[singlepic id=586 w=320 h=240 float=right]After a difficult rally debut in the Spring Rally 2011, Sysley is back to prove every doubter wrong. He is aiming for a top 5 finish in the Cedars rally and he will not accept anything less.
We asked him about practically every single detail and we got what we want. Enjoy!!!
You were very sick in all the week ahead of the spring rally and during the rally itself. Can we measure your performance in the rally without taking this into consideration and what have you learned?
I was very sick and could be considered less than one driver. I benefitted through learning about the car and about taking notes and coordinating with my co-driver and so on. We also got used to the team much more and the way cars went into service and the whole rally setting in general. As you know this is the first rally I ever do in my life and it was a very good experience.
How much difference did you find between rallies and Hill Climbs?
There is a big difference. It is totally another story. You enjoy the rally much more because it is longer and you have more time live this beautiful experience. In Hill Climbs you only have 1:30 minutes of pleasure while in rallying it goes over one hour of moments of pleasure. As for driving well they both need good driving and off course you can’t drive the whole rally the way you do in Hill Climbs directly from the beginning but you should reach this level at a certain point.
How did you find Fadi Attiyah next you in the car?
Fadi and I are like brothers it’s not a co-driver thing only. We are friends for a long time and he is always next to me and he never left me. In the car we were both happy and surprised with our co-ordination and we were very precise we didn’t have any mistakes to mention. Fadi is very good.
How are you preparing for the Cedars Rally and what is your target?
In the Spring Rally the illness had affected me so much but in spite of it I am very happy with my result. In the Cedars Rally I am targeting a top 5 finish but I don’t want to throw big expectations. I am looking into the top five positions and I am heading for them. “Minimum top five”
Drivers and ATCL have agreed to do an official test ahead of the Cedars Rally. What are planning to do in terms of testing in those 2 days?
It is a great idea and actually an amazing idea from ATCL. From my side I need to get to know the car much better. I got this opportunity to test the car and get to know it much better. I am still not very familiar with the braking in the car. In the spring rally I was not braking hard and not using it as it should be. When I was using the brakes in the spring rally I was getting surprised by the way the cars stops. As you know I’m still new in this car so we will have to test it much more. The cars suspension and traction is amazing you have no problem in anything at all, so I need to learning the braking points right and so on.
How do you find working with Tony Germany and TG Rally Skills especially that you are doing the whole season this year together?
To be honest and blunt we can call him the champion creator even though no driver from his team won a big title yet but when he started with Philipe Kazan 15 years ago he used to stay behind him and support him the same way he does with us now. The same applies to Gilbert Bannout, we all know how much he improved with Tony. He should be given all the credit and he is working very hard on his team. He is working like the pros in the WRC maybe. I really congratulate him, he is one of the best in preparing rally cars and he is very generous in the way he does so. I wish him all the best.
What is the reason behind the move to TG Rally Skills?
Look Philipe is very good and we are not saying he is not. I participated in my first Hill Climb with Philipe last year, and in the second Hill Climb I got an offer to participate with Tony for free but I stayed with Philipe because I am a man of my word. I went with Philipe in the second Hill Climb and something happened so I stepped away. “A word” really bothered me so I had to move, although in that competition I was pushing to the maximum and I turned off the onboard camera because I don’t want anybody to see how I was driving.
How is your relationship with Philipe now?
It’s not off but it’s not like it was. It’s just normal. Philipe is from the people who make you a better driver. He helps you improve your driving and your style. If he sits next to you in a car he gives so much to benefit from. The problem happened and I don’t like these kinds of things so I stepped aside.
[singlepic id=585 w=320 h=240 float=left]R4 kits are now available, is there any project to install them for the Cedars Rally? What will be the difference between drivers with R4 kits and those without them?
The thing with the R4 kits is that nobody tested them yet in Lebanon. For me, Tony’s EVO is prepared very good. We surely don’t have R4 kits in the rally. To be reasonable they will be 100 kg lighter than our cars, so there is more power. The down thing would be that nobody knows that might settings for the car and its suspension. So things will be clearer in the rally and the testing. I seriously don’t care, with R4 or without R4 I’m going flat out.
We see that you’re very motivated for the rally, what is the thing that scares you the most?
I’m not scared of anything, and my health will be good I hope. You just worry about mechanical failures but apart from this it will be my responsibility and my fault.
Tell us a little about your long term projects?
We are working on getting a sponsor now, and we hope to participate in the Hill Climbs and in ROL. It will be one for the best seasons of my life. We need to give all the credit to OTV for their live coverage. This will give us a push for getting sponsors. If we didn’t get in the Cedars rally we will do get it in ROL and the Hill Climbs.
People are no more aware of rallies. This sport had seen an era of media absence. People used to know about the rally one day ahead and then watch the summary 2 weeks later at the middle of the night. Now it’s different we have spots 2 weeks ahead of the event and in peak times every day.
How do you evaluate their work in the events they covered so far?
In the 4×4 they were average, but it was their first event so it’s okay. In the speed test they did a great job, they got more experience and they improved a lot. They have more knowledge about the interviews and the cars and so on. They are working on improving themselves and we have to give them credit. After all we cannot do anything without TV s and media in general. Now you to a sponsor and you have more chances to get backing. OTV is watched by everyone, it is a good channel. This is a sport and has nothing to with politics. People should be more mature about this issue. I believe that motorsport is going forward.
What do you think about electronic media and the websites covering motorsports this year?
This is a very good thing. Now everyone is connected to the net all the time and everybody loves the net. Now where ever you go people know about you because of the internet. We cannot but salute you for the efforts you are doing to spot the light on us and especially that it is volunteer work. Seriously it’s an amazing and we hope that god gives you the power and we as drivers will try to help you as much as possible.
Every single driver in motorsports has an idol that he got influenced by in childhood, who is yours?
For WRC my Idol is Carlos Sainz. He is a rally man a pure rally man. A couple of years ago Citroen were in need for points in the constructors’ championship so they called him back from retirement and he scored 2 podium finishes. He is truly a “Matador”.
What about F1?
When everybody was with Michael Schumacher I didn’t like him. He is a very good driver but he always had the best team when he won. There were many good drivers, like Mika Hakkinen, Damon Hill, Kimi Raikonen and Jack Vilneuve. Look all F1 drivers have the talent but it’s more about the team. Schumacher cannot score a podium since he has returned over 1 year ago, because his car is not that good. I don’t think his decision to come back with Mercedes was very good. It’s all about the ream. Look at Vettel, we cannot say that he is a good driver but he has the best car anyway.
And in Lebanon he was your childhood hero?
In Lebanon there was a lot of good drivers, but the ones I really recall were Joe Hindy, JP Nasrallah and Christian Korban. Christian though, didn’t get the opportunities to be backed by big investors like the case of JP and Joe. He was very good and doesn’t need my opinion. Now it’s with Roger and Dado, but in my opinion Roger is number 1.
Is Roger 1 in the history of Lebanon?
If you want yes, he is number 1. He is unbeatable. Okay he has all the weapons but he is very strong.
Any last message?
I have to thank you biser3a.com for all the follow up and the efforts you are making. I have to thank every single member of TG Rally Skills and Georges Moawad. I would like to[singlepic id=574 w=320 h=240 float=right] thank Fadi my Co-driver and my brother. I would like to thank all my sponsors and give them the credit I hope more sponsors will into this sport and give us their support. We need to thank OTV for their coverage especially that even the test will be covered, so we cannot but give them the credit too.
I need to add something which is not only a “thank you” but much more to my friend Carlos Abou Jawde whom I nickname “conning” which means “KING”. He is one of the best guys to help you in rallying and one of the fastest guys in this area. In the past Spring Rally Carlos helped me and Fadi in taking notes and preparing and gave us good idea how things are really done.
What is the reason for his absence from rallying?
Like everyone else, it is sponsoring and finances. He is one of the best. I believe if Carlos had the resources he will be one of the best guys to challenge Roger. You would love to see Carlos driving a normal car with Normal tyres on snow. Seriously you will something you have never seen in your life.
I will want him to be next to me in the Cedars rally so I will ask him to come.
Is he preparing any surprises for this season?
Well I really hope so. But I cannot promise you to be honest.
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