Ingrassia: Winning with four different teams, “it’s not anecdotal”

Here you are with 6 victories in Mexico, is this a trip that suits you very well?

It's true, but we've also seen events that were successful for us like the Monte-Carlo, but where we didn't manage to win! This proves that even if it succeeds, we have to put in the effort to make it work. All the stars have to be aligned and you have to have a good team.

Alfaro, the second stage of the afternoon, is safely completed by our crews

Take a ride onboard with our rally leaders @SebOgier and Julien from the first pass #Toyota #YarisWRC #RallyMexico #WRC #ToyotaGAZOORacing #TGR_WRC pic.twitter.com/tLarSvkwAE

— Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) March 14, 2020

It’s a rally which requires even more concentration than usual?

Strange things are always happening in Mexico and you need to be very focused! 12 years ago, during our first event outside France (in Junior WRC with Citroën C2 S1600), I remember that we had a fuel sample in the service park on which the dates written were wrong. It happened again this year!

You also had the perfect rally!

It is true that we did not make a mistake and I remember that none of our teammates made a mistake. I just want to congratulate Toyota Gazoo Racing because we saw that none of our cars had any problems and the performance was good. Congratulations to Kai (Lindström, the team manager. Editor’s note) and the team.

It's great to get on that top step here in Mexico! #Toyota #YarisWRC #RallyMexico #WRC #ToyotaGAZOORacing #TGR_WRC pic.twitter.com/Y5qkZVffhF

- Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) March 15, 2020

With two victories and podiums already, it's an excellent start to the season for the brand. Here, we were a little more comfortable than in Sweden where the conditions were not easy and in Monte-Carlo where we remained cautious, as during the 2013 edition.

Does winning with a fourth different team mean anything to you?

We know it is a significant amount of work and a very short adaptation period. This is not anecdotal, because it requires a lot of energy, concentration and time... which we don't have in the WRC! When we look back, we will have done great things.

The season schedule will be modified. How will you keep busy until the next rally?

I will follow the instructions if I receive them. Otherwise, I'm going to take a vacation as planned in Costa Rica starting Monday. I'd rather be in the jungle than in a quarantined hotel room in Frankfurt!

Discover the full report and analysis of the Rally of Mexico, produced by our special correspondent, in AUTO issue 2259hebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.