September 1, 2015 – During the official announcement of the Motortune Racing crews for the 38th Rally of Lebanon, we took Tamer Ghandour aside for a chat. Tamer talks about his 2015 season, his championship hopes, the competition in Group N and the anticipated battled between Roger Feghali and Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Tamer, what does Rally of Lebanon mean to you – your first participation came in 2006 – and how were your preparations after a season that wasn’t easy?
Rally of Lebanon is a conclusion of joys. We prepare all year long and we practice all year long for it. I couldn’t be part of Rally of Lebanon in 2013 due to personal reasons and due to budget reasons in 2014. Before these two years, we were on and off, we didn’t have commitment and continuity, but I decided to push for it this year, at all levels…
But you pushed without having any support, before Rally of Lebanon.
True, I pushed with limited support, and I’m personally covering the remaining costs. For Rally of Lebanon, I would like to thank Beit Misk and its management, they appreciated my dream, and they have their own dream as well. I probably wouldn’t have been able to compete in Rally of Lebanon if it weren’t for our dreams coming together.
Is your deal with Beit Misk solely for Rally of Lebanon or are there any future plans?
We are trying to evaluate the situation for next year; the exposure and impact this year, in addition to the country’s status, will decide everything. I’m sure, and like I told you, Beit Misk have a big dream and I have a big dream, and they don’t have a problem supporting me. But you’re aware of the country’s situation; if everything’s calm and promising, we definitely have a program for the future.
You were fast this year but you faced mechanical trouble. You’re the type of driver who’s easy on the car, but you had problems in the Spring Rally and Jezzine Rally, which cost you the championship lead. How does this affect you going into Rally of Lebanon?
Of course it affects me. We were very comfortable in the Spring Rally but we broke a brake pipe, which happens, and I can’t say that I was tough on the car, and I also can’t blame Motortune Racing, so I consider it as bad luck. In spite of that, we were able to continue and finish 6th, but of course, our position in the championship would’ve been different had we finished 2nd. Moreover, I made a mistake in the Cedars’ Rally, I was very happy and I was pushing, but it was a new rally for me; I was capable of finishing a fine stage and continue, but I was perhaps a bit too greedy, which is why I made a mistake and had an accident. If it weren’t for these two events, I would have been more comfortable, and I would have more points than Roger [Feghali], because I earn points in the Hill Climb championship, whereas he doesn’t.
Your main competitors are Rodrigue Rahi, who’s leading the Group N class, and Eddy Abou Karam, who’s 10 points ahead of you. How do you see your chances? You need to finish one position ahead of Eddy, but Rodrigue is a bit farther in terms of points.
It’s not impossible to clinch the title because we’re still within the contention. If I retire, they benefit, if they retire, I benefit, if I finish one or two positions ahead, it works. If I was 5 points behind or if things are the way they are now, it’s the same. Had I completed two of the previous rallies, things would’ve been different, I would’ve been in the lead. But I’m still competing for points with the way things are at the moment, regardless of position, whether it’s 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
Do you think your teammate Nicolas Amiouni, for example, would give up a position to help your title chances? Do you think there will be team orders if it’s gonna come to it?
Nicolas is competing to win the rally, like myself and Roger. Nicolas is not forced to do anything, but we evaluated the situation.
So there has been discussions regarding the topic.
There has been discussions, but we can’t really do anything; there’s no point in asking for anything if I puncture a tyre or face a mechanical problem. I don’t think we need team orders if we had good pace; we must be strong and in front to avoid this whole situation.
Tamer, you had great pace in the Lebanese Hill Climb Championship this year and won the two events you contested. Why didn’t you compete in the first round? You could’ve won the title.
During the Deir El Qamar Hill Climb, I had to travel to Croatia with Beit Misk in order to sign a contract; it was on a Saturday and the Hill Climb was on Sunday, and I was fine with participating in the Hill Climb without practicing, but I couldn’t get here on time, I got here at 7:00 AM on Sunday morning. I wasn’t able to compete in Deir El Qamar, that’s what happened, otherwise I would’ve clinched the title, as you said.
What do you think of the level of your competitors, do you think that they have improved or not?
Of course, everyone improves…
Honestly, do you think you’re faster than they are, or did they get closer?
Honestly, and in all modesty, I can’t say that I’m not faster, because there wasn’t a special stage where I was less than a second faster than them in every kilometer, which is a huge gap. We’re trying to be less than 0.5 seconds close to Roger in every kilometer, so 0.5 seconds are quite a lot for us. When I’m competing with Nicolas, the gap is 1 to 3 seconds in all of the special stage, and this is what I call competition. Others, perhaps, look at it differently, and they have the right to, but honestly, when we have good pace, I don’t think it would be a close competition.
Let’s discuss the competition between Roger and Nasser. You’re a driver but you’re also a fan and a mechanical engineer. What do you think of the competition this year, especially that you’ve been following the sport for more than 15 years, and how can you compare it to previous years?
That is true, I’ve been following the sport since 1999. Every year, we say that Nasser is well prepared; he’s definitely a true competitor, but I still feel that, in Lebanon, it’s very very tough to beat Roger.
There’s around a 20 km/h difference in top speed between the Skoda Fabia R5 and Ford Fiesta R5, can Roger make up that difference?
I know, I know, but where is he gonna use that difference, and how much is he gonna use it? He can use it downhill in Asia, and a few other places, so if that difference is 5 seconds throughout the rally, it’s not an advantage.
Do you think Roger has the 10 percent that Nasser’s enjoying with the Skoda?
Yes, Roger’s got it, but the Skoda still has the advantage, but Roger and his Ford are getting closer. If, let’s say, Nasser was faster in Toula, because it is a high speed stage and the Skoda’s faster, there are other special stages [where Roger can close the gap].
Do you think the first loop will give us a good idea about this matter, or will we have to wait till the end?
Of course not, Nasser is a driver that goes from A to Z on a consistent performance. You can’t bat an eyelid with Nasser around. It’s not an easy fight at all, one puncture for Roger can cost him the rally; he used to make up lost time in previous years, but today it would cost him.
Is there anyone you would like to thank?
I would like to thank Beit Misk for their big support, they put us in a great position for the championship, and we were able to work on the car and improve it, we were able to carry out our work properly in order to be among the strong competitors. I would like to thank my family, they endured with me, it’s very time consuming and expensive, so that’s a big sacrifice. I would also like to thank my other sponsors Khoury Sanitary, who’s been with us since the beginning of the season, in addition to Bosch and API. Thank you as well for covering the sport and today’s event.