klm-607
16th January 2007, 03:03
Subaru quotes ahead of Monte Carlo
“We've got plenty to be excited about this season”
[15/01/07 - 17:33]
Solberg happy with pre-season testing
The Subaru World Rally Team head to Monte Carlo determined to get back to its winning ways. The team has joined its rivals in running BFGoodrich rubber this year and will compete with a modified version of the 2006 car and with the talents once again of Petter Solberg/Phil Mills and Chris Atkinson/Glenn Macneall.
Paul Howarth, Subaru World Rally Team Operations Director
“Monte Carlo is unlike any other rally on the WRC calendar and there are lots of variables to consider. The conditions in Valence at the moment indicate that it could be damp or even dry, and not the snow and ice we usually associate with this event, although that could change by the time the rally starts.
“Having both Petter and Chris in the team for another year is a huge bonus. Petter is the number one driver who we will try to win the championship with, while the aim with Chris is to continue his ongoing development. We expect him to deliver a high level of consistency throughout the year. It's a very important year for him, because this is his third year with the team and there's probably a little bit more pressure on him to deliver results and move forward in his experience.”
Richard Taylor, Subaru World Rally Team Managing Director
“It's great to be starting afresh and we've got plenty to be excited about this season. After a tough 2006, everyone within the team is very determined to make this year a success. We've got several objectives: operationally we've got to get used to working with our new tyre supplier, BFGoodrich, and get familiar with the effect the tyres have on the performance of the car. Going slightly further forward, we want to see a successful introduction of the 2007 Impreza World Rally Car in Mexico. Looking at the season as a whole, what is important to us is getting a consistently high level of performance, regular podiums, a few wins and challenging for the drivers championship."
“The long-term future is also looking good. Subaru has a very long-term commitment to rallying, Petter is starting a new three-year contract with us this year and Chris is in his third season with the team. Over the last three or four months, consistency rather than change has been the message. The last significant recruitment to the team was Christophe Chapelain who came in to lead the design team back in September. He is now well established and very busy, with the 2007 World Rally Car and then the 2008 car to focus on.”
Petter Solberg
“2006 was a difficult time for all of us, but I feel like we are able to get back on track now. It will be a tough challenge, because we do not exactly know where we are compared to our main rivals, but some things have been improved on the car that we will use in Monte Carlo, and that should make us a lot more competitive. Monte Carlo is always difficult for us, with the snow and ice on the roads, but we tested with BFGoodrich in December and I was very happy with the performance of the tyres. I think we could be much stronger on the asphalt events this season.”
Chris Atkinson
“Last year in Monte Carlo some excellent tyre choices helped us to run well. Sixth at the end of the rally was a result that we never expected on our first visit to Monte Carlo because it is such a specialised event. This season our hope is to be on the podium a lot more, but if we can get some good points on the first three rallies it would be great. We want to be up there fighting with the leaders, not just being happy with fifth. We want to be pushing if we can and putting our rivals under a lot of pressure.”
E.A.
Source SWRT
“We've got plenty to be excited about this season”
[15/01/07 - 17:33]
Solberg happy with pre-season testing
The Subaru World Rally Team head to Monte Carlo determined to get back to its winning ways. The team has joined its rivals in running BFGoodrich rubber this year and will compete with a modified version of the 2006 car and with the talents once again of Petter Solberg/Phil Mills and Chris Atkinson/Glenn Macneall.
Paul Howarth, Subaru World Rally Team Operations Director
“Monte Carlo is unlike any other rally on the WRC calendar and there are lots of variables to consider. The conditions in Valence at the moment indicate that it could be damp or even dry, and not the snow and ice we usually associate with this event, although that could change by the time the rally starts.
“Having both Petter and Chris in the team for another year is a huge bonus. Petter is the number one driver who we will try to win the championship with, while the aim with Chris is to continue his ongoing development. We expect him to deliver a high level of consistency throughout the year. It's a very important year for him, because this is his third year with the team and there's probably a little bit more pressure on him to deliver results and move forward in his experience.”
Richard Taylor, Subaru World Rally Team Managing Director
“It's great to be starting afresh and we've got plenty to be excited about this season. After a tough 2006, everyone within the team is very determined to make this year a success. We've got several objectives: operationally we've got to get used to working with our new tyre supplier, BFGoodrich, and get familiar with the effect the tyres have on the performance of the car. Going slightly further forward, we want to see a successful introduction of the 2007 Impreza World Rally Car in Mexico. Looking at the season as a whole, what is important to us is getting a consistently high level of performance, regular podiums, a few wins and challenging for the drivers championship."
“The long-term future is also looking good. Subaru has a very long-term commitment to rallying, Petter is starting a new three-year contract with us this year and Chris is in his third season with the team. Over the last three or four months, consistency rather than change has been the message. The last significant recruitment to the team was Christophe Chapelain who came in to lead the design team back in September. He is now well established and very busy, with the 2007 World Rally Car and then the 2008 car to focus on.”
Petter Solberg
“2006 was a difficult time for all of us, but I feel like we are able to get back on track now. It will be a tough challenge, because we do not exactly know where we are compared to our main rivals, but some things have been improved on the car that we will use in Monte Carlo, and that should make us a lot more competitive. Monte Carlo is always difficult for us, with the snow and ice on the roads, but we tested with BFGoodrich in December and I was very happy with the performance of the tyres. I think we could be much stronger on the asphalt events this season.”
Chris Atkinson
“Last year in Monte Carlo some excellent tyre choices helped us to run well. Sixth at the end of the rally was a result that we never expected on our first visit to Monte Carlo because it is such a specialised event. This season our hope is to be on the podium a lot more, but if we can get some good points on the first three rallies it would be great. We want to be up there fighting with the leaders, not just being happy with fifth. We want to be pushing if we can and putting our rivals under a lot of pressure.”
E.A.
Source SWRT