Andrea Adamo: “I was the bad student in the WRC, but today everyone is doing the same”

Andrea, what does it inspire you when you see the three teams getting ready to compete in national events?

This makes me laugh. When we started doing this kind of thing in 2019, I took a lot of criticism. I was the bad student WRC, mais aujourd’hui tout le monde fait pareil. Nous avons continué par la suite et cela a souvent déplu… et désormais tous les teams s’y mettent. Quand on sait que Toyota et Hyundai ont leur base permanente en Finlande, comment vont-ils pouvoir simuler l’asphalte ou la terre cassante ? Aller courir un rally in Spain will be more useful.

Do you understand why this happens?

The situation is very simple: when you cannot perform a test with your car, you look for a solution. Some drivers need to discover their Rally1. To gain confidence, there is no other option than to ride. It was a good idea in 2019, it still is today. I still think that these participations are also positive for the image of the brand, because you go to places where fans are unlikely to see a Rally1. Whether in France, Estonia or Spain, Hyundai was always highlighted.

Does it cost more to compete in an event or to carry out trials?

It's roughly equivalent. Sometimes, over a weekend, it is possible to find an arrangement with the organizers in terms of logistics or commitment. This brings the costs down a bit. What is true is that on a one-off basis you ride more than in a rally. If you make the connection between the money spent and the kilometers traveled, it is better to do tests… but if you don't have the right, you have to do the less bad thing. Your only limit is the money you have. Motorsport has always required significant funds. I don't know how we could practice it in low cost mode. In any case, expensive or not, what matters most is the return on investment. If it is good, the amounts involved do not pose a problem.

During these preparation rallies, can we imagine that the Rally1s carry parts which are not necessarily yet approved? Are the cars always 100% compliant with the regulations?

It is possible to assume that these tests can be used to test things which will then be submitted for approval. What can happen? That the commissioners dismantle the car at the end of the weekend? When Ott (Thank you. Editor's note) is playing at home, I found it hard to believe that a request would come at the end of the race to carry out technical checks. That said, in Italy, I'm sure it could happen! (Laughs) It is also possible to withdraw just after the last special, which prohibits all controversies. The teams do not come to win the event, they are there above all to work.

Comments collected by Loïc Rocci