Adrien Fourmaux: I started rally 2 years ago, I won the french detection (scout) from the French F?d?ration, Rallye Jeunes, as Sebastien Ogier in 2005. In 2017, I finished third in the french Junior championship for my first year of rally, while last year I won the championship. I have only 16 rallies.
RallyMax: Last year you changed the car from the Ford Fiesta R2 directly to the more fastest Ford Fiesta R5. How was the feeling when you entered into the R5?
Adrien Fourmaux: I made only one rally with the Fiesta R5, the feeling with the car is very good but I had to change different things on my driving, it’s a bit different.
RallyMax: Rallye Monte-Carlo is probably one of the most difficult events because of the road conditions. Do you think that the tyre choice is the most important key to have a good result and what are your expectations from this event?
Adrien Fourmaux: Tyres are always a big issue in Monte-Carlo, for sure, because they are the most important choice to expect to do a good result, but the feeling from drivers is very important. For me, as it’s a very difficult rally and it will be my first event in the World Rally Championship, my goal is to finish and we will see our position Sunday. I know that I’m a competitor but I have to be patient.
RallyMax: What was the reason of changing your co-driver for the 2019 season?
Adrien Fourmaux: French F?d?ration decided to change my co-driver to have an experimented co-driver, who knows every rally. I hope he could give me from his experience.
RallyMax: We saw the entry list for Rally Sweden and your name is there, but you gonna change the car again. Speaking about that, do you want to compete against the JWRC drivers? And what will be your goals for this season?
Adrien Fourmaux: We decide to take part in Rally Sweden with a Fiesta R2 to learn the rally. For a french guy, it’s not easy to perform in this rally, we have to see our world champion. We will not compete against Junior WRC drivers because we will have Michelin tyres, our kind partner. The goal, this season, will be to improve, to be able to fight with the podium and maybe do better in the three last events.
RallyMax: You started to compete in rally together with your brother. Is there any chance to see you both in the same car in the future?
Adrien Fourmaux: Already this year, I made a rally with my brother, but I was his co-driver, the first time for me and yet I know that i’m better behind the wheel. Maybe we will participate in other rallies, but never in the World Rally Championship.
RallyMax: Adrien, thank you for answering our questions and good luck next week at Rallye Monte-Carlo. In the end, can you please tell us if you heard about any Romanian drivers? Please send a message for the Romanian rally fans.
Adrien Fourmaux: I know that Simone Tempestini is driving with the Romanian flag. I have to say thank you for your questions and thank you to all for your support. See you this week in Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Cu doar doua zile ramase pana la startul sezonului 2019 din Campionatul Mondial de Raliuri, am stat de vorba cu Adrien Fourmaux, campionul juniorilor din Franta, cel care va concura in Rallye Monte-Carlo la bordul unui Ford Fiesta R5. Obiectivul sau principal va fi acela de a termina acest raliu, mai apoi urmand sa pregateasca prima sa participare in Rally Sweden, la bordul unui Fiesta R2.
RallyMax: Salutare, Adrien, iti multumim ca ai acceptat invitatia noastra de a raspunde catorva intrebari pentru RallyMax. Pentru inceput, poveste-ne putin ai ajuns sa debutezi in lumea raliurilor.
Adrien Fourmaux: Totul a inceput in urma cu 2 ani, am castigat raliul de descoperire a talentelor al Federatiei Franceze, Rallye Jeunes, la fel ca si Sebastien Ogier in 2005. In sezonul 2017 am terminat al treilea in campionatul francez de junior in doar primul meu an de raliuri, iar anul trecut am castigat campionatul rezervat aceleasi categorii. Pana in prezent am luat startul in doar 16 raliuri.
RallyMax: Anul trecut ai schimbat masina de concurs, trecand de la Ford Fiesta R2 direct la mult mai rapidul Ford Fiesta R5. Care a fost sentimentul cand ai intrat in R5?
Adrien Fourmaux: Am facut doar un raliu cu Fiesta R5, sentimentul cu masina a fost foarte bun, dar a trebuit sa fac schimbari in stilul meu de pilotaj, este putin diferit cu o astfel de masina.
RallyMax: Rallye Monte-Carlo este probabil unul dintre cele mai dificile raliuri, asta in principal datorandu-se conditiilor diferite ale suprafetei de concurs. Va fi alegerea corecta a anvelopelor cheia succesului pentru a obtine un rezultat bun?
Adrien Fourmaux: Alegerea anvelopelor este intotdeauna o mare problema in Rallye Monte-Carlo. Sigur, este foarte important sa faci o alegere cat mai buna a cauciucurilor, dar trebuie sa fie si un feeling foarte bun. Pentru mine va fi prima etapa in campionatul mondial de raliuri asa ca scopul meu este acela de a termina cu bine, pozitia urmand a o afla doar duminica. Stiu ca sunt competitiv, dar trebuie sa am rabdare in acest moment.
RallyMax: Care a fost motivul schimbarii copilotului pentru sezonul 2019?
Adrien Fourmaux: Federatia franceza a decis sa-mi schimbe navigatorul pentru a avea unnul experimentat, care cunoaste fiecare raliu. Sper sa-mi impartaseasca cat mai mult din experienta sa.
RallyMax: Am vazut ca apari pe lista de inscrieri in Rally Sweden dar cu o alta masina. Vrei sa-ti masori fortele cu pilotii din JWRC? Care sunt obiectivele pentru acest sezon?
Adrien Fourmaux: Am decis sa luam parte in Rally Sweden cu un Fiesta R2 pentru a ne familiariza cu acest raliu. Pentru un francez nu este deloc usor acest raliu, exemplu fiind chiar campionul mondial. Nu vom putea sa ne masuram fortele cu competitorii din JWRC pentru ca noi alergam cu o alta marca de anvelope, Michelin, care este de altfel unul dintre partenerii nostri. Scopul in acest sezon va fi sa crestem ritmul, poate la ultimele trei etape sa ne implicam chiar intr-o lupta pentru podium.
RallyMax: Ai inceput sa concurezi in raliuri impreuna cu fratele tau. Vom avea ocazia sa va vedem in aceeasi masina de concurs in viitor?
Adrien Fourmaux: In acest sezon am participat la un raliu alaturi de fratele meu, dar de data aceasta eu am fost copilotul lui, fiind prima experienta de acest gen pentru mine, prin care mi-am dat seama ca locul meu este la volan. Poate vom mai concura impreuna, dar cu siguranta nu in campionatul mondial.
RallyMax: Adrien, iti multumim ca ai raspuns intrebarilor noastre si iti tinem pumnii saptamana viitoare la Rallye Monte-Carlo. In final, spune-ne te rog daca ai auzit de vreun pilot roman si te rugam sa transmiti un mesaj fanilor.
Adrien Fourmaux: Stiu ca Simone Tempestini piloteaza sub steagul romanesc. Vreau sa va multumesc pentru acest interviu si va multumesc tuturor pentru sprijinul acordat. Sa ne vedem la Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Photo credit: Thibault Fassola