We asked Georg Gross and his co-driver Raigo Mõlder to answer on some questions before Rally Sarma.
You quit rallying after success in Estonian Rally Championship 2013. Did you miss rally during this 3 years brake?
Of course, we were missing rallies and it was long brake for us. True that Raigo was co-driving Ott Tanak in WRC, but together we did not done any rally after year 2013.
Did you considered other options like R5 before you bought Ford Fiesta WRC?
You do not want anything else if you drove many years with WRC before. WRC giving more fun for us and more fun for the spectators. Show must go on :)
You was in tests two weeks before Rally Sarma. Did you get confident with new car?
The brake was very long and the driving side is not so complicated but listening the notes is the hardest thing. For sure, it will start come back with every kilometre.
Did the new car surprised you? How it is if you compare it with ex Ford Focus WRC?
Of course, I can compare them but they are different cars and the Fiesta is little bit too new for me right now. However, one thing is sure that the handling is much better with Fiesta than it was with Focus. It is very good car and very consistent. Its big pleasure to drive with that car.
Why did you chose Rally Sarma for comeback?
Rally Sarma was a first option because before that the car and we was not ready.
You competed in Rally Sarma only once on year 2011 and you win this rally with Ford Focus WRC. What you think about this rally in general?
As I remember, it was nice rally with lot of spectators. I hope that we will have nice weather during the rally and we can have fun in Latvia forests.
What do you think about expected competitors of Rally Sarma 2017: Kalle Rovanpera with ŠKODA Fabia R5; Nikolay Gryazin with ŠKODA Fabia R5; Janis Berkis with Ford Fiesta R5, even Ranno Bundsen, Janis Vorobjovs and others? Do you expect hard fight for 1st place in Rally Sarma?
For sure, there will be hard fight. The youngsters are coming strongly and the others are very fast. We try to do our best and fight for the victory.
What is your plan for this season?
Definitely, we will compete in all future rounds of Estonian rally championship and we will start in some Latvian rallies if it will be possible.
Rally Sarma 2017 will start at 9:30 AM on Saturday 11th February and will end at 8:00 PM with prize giving ceremony. All information is available in web page www.autorally.lv
Rally Sarma 2017 is sponsored by Gulbene county and companies: "Vasks"; "Grantiņi"; "Kombainserviss"; "M.T.Z. SERVISS"; "Akvedukts"; "Gulbenes Autobuss"; "Sendija"; "Kopa" and "Karlo Motors". Media sponsors: "Dzirkstele"; "4rati.lv"; "Tavs Auto"; "rally.ee"; "LATAUTO.lv".
Ģirts Avotiņš, Media officer of Rally Sarma
