Three questions for Timo Gottschalk 22.10.2016: FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (WRC) RALLY GREAT BRITAIN What exactly does the Volkswagen Motorsport weather crew analyse

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (WRC) RALLY GREAT BRITAIN






What exactly does the Volkswagen Motorsport weather crew analyse, and where does your data and information come from?


Timo Gottschalk: “We have various people out on the stages. They measure the ground and air temperature, as well as the wind speed.



However, they also keep an eye on the sky, measure the strength of the rain, see how damp and muddy the surfaces of the roads are, and check out the state of the ruts after the first loop. I receive all this data and enter it in a list. Our meteorologist Silke Hansen then uses this data to make her forecasts.”




How important is the weather crew at the Rally Great Britain?

Timo Gottschalk: “The tyre selection – hard or soft – is one of the key factors at the Rally Great Britain.



To allow drivers to make this decision, they have to know what to expect out on the route: what are the ground and air temperatures? How damp or dry is it? The weather crew provides all this information.”





This year’s Rally Great Britain is taking place two weeks earlier than last season. How will this affect the special stages?


Timo Gottschalk: “As far as the weather is concerned, it should be a bit more pleasant and not quite as cold as last year. The ground temperature could also be a bit higher.



However, two weeks is not an awful lot – the weather could be exactly the same as it was last year. In Wales, it is generally very unsettled and hard to predict. You can experience all four seasons in just one week.”




 
Number for the weekend: 555


The battle between Finland and France is an eternal one in the World Rally Championship. Ahead of the 555th race in the WRC, France currently has 181 wins to its name, Finland 176.



The two nations, which are by far the most successful in the world championship, will be represented by the likes of Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala in Volkswagen colours at the Rally Great Britain.



 When it comes to stage wins, Latvala and Ogier are virtually neck and neck: “JML” has amassed 464, the champion elect has 462.





Andre Dietzel, Ingo Roersch, photo Volkswagen