Day one, Thursday 9 June 2016

Drivers
Sebastien Ogier, Volkswagen Motorsport
Mads Ostberg, M-Sport World Rally Team
Ott Tanak, DMACK World Rally Team

Q: How much are you looking forward to this event?
SO: I know for sure I am happy to be there, it is a great event. Like I said at the beginning it was not my favourite one but I am learning year after year and now I am enjoying to drive here. Some beautiful stages here to drive and the weather is nice, it is a nice place to be, obviously it is going to be a tough event. With the start position I think it would be unrealistic to speak about victory. I would be very happy if I could stay on the podium. I think more precisely my target is to fight with Mikkelsen and Ostberg, the guys starting just behind me. For the rest we will see.

Q: Tell me about the characteristics of the stages here; what makes them so good, are they technical or are they flowing?
SO: The roads are basically very narrow, a lot of rocks are siding the roads. It is very easy to hit something. If you are precise on your driving the profile is not so bad. The ground is not so soft. I here often that here is rough but for me it was even rougher in Portugal. I prefer to drive here, I have to say, it is a very aggressive ground sometimes so it is very demanding on the tires and that’s the point I like because it can make a difference and I hope it would be a chance to get back sometimes on this weekend.

Q: Is it a bit difficult to be here knowing that you could get the call and papa Ogier has to run off?
SO: Of course I am very excited with this situation but I do my job professionally as always. So fa I have the same preparation and the same ambitions and targets and I jus hope that my wife and baby are going to hold three and a half more days now that I can come back home and we can have this nice event together, but you never know, only the nature is going to decide. So far no news are good news in this moment.

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Q: Mads, are you feeling good with yourself in the car?
MO: Yes, absolutely, it was a very good morning for us. We made some good improvements with the car from the previous rallies. I felt very good on the shakedown today. Immediately on the first run I gained some confidence from the car and then I just could really enjoy and be myself.

Q: The gear problem was effecting you on the previous rallies, can we see a flat out Ostberg again here and what is the plan?
MO: For sure I am going into the rally knowing that probably it will work and it is a big difference going into the rally knowing that than it will not work. I am very happy that the guys have done such a good job with the gearbox and they sorted the issue that we had for so long. I am very happy with that and I feel very motivated.

Q: Should these guys be worried then if you are full of motivation and confidence?
MO: Yeah, well, you never know. For Tanak not very much. He has a very different line than us on the front, but Ogier can be possible to challenge. I have a benefit compared to him so I should be faster, I am not saying I will be.

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Q: Ott, we see some great times coming through from you in the new association with DMACK this year, obviously the last rally was a little difficult, pretty dramatic what happened in Portugal, what is your plan for Sardinia?
OT: We have the same plan as we had in Portugal. Every one knows we have done a big step developing before Portugal. Obviously there is still a lot to learn. There are not so many kilometres in these tires. As I said this is one of the most demanding rally of the season for the tires so, yes, it will be quite interesting to see what we can do.

Q: One of the most demanding rally, is it one of your favourite? are you enjoying the stages here?
OT: Yes, they are tricky but if you get a good flow and a good feeling they get really enjoyable. They are fast but narrow. You really have to concentrate on a really clean driving then it is possible to have a good run.

Q: You have a good road position, with the pace that we have seen from you in the past events, do you think a podium is possible?
OT: Yes, I think it is really possible, we have a really good road position and we know we have a good tire and also the car is working really well for me, so I am actually quite confident.