How good is it to be competing again in international competition?
“It’s a very, very nice feeling. After two years in Austria with a few rallies in a front-wheel-drive car knowing I had the pace to do more was frustrating. I still need to improve a bit to be driving at 120 per cent on the pacenotes but that will come back after a few more rallies.”
Did you always believe you’d come back?
“Sometimes for sure the whole situation in business was so difficult. Without Manfred Stohl [of Stohl Racing] it would have been impossible to go back. He made the contact with Subaru and put everything together. I would not be here without Manfred.”
What do you do to keep busy when you are not competing in the IRC?
“At home in Austria I am a driving instructor for safe driving in cars and on motorbikes. I have my own company for motorsport events also where I do hospitality and catering.”