JWRC: Pre-event press conference - Finland.

Drivers: Per-Gunnar Andersson (Suzuki Swift S1600) and Conrad Rautenbach (Renault Clio S1600).

Press conference.

Q:
P-G, we've not seen you in action since Sardinia in April. What have you been doing for the last three months or so? Have you been doing any rallies or testing? What's it like to be back? Are you feeling confident?

Per-Gunnar Andersson:
I've been working at home. I've done some Swedish Championship events in my own car and some training on the jet-ski on the lakes. It's been a nice time. It's good to be back in Finland, these stages are probably the best you can do. There's a good feeling. I feel very confident and the car is ready. The car's been good all season, we've been a bit unlucky, but now we fight for the podium and I want to be on the top.

Q:
Conrad, your story is a bit different to that of P-G; you've been very busy indeed, so run us by the month of August. Has it been difficult jumping from one car into another all the time? Do you feel tired by this sort of schedule?

Conrad Rautenbach:
I've done five rallies in five weekends. Lots of rallies in different cars, some on asphalt, some on gravel, some in Africa and then with a Group N car and a 1600 car. It can be quite tricky to adapt, but I'm lucky to be out so much. You have to keep in mind what car and what surface you're on. After the first few stages, it's not too bad. You have to keep your wits about you. I don't feel tired, you just keep on it with rallying, keep going and more rallies - I'm really looking forward to this weekend.

Q:
Last year you had a big accident in Finland, does that worry you at all? With the situation in the Championship at the moment, do you have to push hard from the very start or do you have a particular tactic? This is the first rally all year when you will be up against all of the Citro?ns; how exciting do you think this will make the rally? What do you think about the Championship this year; does it seem strange to you that you only meet your key rivals on a few occasions?

P-GA:
I've forgotten about that accident. Now I'm looking forward to meeting the stages again and going as quickly as possible. Accidents don't have any effect on me. I'm going to stay more in the middle of the road, but I think Conrad rolled in the same place as me last year. I have to be a bit smart, I don't need to go flat from the start - I can see what the pace is like. My speed is quite close to where I need to be at the moment. We have to see where to put maximum attack and see if it works. Ten points is so important from here and from the next event in Turkey. But Turkey can be tough and the same in GB. GB can be slippery and foggy, tough. Having all the competition is how it should have been all season. We need the interest and good competition like this all season.

Q:
What about your Championship situation Conrad? You did Rally Deutschland so does that put you in a stronger situation? What's your target for this year? How about next year, do you think we'll be seeing you in the Junior World Rally Championship again?

CR:
All the cars should be on all the rounds. We've got this event and Turkey left. We were fourth and on for another good points haul in Germany until a problem with the car. I think we need the same strategy as P-G; we'll ease into it and get a good feeling from the car. Then we'll take it from there. We're gaining experience, setting some reasonable times and staying on the road. We know we've got reasonable pace, but we want to push it up a little. We're still trying to decide on a plan for next year, we'll have to wait and see.

Q:
There has been a lot of speculation about Suzuki's new World Rally Car. What do you know about it? Will we see you driving it next year? There will be a lot if testing next year - will you do it yourself? Are you confident that you will find a drive next year?

P-GA:
I don't have a clue. I will see. I hope so, but at the moment I don't know anything. We haven't discussed anything about next season. I'm concentrating on this season at the moment.

Q:
Conrad, just a word about this event in a Super 1600 car. There's obviously not the same level of power and traction as you get in a World Rally Car so how do you make sure of keeping the car's rhythm flowing from corner to corner?

CR:
The cars are quite tricky to drive. You have to drive hard into the corners and carry the speed. You don't have the traction to pull you out. Being front-wheel-drive, the back end of the cars is quite edgy all of the time. This is why they're good Junior cars, they teach you how to drive. S?bastien (Loeb) has shown that you can get out of one of these Junior WRC cars and step up to the full World Rally Car quickly.