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Car
Mitsubishi Lancer
The Mitsubishi Lancer is a regular compact car, but it’s also famous for rally racing. Rally teams use special versions of it to drive on rough roads and compete in events like the Acropolis Rally. The podcast is likely talking about who is running the Lancer in a rally series right now.
Term
WRC
WRC means World Rally Championship. It’s the biggest rally racing series in the world, with races on different surfaces like gravel and paved roads.
Term
gravel
Gravel is loose dirt/stone used on many rally stages. Because it’s slippery and unpredictable, the car needs different setup and driving than on paved roads.
Term
tarmac
Tarmac means paved asphalt. It usually has more consistent grip than gravel, so the car and tires behave differently and you drive it differently.
Topic
testing last week
They’re talking about a recent practice/testing session. In rally, teams use this time to adjust the car so it works better on the surfaces they’ll race on.
Car
Citroën C3
The Citroën C3 is the rally car Leo is talking about. He’s saying it feels great on one type of road surface, but gravel was harder for him last year.
Concept
world championship
They’re talking about the main global rally series. Since races happen on different kinds of roads, the driver has to adapt the car and how they drive each time.
Term
stage
In rallying, a stage is a specific timed section of the route. Each stage can be different, so the driver and car may need to be adjusted for that section.
Place
Lutwaki
They mention Lutwaki as the area where a timed rally section is located. Different places can have different road grip, so it changes how the car feels.
Place
Lamia
They bring up Lamia as another rally stage area. They’re saying the road there has different characteristics (more rock and grip), which changes how the car should be handled.
Term
grip
Grip is how well the tires can hold the road. On rally stages, grip can vary a lot, so the car may feel more stable on some sections than others.
Term
setting
In rally context, “setting” refers to the car’s adjustable setup (for example suspension and differential behavior) chosen for the day’s conditions. The driver’s goal here is to avoid changing the setup constantly, because frequent changes can make it harder to build confidence and consistency.
Place
Sardinia
Sardinia is where a lot of rally stages are run. It’s known for tricky gravel roads, so driving there is a good test of control and confidence.
Place
Trulla
Trulla is the name of a specific rally stage. A stage is a timed section of road, and different stages feel very different depending on the terrain.
Place
Montellerno
Montellerno is the name of a particular rally stage. It’s one of those timed sections where the road layout and surface make it a unique driving challenge.
Term
ice
Driving on ice is very slippery, so the tires can’t grip well. In rallying that means you have to be extra gentle with steering and gas to keep the car from sliding.
LIVE
Thank you for listening to Spin, the rally pod, brought to you by Dirtfish Rally School.
For your chance to experience life behind the wheel of a rally car, head to drive.dirtfish.com
to find the course that's right for you. What are you waiting for? We're right here waiting
for you. Formula One had the Schumacherz, the WRC had the Macrae's and the Solberg's, but today
the famous rallying sibling, I was going to say rivalry or couple, it could be both,
is the Russell's and I am delighted to say that today on Spin the Rally Pod I am joined by both of
them, Johan and Leo, who as it stands at a time of recording cannot be separated by points in WRC
which is quite incredible, both right at the sharp end on 52 championship points, but I'm going
to introduce Johan first because he's got two wins compared to Leo's one. Johan, how are you today?
Fine, everything is good and we can wait to live for grace and thank you for the invitation.
No problem at all and Leo, it's one win compared to your brother's two but as many championship
points so you've been just as consistent. Hello, yes, for sure it's just an incredible start
for this year. I win my first race in WRC 2 with Monte and after the podium with Johan
in Croatia, just happy for my start for the moment. Now over the course of this podcast,
what I want to do is chat to both these guys individually and together to learn about their
careers as individual drivers but also their relationship as brothers and I thought a fun
way to do that to start with is by a little game that I've called Johan or Leo. It's not the best
name but it does what it says on the tin. If anybody is familiar with the Mr and Mrs game,
I think it's shown in various countries, not just the UK but what I'm going to do,
I'm going to read out eight statements and what it's up to you guys to do is to work out
whether that applies best to Johan or to Leo. It's not a competition, I'm just curious to see if you
agree or disagree. I'll read the statement, I'll count down three to one so you've got time to
think about it and then if you just point to either yourself or your brother and then I'll
explain to everybody listening what you've gone for and we'll see. So if that all makes sense,
the first one I have is going a little bit back in time. It is who was the better student
in school? So who was better at all their school work and homework? 321
What do you think? Ah they're both seeing themselves! Johan will come to you first.
Why do you think you were better? I don't know. For myself it will be more or less always average
and to pass on the next class and to do the minimum and I think it's the same for him.
Well I think me or him it's exactly the same. Leo, what about you?
Because I think I am always serious in the school and Johan sometimes yes, sometimes no.
I mean there's two years between you guys isn't there so you would never have been in the same
class for stuff would you? Johan would have been yeah ahead in school yeah so you never really
got to go head to head no and see who could do the maths paper the best or anything like that.
But for about the level it's more or less the same it's maybe yes more about the
the compartment yes. Okay the next one I have got is who is the better mechanic so it's going to
apply to rallying and it can apply to road cars as well. Already Johan's coming back they both
pointed to Johan that's interesting immediate agreement. Leo I'll ask you what makes Johan
better mechanics than you? Because because my father he has a garage in English garage and
for me now I live in the Aless city and Johan in the same city with the garage and for Johan it's
more easy to practice the mechanical. The story is not exactly that because it's easy to have
this excuse but when he starts the karting me I always try to understand about the mechanic
about the kart to clean the kart between the the series and the race and Leo plays always
with the playstation with the football and when he is in on the go kart he did an incredible job
because he has no stress he did the job when he is on the track and me I try to understand a
bit more and at the end of my little career in go kart because I was a bit too big and I wait to
pass on the on the track but on Katerham with the car and I did a mechanical for a young driver
and I practiced a lot during this and after he practiced also for gain a lot of money to
pay the season and yeah but he is not bad now but at the beginning it was it was complicated
but it's the same for me during my younger career for me just important to drive my karting
and after that the mechanical it's no important now I think enter the stage I try also my car
for the seating and you want always no stress look at the on board before the stage and no
work on the car wow so things have changed over the years it's like you flipped rolls now now
yoan is the one that's he's been there he knows it all he's chilling and Leo is working on the car
that was great the next one I have lined up is who is the better chef so who is better at cooking
things in the kitchen 321 yoan is pointing at Leo Leo points to get himself as well okay
we have agreement Leo have you have you a speciality dish is there something
that you always tend to to make for food no I don't know I like that honestly in French and in the
sound I
in the barbecue okay yes because a lot of sun in the in the the region in the in the city
okay so if if anybody wants to have a summertime barbecue they're in the Leo's house
it's better it's better so yoan are you are you not so good a chef are you in your household
do you cook the food or is that down to somebody else my specialty if you want to come in my house
it's the Wednesday lunch because my wife is not at the home she's dancing with
his colleague and my specialty is pasta carbonara but not like Italian like
I was about to say that was almost very on brand for lunch there wasn't it if it was Italian food
yeah I need to learn in Italy in fairness I would go even worse than that I would be spaghetti but
get one of these little jars from the supermarket just throw the sauce in the pan and mix it that's
all I do it's really easy but there we go that's a great answer as well next one on the list who
is better at looking after their money so are either of you big spenders do you treat
yourselves to things or are you saving all your money who is best would you say at this
Leo I don't understand
and
not not a lot but I like too much the car and when I look the application of my bank
I imagine what I can buy about the car but not not depending a lot because we are coming to the
normal family and we understand very well oh it's difficult to gain a lot of money or just money
uh we work always on the summer for win a 10 euro to um to be uh to be able to um to pay during the
the the party on on my city on summer with a lot of
a lot of animation during the summer in on your city on my city and when you are young if you
don't have a money about your parents you need to to try to or other thing to win the money
this makes sense you want all the the day you have a new challenge uh for the
for mechanical for the life for the sun for and he gained 10 hours today tomorrow
expensive 10 euros uh yes 10 euros very good next one I have on my list then is and this
can maybe apply to now but I'm more thinking when you two were were children still living at home
with mum and with dad who would get in the most trouble from parents so which one of you was
was the better behaved out of the two I think both because uh we have the same I don't know we
you can ask at leo but for me we have the same target at the beginning of um when you we start
the go kart and the plan was to do professional driver and uh it it's maybe difficult to say
at your children it's impossible because we don't have money we we can to try to do everything is
possible but to to say at your children your dream is maybe a bit big it was a problem for my parents
and uh it's not about just one children it was two um the same problem for both of
them um yes and uh yeah but for me it's more or less the same where would would you agree
but yeah I think it's the same for sure um our life it's really correct but for the this
sport it's just I yes he don't have a money a lot um my parents it's your mechanical for
for me in the catching uh my father for you and my mother or a friend for me and
I think now it's more easy because um I have I have a lot of chance
with the Stellantis and no I don't know you my father practice the high club
uh in flame in flame and uh I think for my mother it's just normal uh now uh to drive
in the car and uh it's just uh our passion for uh for me and uh no I I don't know
okay so the final one of these questions is quite simply who is the better driver
Johan or Leo
321 sorry I forgot to do
what a surprise did not see that coming but as we said it's quite incredible though isn't it
that the two of you are both in this position now both in wrc2 both with Stellantis both
driving Lancers as well as of next week's acropolis rally grace if you can give us an
idea Johan first of all of just how incredible this is to be here because we've heard you
talk before a little bit about your background but not really heard so much about the story so
can you take us all inside the the Russell family these two little boys Johan and Leo with a dream
and you've made it happen against the odds hi it's a dream um at the beginning of of my car
I am and his car I am it was a dream to to be a professional uh driver now it's more or less done
and but when when you see when we started and when we are now we can be happy
we try everything what we can do at the beginning of the career we take a lot of weeks with the
money with the company of my father uh yeah everything was more or less perfect and the
choice of career was good with the support of Stellantis I win immediately religion at the beginning
and for myself it was more easy to to start at the good level compared to Leo but now we are
more or less at the same level and the plan is we don't have a plan now because it's just
objective or a target to to try to to play with other top drivers like Ogie like Neville
the dream is done I think for for me but now it's just the target if you are able to fight
or not on the top category during one event or all the season you if you can win a world championship
or just one event or I don't know what is the target to my brother but for sure
to to be at the same team same constructor to have more or less the same um support it's
incredible to be at the same times here and we need to enjoy it's difficult to enjoy but
we need to enjoy about that because on the past it was difficult
yeah well I think as Johan has said there maybe you are you both I guess achieved the dream haven't
you you've made it to this level but it doesn't stop now you're not happy just being where you are
you always want to be better and don't you but how special is it for you
to now be in this position with the program with this car and racing against your brother
yes honestly it's the same for me it's a really a dream
all my career it's the same plan win all the rally because
it's more important to pay the rally the future rally and the future season and
now I'm really happy to start a new challenge with Lancia I know a little this car because I have
a drive on a thermac on gravel and I think it's a good car it's different after the the
situation a little different and I think for the moment he don't have a problem on a thermac
but on gravel I work with the team for a progress a lot and we will see for grace I think it's a
rally a difficult rally with the the condition with the weather and a lot of work on the on the
stage we will see I think it's for the moment gravel it's more important to finish all the
stage all the rally for the future season Johan if I can come back to you and I guess on this
journey that you and your brother have been on to get here you said yourself there that you won
the rally jean program which I'm sure many listeners know is it's this thing that the
french federation do every year previous winners in kodouge form oh so it's it's a very good program
to be to be part of but you mentioned that it was easier for you than your brother why was that
um because he he he did the two types religion he he finished on the final but before the last day
of the second chance a guy with the name a good name is sebastian lob and daniel elena tell him
during the night before the religion and he said uh if you want you come tomorrow in in
in vogue because we are testing the 306 maxi and uh we are able to um to propose a contract
with you on the 208 rally cup I remember like he's uh yesterday because I was on the table with my
father my mother with him to to uh to try to know what is the best for the future you have uh
sebastian lob tell you to to um to propose a contract or you um you can go at the religion
and you don't know if you can win or not the the next season it was difficult uh because he
have a lot of pressure about him uh he did more or less uh just a normal mistake at the beginning
of the career because the level was very good during the peugeot rally cup and uh it was more
less like that um to to understand to uh to try to um to uh to have a good experience and to
to be able to to fight for a good championship uh we cannot forget it's also the period the
covid period yeah um yeah it was not not easy for me I have a restart
after 2017 after my first program in w rc2 with days three or five but only that I I don't restart
at zero and uh Leo restart at 02 or three times maybe with not a lot of money at the beginning
of the season and he needs to win a lot uh the first event to be able to to continue
for me it was more or less clear but uh yeah I I tried to help him uh a lot to compensate
that at the beginning of his career and now he's able to to fight to fight alone
yeah I think it's fair to say that your name Johan was maybe more familiar to people outside of
france sooner because you did wrc earlier but Leo you you've turned up to wrc and just instantly
been good to win Monte Carlo this year is incredible but from your side how difficult
has that journey been I guess you've always been really trying to get there you see your
brother is there you must have wanted the same was it ever difficult to keep going and keep
motivating yourself or were you always confident that you belonged in in wrc
for sure I have Johan just next to me in the wrc for my first season and I think for me and
for Guillaume my co-driver it's easy because I partage a lot the information with Johan and
now it's a little different because we don't have the same team and but now I have the same car with
Johan I don't know I think on the thermac for me it's really natural and on gravel I don't have a
experience on this surface and I work for progress a lot and I think
I am fast on the thermac and I think it's the same on gravel in the future
it's a good point you make though isn't it because if I'm not wrong
grace next week is your first gravel rally since Finland last year yes it's a long time to have
not so yeah you don't have the same experience on that surface do you yes yes after the grace and
Finland it's in the championship all the times for 27 28 29 and it's
really important to participate in this rally for this year it's the plan is not
win the championship because I don't have a full program in WRC too and the plan is just
try a lot my driving on this surface for a fight with the the good driver the next season
I think what's obvious if we didn't know it already is how special the relationship you
to have is I'm sure anybody listening to this who has a brother or a sister will know that
one day they're your best friend the next day they're your biggest enemy but when it comes to
sharing this passion and you're both trying to achieve the same thing all you want to do is
is help each other as much as you can but as we've seen at times this year Johan you've
he's given you a pretty good fight and in no circumstances all you want to do is beat him
it doesn't matter that he's your brother he just wants to win
yeah he he wants to win and we are the same philosophy we
he knows we will me and I know we will him I know all about his story and I don't know if it's
fourth or not when you are fight when you fight about your your brother but
I think we we can able to split about the family times the motorsport times and
and about the the life also because it's important to have a life
after the motorsport
for sure it's not easy because we are always on the fight and to to try to
to search the the good
setting the good race to be ready the good constructor it's it's easy because
it's always challenges and the relation with them it's very clear and it's very very easy to
to to work with them but we have the same target and on the future it will be
hard if the place on the top category stays like that yes yeah but but when you are you're
fighting Leo and I remember especially this super special at rally last canary us this year where
you're both driving around the track at the same time it does it feel like you're fighting
anybody else or does it feel different because he is your brother I win the first pass in the
super special he has that time they're all there yes and I think in the great it's the same fight
with the super special no because the the super special fight with 22 cars in the in the
circuit and no I think it's difficult for Gigi Klemann for our boss before the super special
the paints just finish the stage no mistake and after the start the paints just flat out for
win you but but does it does it feel different I guess is my main question like obviously you
want to win it doesn't matter who you're against but when you two are fighting for for first place
which has happened this year does it is it a different feeling to be fighting each other
than than anybody else or is it just like yeah is it just like any other rivalry no I think it's
the same because in the rally to start one minute for parts one minute or two minutes and it's
completely different to fight in the track and no I partage a lot a lot of information with Johan
for take a good car and I think for me it's the same because no fighting in the in the same
circuit for in the same moment Johan would you agree I think in the rally it's it's more easy for
that and on the track it's completely different because I fight in the in the same
moment yeah there is no like contact or yes or follow-ups from yeah you can only influence
your own race not somebody else's but Johan is it is it the same for you does it feel any different
fighting Leo yes we have partaged just one race in the car team and I think 60 60 driver
before the race and after the chrono Johan 15 and me 16
it was not a good moment for my mother to start on the same line but it's maybe one just one
time during the during the go kart but it was fun I don't remember if I have a photo
about that well a picture sorry about that but it was a nice moment so for me for me it's it's
more or less the same because it's easy to have a good relation between the stage or between
the race with your teammate of course you want to win every time but on rally you you are able
to have a good relation and especially with the student is group we are not a lot in WRC too and
if we are not able to to cheer the settings the the the sensation we can fight
against Toyota or Skoda my most important question now though is looking back at this this
karting incident whose fault was it who who caused the incident between the two of you
no no incident during the go kart events it's just we started the same line after the
the first okay right first first qualification and it was a French championship and it was my
last event on the on this category it was the beginning for Leo and yeah it was a good memory
but for the moment we it's more or less clear when we are on the track
yes okay just looking at your season specifically Johan obviously a big change for you this year
was was the car and team that you've been driving with I guess at times it maybe hasn't gone
quite to plan but the speed has been there which is the most important thing but just how how proud
do you feel to be leading Lancia into this brand new era it's 30 years since their last in the
world rally championship and you're one of two drivers in that official team it's it must be
quite a special feeling for sure it was a pleasure for me when we start to to
talk about this program last year my plan was to be in WRC one it's not a surprise if we don't say
that but I am very very happy to to be here at these times and to have a good vision also for
the future with the good regression the last two or three year was not easy for me to to keep the
motivation to stay in WRC too and I want to to say thank you to to stay lentis to continue to push
me a lot to my family also what I say at the beginning of the distribution it was not it's
not a dream now to to be able to to fight with the other driver like Augie or Neville it's just
a target if I am able or not in my aid and when I wake up the the morning I think I think about
that immediately it's just the beginning of the restart to Lancia and for sure we need to adapt
a bit more the car on gravel I was not completely happy about the car in Portugal because it was
not easy about the planning to anticipate the to drive more on gravel we are in Croatia
Canarias we we try to to understand very well the car on tarmac we win both our race and as
Portugal come a bit too fast to be to be able to fight and I was
quite happy about the pace but now we need to
to try to to search a good solution and after two days of testing last week it was very good
I don't know if we can able to fight against Toyota next year with this team I think it
will be difficult because Toyota had a lot of experience on every event and I don't know the
philosophy about Lancia but for myself the plan is just to be ready at the end of the year to
to be able to fight on maximum events and we will see if we have the same target with Lancia
if we have the same target for sure the plan it will be at the same place next year but
it's depend to the motivation and to the plan of the constructor
either way Johan it's it's an incredibly exciting time for you isn't it because none of us know
quite how things will work in 2027 in relation to rally two versus rally one but they will be
closer than now so regardless of what happens you will be in a more competitive position and we
all know how strong WRC2 is it's very very hard to win in that category but for you as a driver
knowing you've got this opportunity next year to really prove yourself it's yeah it must be tremendously
exciting yeah for me the plan it's really clear it's take a place for the 2027 season in the
in the Lancia and we will see I think now it's it's not yes it's important but I think the
the future season it's really really important because the car it's the same performance
all the constructor and and for me it's it's really important to work this year for the future season
and and no it's it's it's just
how to say my title that in fact this season it really prepares the next season
and it's the next one that will count a lot what this season is preparing for the next one the next
one will be the most important for him guess for you Leo we spoke very briefly in Croatia
you described the C3 as the grandmother compared to the Lancia didn't you you finally got your
hands on this this new car you haven't driven it yet in a proper rally but how excited are you to
finally get to drive the the Ipsod rally too yes I think on the Termac the Citroën it's not the
problem he's really fast on this surface and I'm happy to change the car for the gravel and
because last year it's for me really really difficult on gravel with the Citroën I don't have
easy on gravel and for me it's really really important
and I think now it's I'm ready for a fight with the podium on gravel and
for the moment the problem is just me it's not the car
well I think I speak on behalf of all rally fans and see we're excited to see what you
can do next week both of you and but before we get a little bit to that I have some questions
from our club dirtfish members now if you want to join everyone here and have the opportunity
to ask some of the world's best drivers anything you like consider joining club dirtfish on Patreon
you get loads of bonus content exclusive perks and you can listen to this very podcast ad free
as well so it's well worth having a look at the first question though comes from Rodry Jones and
it's addressed to you Johan Rodry asks what can Leo look forward to when he drives the Lancia
how is the car different and improved? I think it's just to adapt the car about all the events
and try to understand how the car works it's not easy to start with the new car because on the
world championship you change every time the surface and the the ground also on gravel
on every event like on the race next week the stage next to Lutwaki
it's more or less like a sound sound yes very smooth and on the path next to Lamia was a bit
more rock with a bit more grip to use and it's difficult to to have a good car on every surface
and the plan now is to to be able to fight and don't change the setting every time during the day
for me I am more confident now compared to the Portugal the team did a great job to
to to be able to react after Portugal and they understand me and I am quite happy about that
we look forward to seeing how that work manifests itself
on the rally but next question comes from Feebond and it's addressed to both of you so up to you
who answers it first but she has asked is it worse to lose to each other than to anybody else
or do you feel happy for them that they have won an event it's easy if it's not me win I hope to
Leo win no it's an education and now it's more easy because you have a Lancia in Monte
you asked me about that so I don't know your colleague or something like that and I say
I don't want to to say to say some things because I don't want to lose my contract
and Leo is it the same for you if you can't win do you want it to be Johan that wins
yes for sure because it's my brother and he drives the same car in the same family
I prefer Johan with Nicola to win the rally and now it's just normal I think
very good next question comes from Michael Hardiman who I can only assume is from the UK
based on this question they have asked will you be entering the Grampian rally in a Lancia so this
is an event in Scotland in August which we've learned that a few WRC drivers are coming to
Johan is there is there any plan to visit the UK in a car this year what I can say I don't know
we're looking about that it's clear we are the plan for the team I think it's to be
ready at the end of the year and we are looking for that I look the the beginning of the entry list
and I push to be to be in Scotland at the beginning of August it's not easy with the
vacation but the plan is just to to be ready at the end of the year and yeah it's it's easy choice
if we ask me I hope to be in Scotland
well as a Scotsman I can speak on behalf of our nation and say it's brilliant it's always sunny
here everything is perfect you'd be more than welcome in our country as I stand there and look
at the window and it's grey and raining just now so fitting the stereotype nicely next question
comes from Tommy and Leo I'll put this to you first Tommy has asked if you could pick a rally
to return to the WRC calendar which would it be and why I think it's the course the course rally
Corsica it's perfect for the french driver because it's too easy for a french driver
but for the for the fun for the ambiance the mexic I think it's incredible yeah do you know
I've never heard anybody call Corsica easy yeah yeah it's a difficult rally isn't it there's a lot
of corners but Johann I guess same question for for you is there any rally that you'd like to see
come back to WRC I think I am I can't say Australia or Argentina because it's other
philosophies compared to the Corsica but for sure for a french driver and when you see
oh guys world champions on the path and the passion about the fans we are more or less
close to to Monaco and it's a chance but I hope a next event in in France on the future
very good in in in rally of seven after we won a world championship it will be more
more easy now it's a bit difficult to discuss well that's good motivation isn't it for the french
driver it's difficult because we don't have a rally in the in my home for the scandinavia
we have a free rally uh sweden finland estonia letonia for the spanish driver canaria
sardinia for the italian driver and I don't have a rally in french and in the WRC one
you have sebastien oger adrien formaud in the WRC one and in the WRC two
you are an enemy uh camille uh sarazen he has a lot of drivers but I don't have a rally
it's actually a very good point um and I would even say that the french national championship is
one of the best in the world um so yeah whoever's listening that can sort that out there's your
man and and leo let's get an event on the mainland uh next question the second to last question
from our club dirtfish members comes from oisin who asks if you could pick any car
and any stage which two would you pick and why so from any time of life if you could do
just one rally stage which would it be and what would you be driving
I think it will be on gravel it will be the car between 2017 and 2020
it will be a c20 it's easy I don't want to to lose my contract also but
um I would say a stage like trulla or um or montellerno in sardinia uh not start first to be
honest around the 10 10 position and uh yeah the car during this period was completely crazy
and uh it was my dream to to complete an event on the future with old car maybe in 2020
leo the same question for you for me it's difficult because I don't know a lot of stage
in the double rc for the car I think uh 206 double rc I lost this car and for the rally
I don't know I think sweet sweet then because I don't have experience on the IEC and
the I don't know I think sweet then yes that would be an incredible way to learn driving on ice
though if you do it in that car that would be really fun wouldn't it
okay so the final question from our club dirtfish members is actually another one from
rodry jones and I'll put this to you you'll hand first because you did win rally zhun he's asked
france has produced many great drivers over the years particularly on tarmac how do you develop
your craft and how does the rally zhun program help you is there any circuit racing work
and and style that you develop
uh um the rally zhun is just the beginning is you put 20 euro and uh you're on the path five
tyson guys or woman at the beginning and only two guys win at the at the end and uh we start about
that we have one category about the guys with no license and one category about the guys
on smaller carriers like go kart or a bit of on the track
I don't understand very well and I think everybody don't don't understand how you can't
uh create a good driver with just a chicane and one thing with the handbrake during 20 seconds
and but you you can't see a lot of things about that and when you see the path
um we always speak about oj love for more also but a lot of professional drivers start with rally zhun
and uh I don't know but now I think it's easy to say a french guys can't be fast on the
only on tarmac it's it's easy to say that but when you see the speed of formo or orji and
I think I am able to to to fight also on gravel um I don't know if I have the same level now but
I am very confident about my driving but for sure it's easy to to drive on tarmac when you are a
french we don't have a lot of gravel road and uh you start only on tarmac and uh you need to to be
a bit more focused to um to uh to be come back at the same level on gravel but it will be okay
in the future don't worry about that yeah if it helps I would agree with that um not that I
know too much but it's very easy to fall into this idea that because somebody comes from a
certain country they must be good on just one surface it's like cali rovin pair was good everywhere
not just in in finland and do you know what I mean it's yeah it's interesting but that is all
in terms of of questions from our club dirtfish members and actually from from me as well the
only other thing I wanted to really do is is ask yoan and and leo if you have any advice for each
other for the upcoming rounds of the season maybe some fighting talk maybe some tips how do you
succeed now is your opportunity to to publicly share that yoan is there anything you you want to
say to leo no just to continue to work you know my my philosophy and uh I think he understand very
well how you need to be uh to be ready before the start it's just it's not just only during the week
of the race it's a preparation it's um it's um a good work a good teamwork and uh if you are not
able to be at 100% on every domain you you cannot to be ready to win especially with this win when
the level is like that and uh it will be worth on the future uh if we want to to win on the
top category leo do you have any advice for for your big brother yoan
no I think it's the same for me the the plan it's really clear for the the future rally and
uh I prepare a lot for my year 20 27 season for the moment the the regulation it's not
really clear uh for the constructor for the driver for the fan and uh it's just important uh to try
a lot to finish all my my rally and we will see for for the next season
he don't have any advice for me
No, no, no.
A tip for your birthday?
Ah, we hold the rally and you start in the grace.
There's the challenge.
Well, let's see if Joanne can do that next week.
But thanks very much to both Joanne, Leo and Stoantus for helping make this podcast possible.
Gentlemen, it was a pleasure.
Hopefully we can do it again someday.
Not too distant future.
And well, yeah, we look forward to seeing what you can do for the rest of the year.
Thank you, Joanne, thank you all your team.
It's a pleasure to have dirtfish and for me, all the guys on every country need to be attentive about your philosophy
and what you can aspire about the motorsport and especially on rally.
It's not easy to speak with you during a long time during the race
and to understand very well my philosophy and the philosophy of my brother also, I think.
But don't worry, we can be able to know more or less my story during the next year and the other next year.
Thank you. That's very kind of you.
I'll say on behalf of everyone here, thank you very much for that.
But yeah, that's hopefully the benefit of this podcast.
We've learned a little bit more about both of you.
When we're all in race mode, you don't have time, do you?
You're fully concentrated on the next stage and that's all that matters.
But thank you very much for that and for your time and for you, of course, for listening as well.
If you haven't subscribed to Spin the Rally Pod yet, do so on your favourite podcast provider.
We upload pretty much every single week, so there will always be something for you to enjoy,
including a full Acropolis Rally Preview next week.
Without further ado, thanks very much for listening and for joining us.
Thank you. See you. Bye.
Thank you.
About this episode
Johan and Léo Rossel—WRC2 siblings and rivals—sit down for a playful “Johan or Léo” game that turns into a window on how they’ve built their careers. They compare school, mechanics, cooking, spending habits, and who gets into trouble, with Johan and Léo often disagreeing in small ways but agreeing on consistency and shared discipline. The conversation then shifts to their parallel rise in rallying, both supported by Stellantis and driving Lancia, aiming to challenge the top names and keep improving as they chase bigger results.
Original notes
Both driving for Lancia, competing in WRC2 and even level on points in the championship as it stands, brothers Yohan and Léo Rossel join Luke Barry on SPIN, The Rally Pod to discuss their relationship on and off the stages, as well as their targets for the future.
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