WRC INTERVIEW: At home with Hyundai Motorsport’sDani Sordo
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) driver Dani Sordo is next to jump into the hot seat for Hyundai Motorsport’s Home Shakedown series
- The Spaniard will celebrate his 37th birthday on May 2 at home, where he has been spending time during the lockdown period
- Dani has kept himself busy around the house and garden, with his girlfriend Jaana and his dogs for company, while also keeping fit in his indoor gym.
Hyundai Motorsport has continued its Home Shakedown series with FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) driver Dani Sordo jumping into the hot seat to reflect on his lockdown routines.
The Spaniard will celebrate his 37th birthday on May 2, though in very different circumstances to those he would have preferred. Dani has been keeping busy around his house in recent weeks with a regime that has combined fitness with home improvement.
While Dani has been experiencing a slower than usual pace of life, in accordance with restrictions, he has admitted that he will miss some of the events that would have been on the WRC calendar in May and June. Sardinia would have offered him and co-driver Carlos del Barrio the chance to repeat their victory from 2019.
However, in light of the severity of the global pandemic, Dani – like all motorsport fanatics around the world – has had to adjust his hobbies and daily lifestyle to a ‘new normal’. The addition of a simulator at home has allowed him to enjoy competition with his friends, while also maintaining close contact with the team.
Home Shakedown with Dani Sordo
First of all, Dani, how are you keeping in these days?
“The situation here, thankfully, has not been as bad as in other areas, but it has been important to treat things seriously and to respect the regulations. I have been keeping safe, and also doing what I can to remain fit and busy. There is some light coming but we have to be patient for the time being.”
Have you had a set routine that you have followed during the lockdown?
“Yes, it’s been helpful to have a routine. I have tried to do some fitness once a day and then do jobs around the house. For example, cleaning all the windows, cutting the grass, gardening and lots of indoor DIY. I’ve been kept busy with video interviews, and also doing some cooking via video link. It’s not the life I lead usually and while I miss going out, the weather has been nice.”
Do you have a gym at home for exercise?
“I was making a really nice gym but at the moment it’s half finished. It’s had lots of use in the past few weeks that’s for sure. I also have enough things to do some other sports, so I’ve been coping quite well for fitness activities.”
Are you using the opportunity to do something completely different to normal?
“Not really, but I got myself a simulator. It’s not something I’ve really played with before. I don’t really play video games, but I think for your mind and maybe your speed it’s good. I’ve really only been playing with my friends up to now.”
So, you’ve not been taking part in the Esports competitions like other drivers?
“No, I haven’t but to be honest I’m not really a big fan of them, as I prefer to do normal sport. As I said I’ve been enjoying cleaning and making food, and I’ve got my dogs who I can play with as well.”
Have you been keeping in touch with the rest of the team?
“I had an Instagram chat with Carlos, even if we don’t usually speak much in between events. I have spoken to Andrea and Alain, but I think it would also be nice for all the drivers to have a video chat together – that would be fun!”
Do you have a message for the team?
“Everyone has been is in a difficult place recently. Not only the teams, but people around the world. We all hope we will come back to some form of a normal life soon. I think we need to take positive feelings of this moment in history. Maybe after this we will use our time to have more conversations with our friends on the phone. There are so many possibilities now with technology to communicate or meet with people where you can see their face. So, sometimes we need to stop a little bit and to see things you didn’t see before because you are busy all the time now, but now we realise life a little more slowly is also nice.”
For the fans at home, what do you say to them?
“Honestly, the message I want to tell the fans is we are sorry for these circumstances at the moment, but it is the best for everybody to stay home. The most important thing now is to get through this, for everyone to be good, and we will restart the rallies like normal. We are disappointed not to be in Portugal and in Italy, because they are some of my preferred rallies. We are sad for the missed rallies but sadder for this situation. To everyone at home, I say thanks for staying there for a long time, and I hope everything will be normal as soon as possible.”
