In the course of the Pre-Event Press Conference for the 31st International January Rally 2014, Robert Consani (ERC-Winner 2012 from France), Robert Kubica (WRC2-World Champion and former Formula One driver from Poland), Vaclav Pech ( five times Czech Champion , three times winner of the January Rally) and Raimund Baumschlager ( eleven times Austrian State Champion, three times January Rally Winner ) , were available to the representatives of the media for questions and answers in the Media Center in the WKO/Chamber of Commerce in Freistadt.

Questions to Robert Consani:
You’ve gone from driving a two-wheel-drive car to a four-wheel-drive Super 2000 Peugeot. What has the step up in performance been like so far?
Consani: I would like to distinguish myself more in the ERC, and that's a step in this direction.I hope this will mean further developement in my career.

Bryan Bouffier finished second on this event last year driving for your team, Delta Rally. How confident are you of emulating his performance?
Consani:
No, not at all, and I don't want to compare myself to Bryan Bouffier. He is he, and I am I. Here, I'd be very happy with a place among the top ten.

Is this the start of a season-long campaign in the 207?
Consani:
Yes, this is what I'm actually planning.

Questions to Robert Kubica:
Your fifth start in the ERC and you were fastest on the Qualifying Stage. Can you talk us through your performance and how much can we read into your pace for the rest of the rally?
Kubica:
First of all, we are her to test for the World Championship in Monte Carlo. This is what I will concentrate on first and foremost. But what I have seen so far, the rally is enormously fast and really difficult to drive. I'm looking forward to it.

It’s all-change for you in 2014. Why the switch to M-Sport, the change of co-driver and how close were you to switching back to circuit racing?
Kubica:
Yes, there really are many changes. We'll attempt to get used to each other as fast as possible.We shall see what the year has in store for us. We'll give our very best to make it as successful as possible.



Obviously the thoughts of the motorsport world are with Michael Schumacher and his family right now. What was your reaction when you heard the news?

Kubica: This is, of course, very bad news which ended the old year and began the new one. I'm as concerend as many friends of motorsports. It's not easy to find the right words in such a tragic situation.One can only wish Michael Schuhmacher the very best for his health, which is what I'm herewith doing.

Questions to Václav Pech:
As a former winner what does it take to be successful on this event?

Pech: First of all, drive fast. But this will be a really difficult task, it is very treacherous - on the one hand dry, on the other hand very , very slippery on account of the ice.

What is your programme for the 2014 season?
Pech: We'll go full blast for the Czech Championship.

Given the close proximity of this event to your native Czech Republic, how much pressure are you under to achieve a strong result?
Pech: Not really, although it is, of course , a nice feeling when so many fans from your home country are lined up at the course , rooting for you.

Questions to Raimund Baumschlager:
Another year and another Jännerrallye for you. What’s the appeal of this event and what result can you achieve?
Baumschlager: I already said it once, that this year one of the fasted January Rallies of all times will take place.Based on my experience in the Qualifying, nothing has changed this. This will certainly not be a race determined by the starting numbers. Whatever the end result will be for us, we'll take it with us.

Dry conditions are expected for the duration of the event. How will this change your approach to the rally and your car set-up?
Baumschlager: The conditions this year are truly the most difficult. Many believe it to be difficult with lot's of snow. In reality, the January Rally is to be driven much more extremely when it's dry. Because, where it's dry today, it can be icy tomorrow. But I think tomorrow's conditions will be similar to today's. This is what we will fully concentrate on.

Your Austrian title success in 2013 was your 11th. Apart from aiming to win title number 12 in 2014, what else will be keeping you busy?
Baumschlager: Yes, certainly, that's the aim for this year. With that, I'd be the sole record

holder in Austria.

The Special Trial 1 of the January Rally 2014 (Pierbach) starts on Saturday at 8.11 A:M. After a total of 18 evaluation trials , the winner of the first FIA European Championship run of the season should be known by Sunday,at around 5.OO P:M.

Beim Procedere des frei wählbaren Startplatzes entschied sich Qualifying-Sieger Robert Kubica heute Abend übrigens für die Startnummer 12. Die Startreihenfolge der FIA-Prioritätsfahrer lautet morgen somit 1 Antonin Tlustak, 2 Vasily Grayzin, 3 Andreas Aigner, 4 Vaclav Pech, 5 Beppo Harrach, 6 Kajetan Kajetanowicz, 7 Raimund Baumschlager, 8 Roman Odlozolik, 9 Jaromir Tarabus, 10 Robert Consani, 11 Jan Cerny, 12 Robert Kubica.

As for the procedure of the freely selectable starting position, winner of the Qualifying, Robert Kubica, this evening opted for starting number 12. The order of starting for the FIA priority drivers for tomorrow therefore is : 1 Antonin Tlustak, 2 Vasily Grayzin, 3 Andreas Aigner, 4 Vaclav Pech, 5 Beppo Harrach, 6 Kajetan Kajetanowich, 7 Raimund Baumschlager, 8 Roman Odlozolik, 9 Jaromir Tarabus, 10 Robert Consani, 11 Jan Cerny, 12 Robert Kubica.