The Dutch star on scoring his first drivers' championship point of 2011:
You said Vodafone Rally de Portugal was the toughest event you’ve done so far. What was so difficult about it?
“The stages were very demanding, particularly the Power Stage. The first seven kilometres are okay but then it gets slow, really difficult, very technical and very hard to push. We tried not to make any mistakes but it’s so slippery. At 31 kilometres in length it’s really tough.”
After finishing 10th and scoring your first drivers’ championship point of the season, plus more points for the FERM Power Tools World Rally Team, how satisfied are you?
“To score points so early in the season and in such a tough rally, is just the greatest feeling. It was important on this rally that we got the confidence back after our crash in Mexico and gain as much experience as possible. From Saturday afternoon we didn’t push too hard because we were in a good position and we wanted to keep at the same pace. We have fought to achieve this result. It was the toughest rally of my life and we managed to keep out of trouble as well.”
What problems did you encounter?
“On Saturday we had a moment where we narrowly escaped a flat tyre. We were lucky at that instance.”
Did you expect to score points so early in the season?
“I never expected this, especially not in this rally and only driving this car on gravel for a second time. It’s a really difficult event as I have said and the competition level is high.”
Would you say that you have got to grips with your Ford Fiesta RS WRC?
“There’s still more for me to learn and also more to improve for me. But with the car I’m really happy, it feels really good, it’s getting better and better and that’s good. We can improve a lot of things where we lose time and we’re working on that now.”
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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