Sordo will have to get at least a podium in Spain

In Salou, this weekend, for the Spanish Rally, Dani Sordo will have the favor of the Catalan public. The Spaniard faces a great challenge and must make up for his withdrawal in Germany.

In New Zealand, three weeks ago, Loeb’s teammate finished in 6th place without being able to do better. But the rally in New Zealand was for him a training and enriching experience rather than a poor result.

« There were some good things, especially on Sunday, where I managed to defend my position while Petter Solberg was putting pressure on me. Well, it was only for sixth place, and I cannot be satisfied with that. I had been left with a rather favorable impression in 2006. I wasn’t always able to find the feeling I had experienced during my first outing. Perhaps I set the bar too high. I probably neglected the fact that on this terrain, where driving skills are everything, you need a lot of practice to feel comfortable. A good lesson to ponder. »

The next two races will take place on asphalt, the Spaniard’s favorite terrain. The third will be in Corsica on very mixed terrains but maintains good hopes of shining thanks to his good progress on this surface.

« Rediscovering the tarmac, especially in my country, is something I quite enjoy. However, I’m increasingly appreciating the soil, a surface on which I’ve made significant progress since the beginning of the year but still have a lot to learn, as New Zealand just reminded me. The move of the Catalunya southward seems, I believe, to be a good thing. The stages there are faster, with excellent grip. In any case, whether it’s Lloret or Salou, what remains unchanged is the quality of the RACC’s organization and the enthusiasm of the spectators whom, I hope, will once again turn out in large numbers to support us. »

For the home rally, Sordo wants to bring back more than just points. He wants to prevent Gronholm from scoring, and for that, a podium is mandatory! We need to try to be ahead of Mikko Hirvonen and especially Marcus Grönholm. With Marc Martí, we will attempt to lend a hand to Sébastien [Loeb] and Daniel [Elena] by taking points from their rival. To achieve this, we must aim for a position between them and their competitor. We know it won’t be easy, but I am counting on the good feeling I get on asphalt, the potential of our C4 WRC, and the work of the entire Citroën Sport team to achieve this.

The Spaniard trained last weekend in Ireland and will also have François Duval this weekend, certainly as a rival, but especially to counter Marcus Gronholm in the championship.