind to me and I hope that carries on. But it’s about the right chances over the years. I have a very good co-driver and the feeling with the notes is very good, the road just opens up in front of me. My Peugeot Italia team has performed fantastically well and the Pirelli tyres are a fantastic choice. Put all these things together and that’s why we’ve had such a high degree of success for so long.”

Question to Anna Andreussi
Who do you dedicate this win to?

AA: “There are so many people in the service park who have helped us over the years and helped us to achieve this seventh title.”