Malcolm Wilson is realistic about Gronholm’s chances

Malcolm Wilson – the director of Ford in WRC, both for Ford BP and for Stobart M-Sport – gave his prediction for the end of the championship, and although he still sees slim chances for Gronholm to win the title, he prefers to remain realistic and consider that Loeb has a significant advantage.

Malcolm Wilson remains realistic but would like to see Gronholm crowned just as Kimi Räikkönen created a surprise in F1 at the Brazilian GP by winning the title.

« What is asked of us in Great Britain is going to be very complicated, » stated Wilson. « Realistically, if both men [Loeb and Gronholm] don’t encounter any problems, it won’t be possible… »

« Nevertheless, we have seen on many occasions that anything is possible, you never know, and as we saw in F1, Räikkönen was 7 points away from the title and yet he got it… »

Ford, which won the constructor’s title at the last rally, now wishes to fully invest in its Finnish driver and not lower its intensity until the last stage is finished.

« The good side of things is that we’ve secured the constructors’ title, and we can now give 100% for the drivers’ title, » continued the Englishman.

Loeb will have to finish at least 5th to win his title in case Gronholm were to win the rally. However, other strategies are possible for Ford, such as trying to place its other drivers ahead of the Frenchman’s Citroën. Latvala, brilliant in Ireland, Henning Solberg, or Hirvonen could try to insert themselves between the two protagonists.

« We still have some possibilities left thanks to Stobart. Latvala and Solberg can help us… you never know, nothing is over yet! »

Verdict to follow on the site all weekend.