Loeb and Duval looking forward to Rally GB
Sebastien Loeb and Francois Duval finished first and second in the Deutschland Rally, achieving the best result of the French team since the start of the season. The Citroen duo are now looking forward to Rally GB, the next round of the World Rally Championship.

Questions to Sebastien Loeb

In the end, you really wanted to win your `home` event – the Deutschland Rally – for the fourth time… More than you let on before the start…
"The will to win is sufficient motivation whatever the rally. As I indicated, I started at a strong pace but at a pace at which I felt comfortable and which, given my knowledge of the Xsara, meant I could drive at the limit without overstepping it. The fact that François was so close didn`t come as a surprise and we finished some long stages on the same second. His performance in Germany last year and his times during shakedown spoke for themselves. What I didn`t know was where he stood in terms of his morale and he has reassured everyone on that front. It was a great pleasure to win this rally. As on the Monte Carlo and in Argentina, you feel the spectators urging you on. The ovation we were given by our fans at service was fantastic! Pleasing them only adds to our own pleasure. I am also delighted for the team that we succeeded in finishing first and second; it was a reward that their outstanding work deserves."

After last year`s switch to a September date, are you still as big a fan of Wales Rally GB?
"Last year, you could hardly tell the event had moved to September! OK, it wasn`t so cold but the stages were as slippery as ever. Indeed, the pleasure of competing here comes from the fast, wide stages that allow you to use all the road, with no ruts that force everyone to follow the same line. The fact that there is such little grip also forces you to drive with a great deal of finesse. With a nicely balanced car like the Xsara, the stages are really fun. It`s not easy to find the ideal speed, but they`re such a pleasure. For me, the rally`s only down side – and I said this already last year – is that you can lose it on the Monday before the start – before you even set foot in a stage – if you get your tyre quota wrong."

Finishing 2nd again in 2004 was frustrating. Will you be out for revenge this year, and what sort of weather would you prefer?
"Will I be out for revenge? Yes and no! It`s true that victory has slipped through my fingers twice now, but both times the end result was positive for Citroën. But this time I do really want to win. As far as the weather goes, as I have already said, I enjoy it when the conditions are slippery. That`s great fun. But previous rallies have shown that our Michelin tyres make an even bigger difference when the going is hot and when the stages become more abrasive second time through. So I would like the weather to be dry… with my tyre quota just right!"

Questions to François Duval
Let`s look back briefly at the Deutschland Rally…
"Things generally go well for me on asphalt. I knew I could fulfil my mission which was to drive quickly, figure up with the front-runners and show I was a force to be reckoned with. It`s been a while since I last enjoyed myself so much on an event and I drove at a quick pace from the start. It was a superb rally and Seb and I had a great fight until the moment we logically decided to focus on ensuring the excellent result we finally achieved. It was easier from that point on."

This will be your fifth Rally GB start. What do you think of this event?
"You could be forgiven for thinking it was an easy rally but it is in fact very difficult. When it rains, as it often does, the stages are very slippery. Finding the ideal braking point can be delicate, and it only gets worse after the first cars have been through. If the going is dry, the stages are more abrasive. The weather can change quite quickly and calling the tyres right each time isn`t easy."

How did testing go? What sort of result do you think you can achieve?
"I spent a day testing in dry conditions. Everything went OK and I am happy with the set-up we found. I feel comfortable with the car, while Sven and I are now also totally in phase. I hope I will be able to push harder than in recent gravel events, for my own good and for the good of the team. I will be pleased if I can finish inside the top-five and I will base my pace on that of Markko [Märtin]. He generally goes well on this type of event, so I mustn`t make any mistakes…"


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