The crews are ready and a capacity crowd gathered in sunlit Prague to see them cross the ramp at the ceremonial start at Hrsdčany Podium. For the drivers, it is a leap into the unknown – and one that they ware relishing.
#69 Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) / Jonne Halttonen (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
"I think this weekend it’s going to be really the opposite of simple! The event looks to be quite tricky, it’s going to be a really challenging weekend… The feeling is quite good. It’s a new event, which is going to be quite a big challenge I think. It’s a tense feeling when fighting like this, the same way, but of course I hope it’s going to be a good one for us and let’s hope we can also get the title.”
#11 Thierry Neuville (BEL) / Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
"The biggest challenge will be the weather once more, the tyre choices, but generally as well the Friday stages are quite challenging. Obviously all the stages are new so we’re going to discover every single corner for the first time in our lives and it won’t be easy at that speed!”
#33 Ott Tänak (EST) / Martin Järveoja (GBR), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
"It’s a full new event so tricky one, difficult to know what to expect. Let’s see, we need to start from somewhere, hopefully find a good rhythm immediately and then go for it as much as we can.”
#17 Sébastien Ogier (FRA) / Vincent Landais (FRA), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
"We’ll see, but I think it won’t be easy for anyone so first we have to survive the difficult conditions and then we’ll see what we can do. Mr. Julien Ingrassia is back (on the route note crew) so it’s nice to have him take the mission. Our usual co-driver was doing the race this weekend, so Julien accepted to come back so thank you and we’re looking forward to get the good info!”
#4 Esapekka Lappi (FIN) / Janne Ferm (FIN), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
"Well if it all goes well (a podium) could be possible but we all know how challenging it can be and the weather conditions will make it very spicy! So you never know, but if all the tyre choices go well then why not? It could be. I didn’t do any test but the shakedown was fairly okay, I was pretty happy so (I’m) quite excited, actually.”
#24 Adrien Fourmaux (FRA) / Alexandre Coria (FRA), Ford Fiesta Rally2
“I want to enjoy the rally, we are lucky to have a lot of spectators and it’s a good welcome for us.”