Dani Sardo and Kris Meeke, the two drivers for the MINI WRC Team at the Rally Italy discuss the race with
MINI Motorsport:
Dani and Kris have been itching to get the season started for months now. While the other teams already have four rallies behind them, the two MINI WRC Team drivers have been concentrating on the development of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. "Now we want to show how good we are," says Dani.
One thing is certain: the first outing will not be an easy one. The 18 stages on Sardinia pose a real challenge. "Sardinia is a tricky rally because sand debris often makes the track slippery," says Kris, who knows the route from his time in the Intercontinental Rallye Challenge (IRC) and finished fourth there in 2010.
The countless corners also ask serious questions of the drivers' concentration. "You have to be perfectly prepared," says Dani, whose most recent start in Sardinia came in 2009. He also has respect for the surface, saying: "The surface changes with each car. Once the sand is gone, you find yourself driving on hard, bumpy ground, and you must adapt your driving style accordingly."
"Sardinia is like a durability test for the car," says Kris. Whatever happens, fans and spectators out on the course can look forward to a spectacular mixture of fast sections and tricky bends. Dani promises: "Sardinia will be a highlight."
