Auto Hebdo No. 2190 - November 7, 2018 part 2/3

WAS THIS THE FIRST CONCRETE OFFER YOU RECEIVE?

No. But I have too much respect for the people, the companies that were ready to trust me, to get into that kind of consideration. This respect is mutual. All gave it to me except the Citroën officials. For three months, I kept trying to reach them, from base to top, to leave them messages to find a solution amicably, without receiving a return. Never mind ! It will be solved in another way.

FROM A SPORTING PERSPECTIVE, WHICH PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INTERESTING THAN THAT OF BEING PILOT TOYOTA IN 2019?

None, I believe. The team is young, it is on the upward slope. To tell you the truth, three years ago, when he had just been awarded the return of Toyota WRC (autumn 2015. Editor's note), Tommi and I had talked very seriously about a common future. A few months earlier, I had won my first WRC victory (Argentina 2015. Editor's note). My contract with Citroën stopped at the end of the year. Tommi had explained to me his plan, all he had in mind. When we parted, I thought that this ticket could very well, over time, prove to be a winner, but that it could not be for me. I finished my second full season in WRC. I could not afford a sabbatical year when no Yaris was going to be available - even for testing - for a year. I rode with Citroën.

DO YOU REGRET THIS CHOICE?

No. It did not produce the desired results and ended abruptly, but today I have four more world victories. Three years later, I found Tommi. After all these events, his feelings for me had not changed. I could not hesitate anymore. One thing impressed me: everything that Tommi had told me about, which in 2015 only existed in his head, has come true. All those who doubted his way of doing know today that his choices were the right ones. Toyota is leading the Constructors classification and, if it had not been the victim of a bad luck, it would be the same for Tänak Drivers.

WHAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS DO YOU CARE WITH TOMMI MÄKINEN?

I appreciate its directness and simplicity. He does not know politics. He does not have a hidden agenda. He says things as they are.

AND IT INCLUDES THE DRIVERS ...

He was one, and which one! One of the biggest. Talking to him differs from what can be shared with any other stable boss except, presumably, Malcolm Wilson. Others may know or try to convince you they know, which can complicate things. Tommi knows. I'm not saying that to lead a team, you have to be world champion, but that helps. He has good relations with his crews and his engineers. He has a tendency to get involved with everything, but since he is both simple and competent, it works.

HAVE YOU HAD THE POSSIBILITY OF TESTING THE YARIS WRC BEFORE SIGNING YOUR CONTRACT?

Yes, the day before! But my decision was made. I was there for that. A handshake was enough. The papers can wait.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU PILOT?

Only one. The session was extended for four days. The Yaris WRC was born in Finland, was developed in Finland and dominated the last two editions of the rally. I know this field well, on which I imposed myself in 2016, with the DS3. The following year, with the C3, I was moving at 1 second / kilometer of the best ... and I was scared! Since then, I had not put a wheel on these stages. From my first few meters behind the wheel of the Yaris, I thought, "Wow! ". The pleasure was back, intact, if not stronger than ever. I expected the Yaris to be good in his homeland, but what I felt exceeded all my hopes.

WHAT SESSIONS ARE COMING SOON?

Another one, several days, on the ground, then everyone hopes that the snow will have arrived and that we will be able to pass to the tires nails. Then, before Christmas, are scheduled tests prior to Monte Carlo.

HOW WERE YOUR FIRST CONTACTS WITH THE TEAM?

It seemed a little weird, because this is the first time I change teams. In recent years, I have only known Citroen, and not much before, except for a brief experience at Mini, where we had put the cart before the horse. For the first time, I discovered a new team where everything was organized before my arrival. The agreement was immediate with the two main leaders, Tom Fowler and Anthony Sharp. Both are British and former from M-Sport. I was not going to reinvent the wheel by pacing the paths on which the Yaris was born. It was more for me to adapt. That said, we changed the geometry, the dampers, the springs, the anti-roll bars, going, sometimes deliberately, in the wrong direction, so that I felt how the auto reacted to the changes of settings. The first positive point is that she reacts. The second is that I feel it instantly. This had the effect of increasing my confidence. When you make her move in one direction, she goes! The dialogue is frank. This is not the case with all cars.

HAVE YOU RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM MÄKINEN ABOUT 2019?

No, but we had a long conversation focused on his approach to flying, rallies. It's in my interest to listen when Tommi talks. We did not specifically mention the Monte Carlo, nor the 2019 season. When you join a team that counts in its ranks two of the fastest drivers, one led the Yaris for two years, while the Another should have had the 2018 champion's crown on his head, the first thing to do is to be humble and to accept learning.

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF YOUR CONTRACT?

A year.

WHAT WILL BE YOUR OBJECTIVE IN 2019?

I have only one: to have fun driving. Being behind or in front of me will not matter. I must, as a priority, have fun.

AND THEN ?

I do not want to set goals in terms of results, wins, titles. Who knows what the future will be like?

YOU HAVE REMEMBERED TO BE 39 YEARS OLD. UNTIL YOUR CAREER WAS RATHER CHAOTIC. DO YOU HAVE AN EXPLANATION ?

I could raise my hands and say, "It's my fault." I could say that on several occasions I wanted to run before I knew how to walk. Is it true ? I'm not like Kalle Rovanperä or Oliver Solberg, programmed to become pilots. It happened to me almost by chance. I was not thinking about the rally when, at 21, I won a selection. It was a revelation! My 11th rally start was Monte Carlo (2003 Opel Corsa S1600). My first special, I finished it 52 '' behind Daniel Carlsson, on a Suzuki factory S1600. Where did he go? After that, especially without money, you have no choice: or you impress, or you go! Perhaps I could, I should have, act differently. But I am Kris Meeke. I acted in my way and I am always there.

IN YOUR CAREER, WHO HELPED YOU THE MOST?

(Long silence) Me. Without my determination, I would not be anywhere. I do not put myself in evidence, but so many others, in my place, would have remained on the floor. Then there was Colin McRae who allowed me to go from the national rally to the world level. So many talented young people have never had this opportunity. Colin gave it to me. He saw something in me and organized how to introduce me to the Junior league. Later, in 2008, I was forgotten when Marc Van Dalen (boss of Kronos Racing, Editor's note) gave me the phone number of the marketing director of Peugeot UK. The following year, I became IRC champion. Five years later, in 2013, after the abortion of Mini's commitment, I've been on the sidelines for a year and a half when Yves Matton remembers me, my 2005 season on the C2 S1600, and then the IRC 2009 and 2010, at Kronos. He aligns me in Finland and Australia ...