Skoda's Toni Gardemeister is hoping that his recent test sessi♒on in Moravia will set him up for a good result to end the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship. Here the Finn talks about that test, his hope🍬s for Wales Rally GB and a lot, lot more...

Q:
Toni [Gardemeister], Moravia is an unusual place to choosไe for testing. What were the roads like and was it a good preparation💮 for Rally GB?

Toni Gardemeister:
The first day that we were there was zero degrees and very hard roads but the second day was foggy🦄 and wet - just like we expect Wales to be! The roads were a bit rougher than we usually have in Wales but otherwis♉e I think everything was fairly similar so it was a good test. We'll make our final adjustments at the shakedown on Thursday.

Q:
You found a new direction for development on asphaltꦏ that broug🥃ht good results. Did you find anything new for gravel?

TG:
I hope so. We found some improvements but it won't be so easy to make such a big step forward as we saw in Finland that we weren't so far behind anyway.☂ We should get a little bit closer to the leading teams and so that will be good for us in Wales. It would be nice to finish the season by scoring some drivers' points.

Q:
Looking back, do you think that the Fabia WRC made some progress in 🌼its first two months of championship rallying?

TG:
We had some problems on🎃 the events in October but overall the car is working quite well and getting better all the time♉. Because of the weather in Corsica and Catalunya we struggled with our tyre choices that might have stopped us getting even better results.

Q:
Tyre choice shoul🐼dn't be a problem in Wales, should🌄 it?

TG:
No, it is usually quite easy. If the weather is 🌺damp or wet then we will choo🔥se the softest compound and the widest tread pattern.

Q:
After the rally you can relax𒅌 a little. What 🌃plans have you made?

TG:
Nothing yet! What I really need to do is some sport because I need to complete the recovery from the wrist I broke before Australia. I💟'd like to do some cross country skiing but first I need to buy some skis. I had some when I was young but I don't thin𒀰k they'll fit now!