Source: ircseries
Q. Some of the IRC title contenders spent last weekend testing but you were actually competing on a rally. Tell us about it and how much will it help you in your bid to win the title?
AM: “I did a rally in Italy, the final round of the Italian [gravel] championship and we managed to take the title. That was very important. My driving was going really well and coming here from Scotland IRC, where we won, and the Italian championship brings a lot of confidence. I have a fantastic feeling with the car after two days of good testing and I’m feeling really good. Okay I did the rally last year but it’s different this year. Two stages are the same but in the opposite direction. The opposition will be really, really high. There is nothing to lose so we will try.”
Q. And with the title the big talking point this weekend can you give us an insight on what’s going through your mind right now and what the atmosphere is like between you and your four IRC title rivals?
AM: “We always have a very good atmosphere in the IRC between the drivers. It’s a big challenge for everyone and it’s really important for everyone. Everyone needs to win except for Juho. It will be a big fight and I’m sure everyone will go flat out from the word go. It’s how it should be.”
Q.Now you’re famous in these parts for your victory on the Golden Stage Rally last season. What did that success mean to you, how did you spend the prize money and what advice would you give a driver trying to win the event for the first time?
AM: “I bought myself a new phone when I got home! The rest I haven’t used so much of it yet. It’s a really nice event and to have such a prize and everyone going flat out every metre to try and get it brings a lot of excitement which rallying needs. It’s a great thing to do especially here in Cyprus. We recced this morning the stage, it’s fantastic, really fast and really tricky. It will be one hell of a show. Cyprus is a special event, there are some really rough stages so you are always trying to find the balance between going as fast as you can without breaking your car. You need to be on it from the first metres.”
Q. Some of the IRC title contenders spent last weekend testing but you were actually competing on a rally. Tell us about it and how much will it help you in your bid to win the title?
AM: “I did a rally in Italy, the final round of the Italian [gravel] championship and we managed to take the title. That was very important. My driving was going really well and coming here from Scotland IRC, where we won, and the Italian championship brings a lot of confidence. I have a fantastic feeling with the car after two days of good testing and I’m feeling really good. Okay I did the rally last year but it’s different this year. Two stages are the same but in the opposite direction. The opposition will be really, really high. There is nothing to lose so we will try.”
Q. And with the title the big talking point this weekend can you give us an insight on what’s going through your mind right now and what the atmosphere is like between you and your four IRC title rivals?
AM: “We always have a very good atmosphere in the IRC between the drivers. It’s a big challenge for everyone and it’s really important for everyone. Everyone needs to win except for Juho. It will be a big fight and I’m sure everyone will go flat out from the word go. It’s how it should be.”
Q.Now you’re famous in these parts for your victory on the Golden Stage Rally last season. What did that success mean to you, how did you spend the prize money and what advice would you give a driver trying to win the event for the first time?
AM: “I bought myself a new phone when I got home! The rest I haven’t used so much of it yet. It’s a really nice event and to have such a prize and everyone going flat out every metre to try and get it brings a lot of excitement which rallying needs. It’s a great thing to do especially here in Cyprus. We recced this morning the stage, it’s fantastic, really fast and really tricky. It will be one hell of a show. Cyprus is a special event, there are some really rough stages so you are always trying to find the balance between going as fast as you can without breaking your car. You need to be on it from the first metres.”
