Wales Rally GB: Eric Camilli wants his season to end on a high note
Team ORECA’s 2015 programme in WRC2 is about to come to an end with the Wales Rally GB, final round of the World Rally Championship, which Eric Camilli will be taking part in from November 12th to 15th. Behind the wheel of their Fiesta R5, the Nice-born driver together with co-driver Benjamin Veillas will try to finish on a high note for their seventh rally of the year with their French team, having also participated in the Rally Monte-Carlo, opening round of the season.
After the tough gravel surfaces of Portugal and Sardinia, the so specific layout of Finland, the highly demanding asphalt of Germany and Corsica, and finally, most recently, the mixed surface of Catalunya, the French duet is about to discover the challenging roads of Wales which has been home to this Rally GB since 2000. This prestigious round, long known as RAC, is one of the oldest rallies on the calendar. Entirely fought on gravel surface and across forest surroundings which are subject to frequent changes of weather conditions, it should, with a total length of 310km and nineteen timed stages, allow Eric Camilli to gain even more experience internationally.
The member of TMG’s Junior Driver Development Program has climbed on two podiums this season, in Germany (2nd) and Corsica (3rd). Late October, he was also driving for a third podium back-to-back at the Rally Catalunya, having posted several scratch times in the WRC2 class which gathers more than 20 contenders.
Three questions to Eric Camilli
How do you approach this Wales Rally GB, the final one of the season?
I want to conclude the season maintaining the same momentum. Things have been going well for the past three rallies. In Spain I had to withdraw because of a mechanical breakdown, but up to that point I had been delivering a good performance. So I’ve been able to move on from that quite rapidly and I’m now looking forward to finding out about Welsh roads and the specific conditions that we can encounter there: mud, fog… This rally is a little bit similar to a gravel version of Monte-Carlo. I can’t wait.
What’s your goal?
Once again, competition there will be tough. I’m going to have to be clever with it, to remember everything we’ve experienced this season in order to use it in this rally. I’ve learnt a great deal this year as I’ve been driving more throughout this season than during my career. It has been extremely enriching. We’re going to do our utmost to conclude on the best result possible.
What will be key for you during this round?
I’ve never competed in that rally before, but once again, relying on all of our experiences so far – whether good or bad – will be key. We’ve attacked and showed a fast pace on all grounds. Each time we’ve managed to post amongst the best times. We’ve also learnt our lessons, particularly regarding our starts. Finding the right set-up to suit grounds that we’re only discovering has never been an easy task. Now we’re giving ourselves room to maneuver so that we can quickly adapt, depending on the conditions and on what we feel.