WHAT THE CHAMPIONS SAID

Bjorn Waldegard (Champion: 1979) Represented by son Mathias Waldegard Waldegard Jr said: “He would have been very honoured, me and my sister we miss him and are very happy to be here.” Co-driver Hans Thorzelius: “Bjorn was a fantastic driver and a very, very good friend. We had 15 years together and I miss him very much.”

Walter Rohrl (Champion: 1980, 1982)

“This is a good chance to say sorry to Michele [Mouton], it was a mistake [to win the 1982 title] because it was the only chance in history that a woman could be world champion.” Co-driver Christian Geistdorfer: “We had a really gorgeous time together and it still gives me chicken skin when we talk about these times and watch these pictures.”

Ari Vatanen (Champion: 1981)

“It is so nice to be here again among the friends again, so nice to remember some of the memories and the good times. I’m happy to be here. Do I have any regrets from my career? No… well, maybe I could have braked a bit earlier sometimes…” Co-driver David Richards: “We had some great memories and some pretty big disasters as well. Looking back, it’s a long time ago now and, more importantly, we’ve become great friends and our families have grown up together.”

Hannu Mikkola (Champion: 1983) Hannu Mikkola – sons Juha and Vesa Mikkola Juha Mikkola said: “His career lasted 30 years, but for me he will always be synonymous with the Audi quattro era. There’s an iconic photo of him fully airborne in one of these cars and it’s still hanging in Audi dealerships around the world. Every time I see that it reminds me of his speed, his skill and also the consistency he had. He drove a lot of cars and he heralded the four-wheel-drive era which helped change all of the cars we drive today.” Co-driver Arne Hertz: “I co-drove for Hannu between 1976 and 1989. We had a great time with many successes and even a few disappointments. The good results came because we trusted each other and because of the help we got from the teams we worked for – from the Ford and Audi mechanics and team managers. Thank you Hannu.”

Miki Biasion (Champion: 1988-1989)

“I remember I was always in the cockpit, always testing and practising and thinking to the next event. There was never a lot of opportunity to think about what we had done in the past – thank you for giving us that time now.”

Carlos Sainz (Champion: 1990, 1992)

“Thank you for the guys who competed in the past, it was them who inspired me and the drivers I competed against and now the guys competing today who keep my passion going. I would like to remember Bjorn Waldegard, Colin Mcrae, Richard

Burns and [Toyota Team Europe’s] Ove Andersson.” Co-driver Luis Moya: “There are a lot of good drivers here, but Carlos was the best set-up driver in the history of rallying. When we come to a team and Carlos worked with the car, either he won the title or the car and the team did. Also, it’s his capacity for working – since he was 16 years old and Spanish squash champion, he’s been the same.”

Didier Auriol (Champion: 1994)

“This was always a nice family, the other guys were rally drivers and my friends. We had some nice endings in 1992 and 1994 against a lot of people who are here in this room and it’s nice to have the opportunity to say thank you for that life.”

Colin Mcrae (Champion: 1995) Represented by Jimmy and Alison Mcrae Jimmy: “Colin had such a flamboyant way of winning rallies and it was thanks to David Richards for noticing Colin when he was very young. He just loved driving and loved playing to the crowd when he could.” Co-driver Derek Ringer: “As I’m sure the other co-drivers would agree, we were very, very privileged because we saw things that nobody else saw in this sport. Colin was absolutely incredible. He could do things which were just supremely magic and I was there to witness that magic. But, sometimes, some of those tricks just went a bit wrong and I was there at the same time. But the memories for me are just incredible.”

Tommi Makinen (Champion: 1996-1999) “This was a special time in the sport and I have to thank all three of my co-drivers. I took Seppo [Harjanne], with the experience. Then Risto Mannisenmaki and then the youngster Kaj Lindstrom, who is working with me again at Toyota now. Without all of those guys this would be a different story.” Co-driver Seppo Harjanne: “Nearly 30 years ago I was introduced to a young driver from central Finland. Little did anybody in our team know of the upcoming years. We had our plans and objectives and, after some years of ups and downs, one of the most remarkable careers in rallying was born. It was very exciting to work with a young driver at the very beginning of his time in international rallying. I’m thankful and proud to be part of that career which led all the way the championship.”

Marcus Gronholm (Champion: 2000, 2002) “Oy, oy, oy long time – it was 20 years ago! These were nice times when I was driving. There wasn’t much time for fun when I was driving before and now it would be good to do this [at Rally Sweden next week]. The Toyota is a nice new car. If we can do some stage times, then that could be interesting as well…” Co-driver Timo Rautiainen: “I have just good memories from the time with Marcus, some touching memories – sometimes maybe some of the memories were a little bit too much touching! I’m really proud to have sat with Marcus and to see what he has achieved.”

Richard Burns (Champion: 2001) Represented by Jo Burns, Richard’s sister Jo Burns: “I was working on Rally GB [when Richard and Robert Reid won the World Rally Championship] in 2001, I was working on the merchandise. It was phenomenal, my biggest memory is of Richard punching the air and telling Robert he was the best in the world.” Co-driver Robert Reid: “It was amazing to sit alongside Richard for 13 years. In that time you get know somebody really well and develop friendship, camaraderie, competitiveness and mutual professional respect. I first co-drove for Richard on a rally in 1990 and, in the bar afterwards, we both said we wanted to be world champions, little did we know the dream would come true – but dreams do come true.”

Petter Solberg (Champion: 2003)

“I have so much passion for this sport and to be back in a room with so many people from this sport and so many guys I have worked with as a team-mate, it’s fantastic. It was a special moment for Phil [Mills, co-driver] and me to win the World Rally Championship in 2003. You know, I am coming from Norway, it’s not the biggest country, so to win against so many incredible drivers was fantastic for me. And tonight is another special moment. It’s really sad that we’re here without Colin, Richard [Burns] and, of course, our first winner Bjorn Waldegard – but we will always remember those guys, especially now that we are all together in the FIA’S Hall of Fame. I want to say a big thank you to my co-driver Phil. Co-driving is such a tough job for those crazy guys who want to sit next to us, but Phil and I have an amazing relationship. He’s such a fantastic person with a fantastic voice – when I go to bed at night, I still hear that voice!” Co-driver Phil Mills: “We had 11 fantastic years together, 11 world tours, back-to-back. What great times and never better than in 2003. I’m so proud to have played a role with you. They were great days, great memories and this is a fantastic achievement, well done.”

Sebastien Loeb (Champion: 2004-2012) “My career had a lot of incredible moments. I would say the one that leaves me the most emotional is the one I had in France in my home town in 2010. I won the rally, the title, the manufacturers’ title and it all came in front of my friends and family near my home in the town where I was born. I had great battles with drivers and I do still – with Petter in rallycross and with Carlos in Dakar. And, it’s always nice to see the guys who won the historical rallies.”

Stig Blomqvist, Timo Salonen, Juha Kankkunen and Sebastien Ogier were not represented in Paris