Leading drivers back the Rally

WORLDLY WAYS: Sebastien Loeb in action in the WRC Rally of Poland this week.

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A TRIO of rally drivers including five-time world champion Sebastien Loeb have thrown their support behind the upcoming Repco Rally Australia and defended the sport's environmental credentials.

Speaking moments before the start of the Rally of Poland on Thursday night via telephone, Frenchman Loeb, Fin Jari-Matti Latvala and Norwegian Petter Solberg said they were looking forward to competing in the Australian event in the Tweed and Kyogle shires from September 3 to 6 .

“I'm looking forward to Australia, for sure,” Loeb told The Northern Star.

“It's hard at the moment because I don't know much about the rally location but Australia is a nice place and I didn't see much when I went to Perth three years ago.

“I don't know a lot about what the rally will be like but I hear it's similar to New Zealand, very fast.”

When asked to talk about the environmental aspects of the sport, which has been a heated talking point for local rally opponents, Loeb vaulted the issue, like the great former gymnast he is.

“I don't really know about that. I'm a driver and I just do my job,” he said.

However, Latvala, who is running fourth in the drivers' championship, said environmental issues were taken seriously by all teams and drivers.

“We think of the environment as well all the time and you're always thinking as a driver of the better options,” he said.

“In the next couple of years I think there could be changes in fuel.”

Latvala said he holds high hopes of high performance cars introducing bio-fuel, while there is also the possibility of diesel-powered cars.

Solberg, the 2003 world champion, put the responsibilities of the teams in perspective.

“The main thing is everybody does the best you can and have a thought behind everything you do,” he said.

“We're working on the fuel side, tyres, everything. Everybody is doing what they can.”

The trio hold mostly fond memories of the former Rally Australia in Western Australia.

Loeb, a former French gymnastics champion, has won the Australian rally with his only bad memory a crash in one of the first he participated in.

Latvala's career took off in 2006, the year of the final WA rally, after he competed strongly in the production category.

“Rally Perth was one of my favourites. I really enjoyed 2006,” he said.

“I was lucky enough to go to the east side (Australia) for a holiday so I have a little idea of what the area is like. I think the (new rally) will be quite different to Western Australia.”

Solberg, who claimed the early lead after the Super Special Stage in Poland on Thursday night, has had a tough year after being dumped by Subaru in late 2008 when the car company pulled out of the sport.

Solberg, a former team-mate of Australian Chris Atkinson who is trying to line up a drive for the Australian event, revealed he is still in talks with Subura and is hopeful the iconic team will one day resume its involvement in the sport.

Despite driving an outdated Citroen, the straight-talking Norwegian is sixth in the drivers' championship.

“Obviously things happen. Things happen in every sport and when it happens it can be very disappointing,” he said of losing his drive.

However, he was upbeat about the Australian rally, which he hopes to contest.

“The rally route (in Australia) will have a lot of action,” he said.

“I think people will see something that could inspire them. The sport requires big balls, big action maybe, big conditions and big minds in the car.”