The swift Swiss was the first driver to register for the 2015 ERC. An ex-circuit racer, Hirschi will make his Jännerrallye debut in a Peugeot 208 T16 having finished a career-best fourth on the penultimate round of last season’s ERC in Switzerland.
How will you prepare for the round one of the 2015 ERC season, the Jännerrallye?
Jonathan Hirschi : “We did some tests a few weeks ago but it was really dry so maybe not suitable for the conditions of the rally. Normally I will do the test before the event in the Czech Republic and that should be good. After that it’s a bit like a casino with the weather, if it will be snow or dry Tarmac. It’s difficult to prepare for this event because if we prepare the car for the snow and it’s dry it will not be a good way so let’s see. From my part I saw some onboard camera footage just to see what the stages are like and it looks really great this rally.”
There is always the possibility of ice and snow on the Jännerrallye. How much of a concern is this for you or are you simply excited by the challenge?
Jonathan Hirschi : “For sure I like this kind of challenge. I come from Switzerland so I have this kind of weather for three months of the year. I did some race on the ice, in the Andros Trophy, and my experience was not bad. If I can get this kind of condition, ice and snow, I will enjoy for sure. If I can get some experience in the snow for me it’s really good. I have good experience on Tarmac from the track but I don’t have experience on the gravel and snow is the first step to learning difficult conditions because it is not so different to gravel.”
What is your target for the event?
Jonathan Hirschi : “For me I will try my best for sure but it’s a bit like before Valais. I have not so much experience and if you want to get experience you have to finish the rally and do all the mileage of the rally. This is the big target for me. If I can catch a good pace for sure I will do this. If I am a little bit far away I will try my best.”
What is your programme for the ERC in 2015?
Jonathan Hirschi : “I will do the first three rounds because it’s a good opportunity and I am lucky to do that. Then we will reach a point and after that the target is to do 80 per cent of the season. If nothing changes I will do the first three rallies and we will see.”
You’re better known as a circuit racer. What’s proving more difficult: circuit racing or rallying?
Jonathan Hirschi : “The main difference between the rally and the track, first of all, is we have two in the car. In track you are always alone apart from the link by radio but it’s not the same. The second thing is the rally, for me, is much more difficult right now because I don’t have a big experience compared to the track. It’s a little bit difficult when the Tarmac condition changes a lot. You can start at the beginning of the stage and it is dry and then it gets wet and then back to dry and this is what I need to learn. My line is good on the stage but there are small things I have to learn to put side by side and make good things.”
press release : ERC, pictures : Sébastien Moulin, Massimo Prati]]>
The swift Swiss was the first driver to register for the 2015 ERC. An ex-circuit racer, Hirschi will make his Jännerrallye debut in a Peugeot 208 T16 having finished a career-best fourth on the penultimate round of last season’s ERC in Switzerland.
