PETTER SOLBERG

What’s your feeling having now spent time in the Impreza WRC2008?

I think it’s going to very good and I’m very impressed with it. The whole car I think is one of the best I’ve driven, which is saying a lot. I was very happy with it during the tests and when the overall package works well, the car works very well. We drove in some different conditions on the test and the car was good in them all which shows good design and a good chassis. I’m really looking forward to spending more time flat out in it.

What’s the biggest difference between the new and the old Impreza World Rally Car?

Stability, balance and cornering are all much better in the new car. Corner entry is much more positive and I feel the mid-corner grip is much better which is where you can really make time by pushing and holding the line. The shape is also very different, but I think everyone can see that! That’s why the balance is better though as under the different shape it’s got a longer wheelbase.

Being a totally new car, how hard is it to adapt to from the old Impreza?

It’s actually very easy. The whole car is very easy to drive, much much easier to drive. The balance is better which makes it easier, but also in the cockpit it is simpler and the steering is easier. Straight away I felt comfortable in it. The car overall is basically exactly how it should be. It just gives you that right feeling right from the beginning which is very good. There’s no problem to get used to it at all.

It’s actually very easy. The whole car is very easy to drive, much much easier to drive. The balance is better which makes it easier, but also in the cockpit it is simpler and the steering is easier. Straight away I felt comfortable in it. The car overall is basically exactly how it should be. It just gives you that right feeling right from the beginning which is very good. There’s no problem to get used to it at all.

The car marks a big milestone for Subaru and the team. How does it feel to be part of such an important programme?

It’s a very, very good feeling. I have a lot of confidence in the car already after only a few days in it, and it’s exciting to be a part of it all with the team. Everyone has put in so much time and worked so hard, and I know Subaru and the team are really looking forward to seeing it flat out.

It’s the start of something new which it is a very good feeling to be part of. You can really see and feel the advantage of it being designed from scratch and I think that new feeling goes through the whole team.

What do you feel looking to this weekend in Greece and the car’s debut?

I’m excited about competing in it for the first time; that’s what all the work is for you know. I think it could be very good. When everything is just right, the car is very good. I like Greece as a rally so I really hope we have that good feeling, and then we can push for a good result first time out. I really, really want to do well.

What do you think the new car will be able to achieve?

It will be a winning car, no doubt. The car has everything a World Rally Car needs to be fast, like good balance and low centre of gravity, and I’m very positive about that. The team are working very hard with BOS on dampers for this car, so I think when we have the best from them the car will be very fast.

Do you think that this car can take you and the team back to the front of the field again?

For sure, when it all comes together I think that the car can win rallies. The more we drive it the more we will get to know about it and the results will show, but I have a good feeling about it.

 

CHRIS ATKINSON

What are your impressions after driving the Impreza WRC2008 for the first time?

I think there’s a very positive feeling there. It’s exciting to be able to compete in a brand new car. As you’d expect, the team has done a good job, and it’s a big step in the right direction for us.

I got to grips with it very quickly. There’s a bit of fine-tuning still needed to get it fitting best to my driving style, as you’d imagine. The first few days in the car were really a familiarisation and to give a feeling and understanding of its character, and more time behind the wheel and in different conditions will make it more and more comfortable. Overall I’m very happy and looking forward to really getting stuck in with it.

From the outset, do you feel it is a step forward from the WRC2007?

It’s definitely a step forward, yes. We’ve spent a lot of time in the current car though so we’ve come to learn how that works and all its little details. For me, it’s the first time in my career that I’ve stepped into a new World Rally Car, so I’ve got to learn to adapt to that. From the very first run though I felt comfortable with the car and am confident that we are in the right direction.

What’s it like to step into a new car for the first time?

It’s a very good feeling, and because it’s such a new and important car for Subaru and the team, it’s great to be a part of it. It’s not that difficult to adapt to the WRC2008 as you drive it the same way, and for me I could push hard in my first time in the car, which is very good.

We tried it in some different conditions and it seemed to adapt quite well. You don’t know exactly until you get onto the first stage and see where you’re at, but the first signs are very positive and I’m excited about seeing exactly what we can do in it.

The WRC2008 is obviously a totally new shape and longer wheelbase – how much difference does that make when driving it?

For me, the balance of the car is good and the reaction and handling is a good step forward, which has all come from the new overall package and the development of the chassis. It feels a lot more responsive and a lot easier to drive.

What do you feel are the main differences between the two Imprezas?

It’s a completely different feeling in the balance and the handling of the WRC2008, but in terms of simply sitting inside it, it instantly feels familiar and right. It’s still a World Rally Car and it still has similar features, similar engine, similar gearbox so it doesn’t feel foreign, but it performs very differently.

But the real gain is in the unknown quantities, the things that are hard to measure and hard to feel but make up the time. Things like centre of gravity and weight distribution that make up time without having to push any harder. They feel a big improvement and I think that’s the main difference for me.

What are your feelings about Greece and the first rally in the car?

It’s the first time out in a new car so it’s very exciting but you’re always a little cautious! If the feeling’s good I’ll be pushing straight away. There’s no reason not to, and obviously I’m looking forward to the opportunity to see where we are with the car and see if we can start to fight for wins for Subaru again.