RallySport Magazine August 2016

in many cases, the hard work is just
starting, but I have never wanted
anything else more than this.
What is the team doing to further develop
the car for the remaining two events this
year?
From the first time the car turned a
wheel, it has been a great package and
that’s a real testament to the guys at
Les Walkden Rallying.
We have developed the car to as far
as the Group N regulations allow, so
the main focus for the next events is
tweaking the set-up to suit each rally,
and for me to make sure I’m getting the
most out of the car with my driving.
South Australia will be the fastest round
of the championship so far. Will that suit the
Subaru more than the first three rounds?
South Australia is typically a
horsepower rally, as most of the ARC
events are really, so I think we need to
be on our game just the same as every
rally.
My preparation will certainly be no
different.
Looking forward to Rally Australia, where
the world will be watching, how important is
a good result in the WRC round - both from
Subaru’s perspective, and from your own?
For me, every rally is just as important
as the other in terms of my preparation
and performance. Although for sure, to
have a great result on the WRC stage
would be fantastic, and there are still so
many Subaru fans in the WRC, so I think
everyone would like to see that!
I’ll put in 100%, as in every rally,
so from my side I won’t be changing
anything.
You’ve been labelled one of the hardest
workers of anyone in rallying, with measured
preparation before each event. Does this just
relate to physical preparation, or do you work
specifically on the mental side of things as
well?
I think a lot comes down to how badly
you want something. I want to arrive
at a rally knowing that I have done
everything I can to be as prepared as
possible.
Given that time in the car is always
at a premium, most of these aspects
fall outside of the car. So definitely a
combination of physical preparation,
mental, working on pacenotes, anything
and everything! I’m always learning.
With a three-month gap between
Queensland and South Australia, what have
you been up to?
Following Queensland we had
Bryan
quite
Bouffier
a busy schedule with the launch of
the new Subaru Levorg and SubiNats.
It’s great to be involved with a really
proactive company such as Subaru, so
even when there is not a rally on, there
is always something new and exciting
happening.
I have also had the chance to head
to Europe for a few weeks and am
Marijan Griebel
currently writing this from Rally Finland.
As soon as I get back to Australia it will
be full steam ahead preparing for South
Australia.
A mid-season trip to Europe saw Molly
enjoying a day on Lake Annecy in France
(below), and sharing a motorbike ride with
Hyundai WRC star, Kevin Abbring.
Photos courtesy of Molly Taylor
Alexey Lukyanuk
AUGUST 2016 - RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE | 27