P-G Andersson is the new leader of the Super 2000 World Rally Championship following his second triumph of the season on Neste Oil Rally Finland last week. He spoke to WRC.com following his latest success for PROTON Motorsports.
How important was winning the Super 2000 World Rally Championship category on Neste Oil Rally Finland?
“We really needed this victory. It’s been a long and difficult season since Sweden more or less. The car was running well, we haven’t been able to be quickest on the stages but we’ve done what we needed to do by playing a clever game all weekend and it paid off in the end. It is always a very special feeling to win in Finland.”
You mentioned on day two that you’d adopted a safe driving approach. Why was this?
“Okay, I was going hard but I allowed some margin because always here on the second pass there are punctures.”
Starting the final day in a close battle with Craig Breen, did you feel you had to win or would second place have been good enough?
“I had a good fight and going into Ouninpohja there was a 13-second gap to Craig. Unfortunately he had an off. Second can be good enough but you really want to win when you have the chance. When the driveshaft broke I thought it would be difficult if he keeps his brain cool, more or less impossible but I tried to keep the speed up at least.”
What did you think when you heard he was out?
“I saw him and saw he was at the side of the car, which was the most important thing. It was a shame for him because he did a fantastic job all weekend.”
You’re now leading the championship. How does that make you feel?
“It’s some payback for Rallye Monte-Carlo when we had some really bad luck at the end. We’re back in with a championship and we do Rally GB next. I’ve done that event before, okay not some of the new stages. We can win the title now.”