With only a few days remaining until the start of the new season in the World Rally Championship, we had the honor to discuss with Gus Greensmith, the Englishman who will compete in the WRC2 Pro Category with M-Sport. His main priority for this season will be the title of this category, the first year when WRC2 Pro is being organized in the championship.
RallyMax: Hello Gus, thank you for accepting our invitation to answer some RallyMax questions. First of all, tell us a little about how you started rallying.
Gus Greensmith: I had competed at National, European & World Championship Level of Karting, but my love was always for Rallying & that meant I had no interest in single seaters. I entered the British Championship when I turned 17 and became British Junior Champion that year.
RallyMax: Last year you retired with mechanical issues from the first event from the 2018 WRC calender, Rallye Monte-Carlo. What are your expectations for this year?
Gus Greensmith: We need to maximise our points haul, and I am in a very good place mentally. I think we should come away with a strong result.
RallyMax: Probably Rallye Monte-Carlo is one of the most difficult events, mainly because of the road conditions. Is the tyre choice the most important key to have a good result?
Gus Greensmith: Yes, making the correct tyre choice & also adapting the grip quickly.
RallyMax: What was the reason of changing your co-driver for the 2019 season?
Gus Greensmith: After the accident we had last year, at the test session before Rally Germany, Craig parry is not yet fully recovered.
RallyMax: You will drive for the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team in the WRC 2 Pro category f
or a 10-round campaign, but also the 3rd Ford Fiesta WRC at Rallye De Portugal with the possibility of further outings. An interesting season is announced for you, but what will be your goals for this season?
Gus Greensmith: My priority is to challenge for the WRC2 Pro title. That has to be our only goal & I know with the new Fiesta R5 arriving in Summer, that this is very realistic. In regards to WRC, I?m just going to drive as fucking fast as I can.
RallyMax: You have for sure already tested the Ford Fiesta WRC, an amazing car. In comparison to the other cars you drove, which are the aspects that really impressed you after the first corners?
Gus Greensmith: The differential & suspension was a shock, the car is capable of so much more. It?s an addictive feeling. I cannot wait for Portugal.
RallyMax: Gus, 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.
Gus Greensmith: I haven?t heard of any Romanian drivers yet, but I am sure I will in the near future. 2019 is a big year for myself, I thrive on my fans support. So any positive messages or support is massively appreciated.
Cu doar cateva zile ramase pana la debutului unui nou sezon din Campionatul Mondial de Raliuri, am avut onoarea de a discuta cu pilotul Gus Greensmith, care va evolua la categoria WRC2 Pro alaturi de M-Sport iar principalul obiectiv va fi titlul acestei categorii.
RallyMax: Salutare, Gus! Iti multumim ca ai acceptat invitatia noastra de a raspunde unor intrebari marca RallyMax. Pentru inceput, poveste-ne putin ai ajuns sa debutezi in lumea raliurilor.
Gus Greensmith: Am concurat in campionatul national, european si cel mondial de karting, dar dragostea mea a fost intotdeauna pentru raliuri, asta inseamna ca nu aveam nici un interes pentru concursurile individuale. Am debutat in campionatul britanic cand am implinit 17 ani si am devenit campion de juniori la sfasitul acelui sezon.
RallyMax: Anul trecut ai abandonat in prima etapa a sezonului 2018 din WRC, Rallye Monte-Carlo, din cauza unor probleme tehnice. Care sunt asteptarile tale la editia din acest an?
Gus Greensmith: Trebuie sa obtinem cat mai multe puncte posibil, iar in acest moment am un moral foarte ridicat. Sper si cred ca vom obtine un rezultat foarte bun.
RallyMax: Probabil Rallye Monte-Carlo este unul dintre cele mai dificile raliuri, asta in principal datorandu-se conditiilor in care se va afla suprafata de concurs. Va fi alegerea corecta a anvelopelor cheia succesului pentru a obtine un rezultat bun?
Gus Greensmith: Da, alegerea potrivita a anvelopelor si adaptarea cat mai rapida la aderenta.
RallyMax: Care a fost motivul schimbarii copilotului pentru sezonul 2019?
Gus Greensmith: Din cauza accidentului pe care l-am avut la teste inainte de Raliul Germaniei de anul trecut, Craig Parry nu este inca refacut.
RallyMax: Vei pilota 10 etape pentru M-Sport Ford World Rally Team in categoria WRC 2 Pro, dar si cel de-al 3-lea Ford Fiesta WRC in Rallye De Portugal. Se anunta un sezon interesant pentru tine, dar care vor fi obiectivele pentru acest sezon?
Gus Greensmith: Prioritatea mea este de a fi in lupta pentru titlul WRC2 Pro. Acesta trebuie sa fie singurul nostru obiectiv si mai stiu ca noul Fiesta R5, care va fi lansat la vara, este foarte performant. In ceea ce priveste WRC, voi incerca sa fiu cat mai rapid.
RallyMax: Ai testat deja cu siguranta Fordul Fiesta WRC, o masina uimitoare. In comparatie cu celelalte masini pe care le-ai condus, care sunt aspectele care te-au impresionat cu adevarat dupa primele viraje?
Gus Greensmith: Diferentialul si suspensia m-au impresionat de la inceput, masina fiind capabila de mult mai mult. Pur si simplu iti da senzatia de dependenta. Astept cu nerabdare etapa din Portugalia.
RallyMax: Gus, 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.
Gus Greensmith: Nu am auzit deocamdata de niciun pilot roman, dar sunt sigur ca asta se va intampla in viitorul apropiat. 2019 va fi un an foarte important pentru mine, ma bazez pe suportul fanilor si apreciez toate incurajarile venite din partea lor.
Photo credit: M-Sport