Interview with Thierry Magnaldi, ML 430 
T1 winner of the Italian Baja 2002

March 20, 2002 


Q: While finishing 8th in the Italian Baja, you won the T1 category.
How did your weekend in Ariete unfold?

A: Before the departure day, we carried out tests to find the good
adjustments according to the ground.  One thus could tackle the prologue, 
Friday, under good conditions.  We finished in 10th position overall.  
The following day, we left on the first loop of 128 km with a sufficiently 
clean rate/rhythm to get some idea of our potential.  Things went well, 
and we rolled a little more quickly in the second round.  

We found ourselves trailing 40" on the leader and decided to give it all 
in the marathon special on the last day. 

We drove with very little safety margin and gained 1'40" on our prosecutors.  
(whistles). We took the lead in the T1 classification.  We left on Saturday in 
first position in the T1 and at the end of 100 km, we caught up with an 
Italian.  With the dust, it was impossible to pass.  His car was as
powerful as ours and we made signs to him in vain, he did not want to push
himself.  Our assistance then indicated to us that we had 5-6 leading 
minutes on the second and we decided to raise the foot a little at the 
end of the race.  

Result, we finished 8th overall and as first production vehicle, class T1.  


Q: You are thus satisfied with your race. 

A: I have re-examined the images on television and it was really beautiful
to see.  There was a large brawl in T1 and I can ensure you that it was 
very, very hot.  What was needed was driving at a high rate/rhythm 
to succeed.  One garnered the maximum points for this first stage of 
the world cup and now, one will test manouvre in this manner on the next 
tests.  


Q: How did the car do?  

A: We are very content because we have not encountered any problem.  It 
proved that it was reliable on the leading edge and that's a very good 
forecast for the continuation of the season.  This pleases us because it 
was the first time that one did not unpack the toolkit.  Honestly, I did 
not think that it could be possible.   Anyways, one has not yet carried 
it out!  (laughs) the rally of Tunisia begins in fifteen days.  


Q: Do you have any tests planned?  

A: Not.  The TEAM will quickly revise the cars and it will stop there. 
In any event, we used this baja as a basic tryout for Tunisia. 
So long, hello.

The French version is available on:
http://www.thierrymagnaldi.com