Sébastien Loeb: “The Azores Rally promises to be complicated”

How was this trip to the Azores organized?

This is not the first time that I have received this kind of offer to attend this event. Knowing that for the moment there is no handle of the WRC planned, I had quite a few other invitations of the same type to compete in rallies here and there. Concerning the Azores, I watched a few videos and it seems like a very nice meeting. The fact that it takes place on dirt also tempted me, because I find it more fun than on asphalt… so I accepted.

Didn't racing with a Rally2 slow you down?

It's true that it has nothing to do with a WRC, but on gravel I think it will be fun to drive this Skoda.

Your last experience with a car in this category was a while ago, right? Have you ever been able to try it?

Cela doit dater de 2019, lorsque j’ai disputé le Terre du Haut-Var avec la Hyundai R5. Sur ces autos, il y a certes moins de chevaux, mais cela reste sympa de rouler avec. La nouvelle Fabia RS a l’air efficace. Je ne la connais pas du tout. Je vais pouvoir la découvrir le mardi avant la course. J’en ai déjà discuté avec François Delecour qui l’a utilisée au Monte-Carlo et il m’a dit que c’était une bonne auto.

Have you tried to get an idea of ​​the route with the videos that exist?

I actually looked at a few dash cams. I found one by Dani Sordo, one by Yoann Bonato and another by Andreas Mikkelsen. They are too poor quality to be used as a basis and what's more the times are different from what they did until last year. I didn’t set out to make notes. There are some very beautiful landscapes, but it didn't seem like a rally simple. I found the profile of the stages to be quite difficult with a lot of blind corners. There is either a lot of vegetation or embankments.

To make the exercise even more challenging, are you going to ride with your partner who may be lacking a little training?

Effectively. I hope that she will manage to “balance” the notes, because I also noticed that the co-pilots say a lot, because it is very winding. However, we must not forget that we go there to have fun. If the notes are going well and if we manage to get into the rhythm, so much the better, otherwise, we will try to share a good time.

There should be some drivers who go fast, right?

Someone like Andreas Mikkelsen who has already done it should be fast indeed. There will perhaps be other competitors who will have a much better knowledge of the terrain than me who would have made two reconnaissance passes with my partner! Nothing is too much in my favor, but I'm a bit used to this type of situation.

Have you already collaborated with the Toksport team?

Not yet. We've had some contact since I knew I was going to race one of their cars. We get to know each other on the phone and we have an appointment on Tuesday for the first ride.

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