He looked especially happy dani deaf on the final podium of the Rally de Portugal. It is true that he is used to climbing into the ‘box’ because he has done it 52 times, but in the Portuguese event he may have been one of the most fought over.
– Is this one of your hardest-fought podium finishes?
– I don’t know if he is one of the most fought, but he has been very fought. It must be recognized that Takamoto has run a lot. You also have to remember that he was already putting Ogier on the ropes last year here. We were able to beat him, but I had to make a huge effort in the last section. I’ve given everything he could and more because if not, he wouldn’t beat him. Fafe has a special thing: when you think you’re going all the way, you can still go a little further. I have done it and, if he reached the end, fine, and if not, then nothing.
– It was that of ‘or serum, or champagne’.
– I don’t want to hurt myself and, although I always go to the limit, you can always give a little more. I saw that I was doing well, without climbing the walls and without doing anything stupid, but pushing well.
– Has the rapport with the car improved as the rally progressed?
– The truth is that the first day was more or less fine. Somewhat tired by the high temperatures inside the car, and yes it is true that I have been getting into the car. But the Toyotas were a bit ahead as was also seen with my teammates.
– The Rovanpera thing is starting to be worrying. So young and dominating with pleasure.
– That was coming. What he does comes easy to him. It’s natural. And when you do something natural and win, everything goes smoothly. I think it’s going to be a bit difficult from now on for the new generation.
– What has been worse, the heat inside the car or the uneven power delivery of the hybrid system?
– The heat has been very hard for me in this rally, but I think for everyone too. You have to take a solution. It has also been difficult to adapt to the power delivery, but it is what it is.
– Why do you think there have been so many punctures?
– There were many places that could not be run one hundred percent. These are cars, not tractors. Some areas were very bad, with a lot of stones in the ruts. In those places I wasted time, but I didn’t want to DJ like everyone else. Sometimes it pays to be smart and not make mistakes.
– In two weeks we will see him again in Sardinia. In high spirits after this podium?
– The truth is that here I expected to be later. He came wanting more because I want to fight for the top three in the stages, not at the end of the rally. We have had a good, intelligent rally. We have managed to be where we could, taking advantage of the situation and now in Sardinia we will see if we can adapt the car a bit, but morale and desire, I have a lot. The podium achieved here helps.