Rally Chile – Yohan Rossel: “I really like discovering something else”

Yohan Rossel, as this is your first trip outside Europe, are you coping well with the time difference?

(Laughing) I don’t know anything about it yet! With a toddler at home, it was difficult to adapt to Chilean time. I hope that by arriving early this will allow me to quickly get back on track. It's a new experience.

Did you realize you were going to race in Chile, South America?

I am extremely grateful that Citroën is giving us this opportunity. We measure our luck perfectly and personally, I am really happy to have such an experience. As for life there, I don't really know what to expect, but I think it will be exotic.

Have you started to understand what awaits you?

We looked at a lot of video footage and I think it looks like Finland, Greece, Sardinia. It's a mixture of all of these. As there are 4 special stages that were used in 2019, we were able to have access to Citroën's reports. Combining this with what the organizers have provided us, we are well prepared and I believe it will be a rally on earth quite traditional. Friday has a lot of summits and for me this is where the difference will have to be made. It's a hell of a day ahead and we must at all costs avoid going to the side roads otherwise it will be the exit. The 2^e step is more technical. The presence of fog could play a role.

Did you have time to carry out tests from the Acropolis?

No, but that didn't stop us from working with the team. We also have a test session in Chile. We are starting to know the car and its faults well, so it's up to us to be good!

What will be your goal in Concepción?

I'm not going to say that we have nothing to lose, because we are still in the race for the title, but we have to go out and try to be as close to victory as possible. I appreciate that we are all starting on an equal footing on this field. I really like discovering something else. If we manage to get into a big rhythm straight away, we will aim as high as possible. I want to win one on dirt this year and it's the last one... If we have to finish 2^e of the championship, I don't want to regret anything.

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