JWRC: Q&A: Glenn Patterson - EXCLUSIVE.

by Rob Wilkins

Kris Meeke and co-driver, Glenn Patterson looked well placed to take the Junior WRC win - and the title on the Wales Rally GB at the end of leg one on Friday last week. Saturday however, didn't go to plan and after they hit a rock and damaged the driveshaft on the Citroen C2 S1600 on the first run through the 13.76 kilometre Epynt 1 stage [SS8], their event ended prematurely.

Crash.net Radio caught up with Glenn on the final day to discuss what happened - and to talk about the year as a whole...

Q:
Glenn, obviously Rally GB didn't go the way either you or Kris would have hoped...

Glenn Patterson:
Everything was looking good after Friday and even on Saturday morning too. We came out of the first stage on Saturday and it was fine - perfect stage and we were fastest and we were still very careful. Then on the next stage it all went wrong. We just slid wide on a series of slow corners and hit a large rock which took the wheel off - and that was it really.

Q:
Obviously, there was no chance to SupeRally because of that. But looking at the year as a whole, you have both got to be happy with the speed shown if not the results come the Sunday.

GP:
Yeah, the speed we had all year was very impressive. We were fastest on most of the stages that we competed on and I think we have been leading every rally we have contested as well. So from that point of view, as you say, it has been a pretty good performance.

Q:
Were you both pleased with the Citroen C2 S1600 and its speed and potential?

GP:
Definitely, I think on tarmac events it has been very dominant - and also on the gravel events too. It is easy to see from our times that the car is very impressive and we have managed to always get a good feel with it. We have to be happy with it.

Q:
The other positive thing about this season was of course, that Kris managed to take his second Junior WRC win, when he triumphed in Germany. That must have been pleasing?

GP:
Germany was a fantastic event. We had some problems early on in the rally and we came back and set quite a few good times. We really dominated that event too - and it was my maiden JWRC win as well, so a fairly important one for me.

Q:
That must be the highlight of your season, especially as you said, because you had to fight back to take it?

GP:
We will look back on it with fondness but we also have to look to the future as well and try and keep things moving ahead.

Q:
Any idea of what is happening on the 2007 front?

GP:
No.

Q:
Any hints? Is the JWRC still a possibility? What about stepping up to the 'senior' level in the WRC and of course, the IRC?

GP:
Nothing has been decided yet.

Q:
Obviously Kris has been in the JWRC a few years now, like fellow Brit Guy Wilks. In terms of graduating does it all just come down to money and a lack of seats available?

GP:
There are plenty of seats available really, it is just that everybody has to bring a budget and that is the limiting factor at the minute. That is a problem that all the young drivers' have and everyone is struggling with the same problem. It is just a matter of finding a good sponsor, trying to keep that sponsor and trying to move things forward.

Q:
Co-drivers tend to get neglected by the media a bit. Do you like being in the background or would you prefer to be in the limelight a bit more?

GP:
I don't really mind. I am quite happy with the situation currently. I know how much input co-drivers have and I am pretty comfortable with that. I think all the JWRC co-drivers are in a similar position to me at the minute - and we are all there and doing quite a good job. Most of us just let the drivers' take the limelight.

Q:
Kris and yourself have been drafted in by Citroen recently to help with testing the C4, following Sebastien Loeb's accident. How has that been going?

GP:
I was with Kris when we tested the C4 on tarmac and it went fairly well. We have done a few smaller tests with the Xsara as well, so it is quite important to keep up with those things.

Q:
For Citroen to give Kris that chance must be another big positive from this year. It shows they must have a lot of faith in his abilities doesn't it?

GP:
Yeah, I think it is one of the good talents Kris has, that he can test well and feel what the car is doing and then give good feedback to the technicians. Citroen have seen this and they are trying to use this to there advantage.

Q:
What are you plans now for Christmas and the New Year?

GP:
I have no major plans. We have got quite a lot of work to do to try and move things forward for next year. I don't think there will be much of a break. We will just keep pushing on.