Swedish Rally: Pre-event press conference

2004 Uddeholm Swedish Rally
Media FIA Pre-event Press Conference
Thursday, February 5, 2004

The conditions before the Uddeholm Swedish Rally is gravel and Ice. The weather is warm and the snow is melting.

Marcus Grönholm , Marlboro Peugeot Total, is asked if the conditions will make the event more difficult, he answers:

"No, but it will be more difficult for the tyres" He is confident about his driving in this event that he won the last two years, but this year he has a new car. So we just have to wait and see.

Marko Märtin , Ford Motor Co, thinks that this is his favourite event:

"It is most fun and it's high speed" says Marko.

Sebastian Loeb , Citroën Total, was asked about the conditions on the Shake Down:

"It wasn't so bad in spite of the weather" he answered. There was gravel of course but not so bad.

Petter Solberg , 555 Subaru World Rally Team, has improved his driving and changed to a little bit more aggressive driving style for this event. He says he will change back to his smooth driving again after this rally. He has a good feeling about this event.

"It was similar conditions when Subaru and Pirelli won the last time, back in '97" he says.

Kristian Sohlberg , Mitsubishi Motors Motor Sport, drives this event for the first time for Mitsubishi.

"My goal is to finish the Rally" he says.

On the question what it means to have Tommi Mäkinen's former co driver, Kaj Lindström, by his side he says that he has brought some good things from Tommi and the experienced co driver has improved his driving.

-fia-