| Last November, winning the World Rally Championship was the highlight (so far) for co-driver Robert Reid of his ten year partnership with Richard Burns. Scotsman Reid has been involved in rallying for nearly 20 years, and started his partnership with Richard Burns on the Peugeot GTi Championship in 1991, which they went on to win. The following year they won the British National Rally Championship in a Group N Impreza and soon after were signed up by Prodrive. At Prodrive Burns and Reid won the British Championship and also competed in more World Championship events over the next two seasons. The pair's first full programme in the WRC was with Mitsubishi in 1998, and they scored two victories in their maiden year; the Safari and the Rally Great Britain. 1999 saw them back with Subaru where numerous wins and near misses brought them to second places in the Championship two years running before their win in 2001. This year Reid and Burns face new challenges with the Peugeot team as they aim to retain their titles, and get to grips with the 206 WRC. On his return from the recent Monte Carlo rally, Robert gave Ten-Tenths his thoughts on the title win and the prospects for the coming season. Robert Reid What was the atmosphere like in the car on the final run between Margham and Cardiff last November? Actually, it was quite subdued. Naturally we were delighted but we wanted to get back to Cardiff and get everything out of the way that we had to do before starting our celebrations proper. It went pretty mad at the Margham finish line and I had some family and friends there, which was great, but my aim for the whole rally had been to try and make it as normal an event as possible and I wanted to try and do that until everything was taken care off. Would you have liked more time to sit back and enjoy the feeling of being World Champions before the new season and testing began? Obviously there were a lot of very important things going on just after Rally GB and even the Peugeot move aside we were very busy. The day after the rally Richard and I were in the middle of London for a media event but what was encouraging for us and the sport was the number of journalists from the national press and publications other than the specialist motorsport media. But we were able to bask in the glory of being World Champions at several awards ceremonies, including the Autosport Awards in London and then the official FIA ceremony in Monte Carlo, which was a great weekend. You don't really know how you will feel if you haven't been World Champion before, so we'll just have to win it again to be able to savour it more the next time! What are your targets for this season and how is your motivation coming in the 2002 season as champions, compared to last season when chasing the title was the goal? We want to be World Champions again! It's what we are in the sport for and having achieved it last year the desire is as strong as ever to try and do it again. I wondered how I might feel after winning the title because I am very much inclined to set a goal, achieve it and then move on to something else. I think because winning the World Championship was such a long-held goal it meant the feeling was that much greater, and it's a feeling I don't want to lose. Being with a new team there is no shortage of motivation to prove that we can do it again. It's a strange thing that you are only World Champions for six weeks and then when you line up at the start in Monte Carlo everyone is trying to take the title off you from that point. We'll have 1 on the car for this year, but that's the number everyone wants. In interviews Richard has mentioned that it's a bit difficult getting used to the smaller interior of the 206WRC. How is it on your side of the car? I actually feel reasonably comfortable in it. It is a smaller interior, but like any change it is a matter of getting used to it, and the more time you spend in the car the more familiar you become with it. Richard's seating position is more important and they are working on that. I will move my seat eventually, but Richard's is the priority. How are you adjusting to life with the Peugeot team? My schoolboy French is coming back! Richard and I are learning all the time about the new team and I'm happy with the way things are progressing. One thing which became apparent early on is how important lunch is at Peugeot. It's a full hour and a half break when everyone gets together, but we still get the work done in the day. In interviews it seems that Corrado Provera's emphasis is always on securing the manufacturers' title for Peugeot. Do you think this approach will compromise your efforts to retain your title? No. The aim is always to do your best in every rally. This year we have two aims; to win Peugeot their third manufacturers' title in succession and to retain the drivers' crown. If we can achieve those then it will mean that things have gone well for everyone. Burns & Reid are in their first season with the 206 What do you feel are the key factors in the relationship between driver and co-driver? You must trust each other, and that's something which builds up as the relationship goes from strength to strength. Richard and I have been together for quite a long time now and we get on very well, in and out of the car. I very, very rarely try to tell him how to drive and he let's me get on with my job. If we each do our own jobs properly then it allows the other to concentrate 100% on theirs and that is how you achieve success. Who besides Richard do you think will be the main contenders for the title? The usual suspects. I see Marcus, Colin and Tommi as the main threats. Petter and Harri could also win rallies this year. What do you think about the prospect of the improved WRC TV coverage increasing your own 'star status' further? I didn't know I was a 'star'! I'm not that worried about my own celebrity rating, I'm in the sport because I love it and I want to do as well as I can, but I think improved TV coverage can only be good for rallying and everyone involved in it. Do you have a favourite rally on the Championship calendar? Without a doubt Sweden, and not just because it's the next one. I spend the whole rally thinking that it is actually not possible to go so fast in a car on narrow tyres in pure snow. It's a great event and huge fun. What do you find are the best and worst aspects of travelling around the world for events? We're privileged in that we get to visit a lot of countries and see many nice places. The worst part is definitely hanging about in airport lounges and hotels. Nicky Grist had a go at rallying in the Ford Puma last year. Do you have any ambitions to get behind the wheel competitively? No. I don't see the need to give anyone more to laugh about than they already have. When I first started out in rallying many years ago I tried my hand behind the wheel and fairly quickly realised that I didn't have what it takes to reach the top level as a driver, so I moved into the navigator's seat and I've been there ever since. Finally, now that you are working for Peugeot, do you think you're more likely to look to move to a base on mainland Europe, Monaco perhaps? No. My family and friends are based in central Scotland and I now have business interests here as well so I'm quite happy to stay where I am. To keep up with the latest news and views from Robert visit www.robertreid.co.uk |
| AN INTERVIEW WITH WORLD CHAMPION CO-DRIVER, ROBERT REID. By Simon J Spode |
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