One Experience Richer
I have been waiting for this ever since I madethe contract for a season in rally. I feel exactly the same as I did
before the first race in F1. I have this nice itch in my belly and my
feelings are the greatest in the right way.
It’s always cool for a racer to go to new challenges. What’s more
greater than have a whole new season as a completely new challenge?
Citroen has fit my glove ever since the beginning. We drove tests for
three days, the whole time we learned more about the car and it’s great
that when we change it it reacts just the way we hoped it would. I feel
all the time that the direction is right and the engineers have said the
same in meetings.
We chose Arctic rally for the first race. In our program it’s just a
test-race that serves only the preparing for Sweden where the serie
starts. It’s cool that the races start this soon. After I tried the car
for the first time in France I haven’t been able to wait for the day
when I get to race with it.
The break was quickly over. I spent it just like I did during my
F1-time. I had a vacation, spent some time with family and friends and
started training after that. I have trained just like before. I’ve done
some tough training with Mark Arnall. We know that driving rally will be
quite a beating and it gets really hot once in a while. You have to be
in a good shape.
The Arctic rally came and went. I’m in a good mood and one experience
richer.
We had a good test before we went to Rovaniemi. It gave me a good
feeling and more trust in the car once we got all bits and pieces and
seats in order. The basic setup was done and we went to Tunturi to get
as many kilometers under our belts as we could possibly get. Nothing
more.
It was good that Sordo was there. We got the benchmark we had hoped for
so we would know exactly where we stand at the moment.
In the final games we saw how much behind Sordo we were but after we
reeled in those things we also knew the reason for it. All we now need
is more kilometers and we’ll find it from there.
There was this one blunder when we drove out during the second stage. It
was completely my own blunder. I misheard the note and after that it
didn’t bend back anymore.
Fortunately we made it with small damages and managed to get back. Thank
you to the shovel-men for helping.
The roads were quite cool! It was also nice to see how big the gangs by
the routes supporting us were.
When me-myself have only five rallies in the meter the times in Tunturi
weren’t a catastrophy. When I learn something new everytime I drive we
get closer to the lead. We’ll see how close we are during the midseason.
From this basis it’s nice to go to Sweden. We’ll see there what our pace
is but the serie is only beginning. At least we will go faster than we
did in the practice race.
Just as a tip, remember to check out the video clips beside. They are
rolling the Iceman’s adventures in Lapland and we are reeling in how
things went in Tunturi.
Next stop is the FIA-info in Paris, press and photos. After that we will
only concentrate on Sweden rally.
There it will be just like in Indy – Gentlemen, start your engines!
FUCK ISRAEL 