The start of the first event in the 2019 WRC calender, Rallye Monte-Carlo, is taking place today. Between the recce of the stages, the junior champion from Belgium, Gregoire Munster, answered some questions for RallyMax. The young Belgian is prepared for his first WRC event, even though he doesn’t yet know any other details about his 2019 program.
RallyMax: Hello Gregoire, thank you for accepting our invitation to answer some RallyMax questions. First of all, tell us a little about how you started rallying.
Gregoire Munster: My father was an official driver and so I have always been in the world of rallying. At the age of 18 I wanted to follow his steps and so I had the chance to drive my first rally in Belgium.
RallyMax: Last year you changed the car from the Oped Adam R2 directly to the more fastest Skoda Fabia R5. How was the feeling with the R5 in the first stages?
Gregoire Munster: The feeling with the car was amazing! The Skoda is really efficient and is really comfortable to drive. Of course, it was not easy to switch from the Opel Adam R2, but that was part of the challenge.
RallyMax: Rallye Monte-Carlo is probably one of the most difficult events, mainly 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?
Gregoire Munster: The tyre choice is indeed really important in Rallye Monte-Carlo. The weather conditions are constantly changing so it will not be easy. In my case, we are here to take as many experiences as possible so we will probably choose for the safest choice.
RallyMax: You competed last year in more than 25 events. You didn?t feel tired at the end of the year?
Gregoire Munster: Previous year was quite challenging but when you love what you?re doing, it?s impossible to get enough of it. I think we learned a lot because we were often in the car so it was really positive. Of course, that wouldn?t have been possible without the support of our partners!
RallyMax: Rallye Monte-Carlo it?s gonna be your first WRC event. What are your plans for 2019 and what will be your goals for this season?
Gregoire Munster: We?re still looking for the best program for 2019. For the moment, I am fully focus on Rallye Monte-Carlo.
RallyMax: Gregoire, 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.
Gregoire Munster: I am sorry to say that but I don?t know any Romanian driver.
Message: Never forget to breathe on fast sections.
Astazi se da startul in prima etapa din WRC 2019, Rallye Monte-Carlo. In timpul recunoasterilor, juniorul belgian, Gregoire Munster, si-a facut timp si a raspuns catorva intrebari RallyMax. Tanarul belgian este pregatit de primul sau start intr-o etapa de campionat mondial chiar daca nu stie ce va urma pentru el in sezonul 2019.
RallyMax: Salutare, Gregoire, 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.
Raspuns: Tatal meu a fost pilot profesionist asa ca am fost prezent din totdeauna in lumea raliurilor. Cand am implinit varsta de 18 ani mi-am dorit sa-l urmez si asa am avut sansa sa debutez in campionatul de raliuri al Belgiei.
RallyMax: Sezonul trecut ai trecut de la Opel-ul Adam R2 la mult mai rapida Skoda Fabia R5. Care a fost sentimentul cand te-ai urcat pentru prima data in R5?
Gregoire Munster: Senzatia cu masina a fost fabuloasa! Skoda este o masina foarte eficienta dar si foarte usor de pilotat. Bineinteles, nu a fost usor sa fac trecerea de la Opel Adam R2, dar asta face parte din progres.
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?
Gregoire Munster: Intr-adevar, alegerea anvelopelor este foarte importanta in Rallye Monte-Carlo. Conditiile meteo pot varia foarte mult, deci nu va fi usor. In cazul nostru, vom alege varianta de anvelope care va fi cea mai sigura pentru a acumula cat mai multa experienta in astfel de conditii.
RallyMax: Sezonul trecut ai participat in peste 25 de raliuri. Nu te-ai simtit obosit la finalul sezonului?
Gregoire Munster: Sezonul trecut a fost destul de interesant si competitiv, dar cand iubesti ceea ce faci, este imposibil sa te saturi. Datorita faptului ca am fost foarte des in masina de curse am invatat foarte multe, deci a fost un plus. Bineinteles, toate astea nu ar fi fost posibile fara sprijinul 
partenerilor!
RallyMax: Rallye Monte-Carlo va fi prima ta participare in WRC. Ce planuri si obiective iti propui pentru sezonul 2019?
Gregoire Munster: Deocamdata suntem inca in cautarea celui mai bun program pentru sezonul 2019, dar momentan ne concentram totalmente pe Rallye Monte-Carlo.
RallyMax: Gregoire, 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.
Gregoire Munster: Imi cer scuze dar nu cunosc niciun pilot roman.
Mesaj pentru fani: Nu uitati niciodata sa respirati pe sectiunile rapide.