A1      I'm not worried about that. After my crash in Ireland, the specialists at the hospital in Sligo gave me a scan which didn't show up any problems. They told me I had to undergo a more thorough check-up in Finland and obtain medical clearance before I could compete in Wales. So when I returned home I had another scan which gave me the all-clear.

A2      Mainly resting. I felt quite sore for a couple of days after the crash and I had a headache, which was probably a result of me banging my head on the roll cage. I was due to test in Britain on Tuesday and Wednesday but the team put the test back to this weekend to give me as much time as possible to recover. I feel much better now.

Q3    How has your crash damaged your championship chances?
A3      Well, it hasn't helped! After the accident my first thought was 'this isn't good for the world title'. The situation is quite clear. I have to win in Wales and Seb has to finish sixth or lower for me to win the title. That's a hard job but the chance is still there so I have to do everything I can do and see what happens.

A6      It's a fast gravel rally and those are the type of events I prefer. But Seb doesn't have to win to take the title so I would expect him to drive more cautiously than normal.

Q7       What are your emotions going into the event?
A7      They're no different from any other rally. I'm going to Wales with the aim of winning and my focus is entirely on that. I think the emotions of it being my last rally will only really start to hit me after the finish. When the team starts testing for 2008 in the week after Rally GB, that's the time when I will really think 'hey, I'm not a WRC driver any more'. And when next season starts in Monte Carlo, that will be really strange.

Q8      Will you receive any help from your team-mate, Mikko Hirvonen?
A8   I hope so! Now that BP-Ford has won the manufacturers' title, Malcolm Wilson has said that Mikko will be free to drive flat out to help me. I need to get as many people as possible between me and Seb in the overall positions, so I need help from not just Mikko but also the other Ford Focus WRC drivers like Henning Solberg and Jari-Matti Latvala.

Q9       If you don't win the championship, could that affect your decision to retire?
A9      No. That decision has been made and although it was an incredibly hard decision, I'm happy with that and have no plans to return to a WRC campaign next year. 

Q10     You have said that you found this decision a hard one. Just how hard?
A10     This has been an incredibly hard decision for me to make. Rallying has been my life for so many years and when the Monte Carlo Rally comes round in January to start next year's championship, it will feel strange not to be there. But the time is right for me to finish now. I wanted to stop while I still had the speed to win rallies. I didn't want to leave the decision too late so that I wasn't capable of winning any longer.

Q11     Did the amazing result in New Zealand play a part in your decision? Did you think it can't get any better than this – now is the time to stop?
A11     It was after New Zealand that I made up my mind. That was the most amazing rally and yes, I did think that perhaps things couldn't get any better. After all, I had fought over tenths of a second with Sébastien Loeb all rally and come from behind on the final day to beat him.

Q13     What was your family's reaction to your decision?
A13     I discussed this long and hard with my family. They are the most important people in my life and I wasn't going to make such a major decision without speaking to them about it. This decision will allow me to spend more time with my wife and three children. They have fully supported me all the way through my career and I would like to thank them for that. I could not have achieved what I have without their encouragement. When I told my wife and children they were happy - but they will have to get used to me being at home more often!  

Q14     Do you think your retirement is the end of an era?
A14     I guess that I am the last of my generation to hang up my helmet. When I won my first world title in 2000 my rivals were drivers like Richard Burns, Carlos Sainz, Colin McRae, Tommi Mäkinen and Juha Kankkunen. None are competing in the WRC any longer. Indeed the only other driver to finish in the top 10 of that year's championship who is still competing is Petter Solberg.

Q16     You have had many amazing moments in your career. Which ones stand out as the best?
A16     My best moment was my first world title in 2000. That was incredible for me.

Q19   Rallying is increasingly becoming a sport for younger drivers. Yet here you are at nearly 40 years of age and you are still one of the fastest two drivers in the world. Is there any replacement for experience?
A19     Not really. Of course a driver has to have the outright speed to be capable of winning rallies. But that is not enough. Experience of a rally and an understanding of the nature and characteristics of the roads on a particular event also play a vital part. Rally Finland is probably the best example. It is impossible for a rookie driver to be fully competitive against the top Finns there until they have driven the stages competitively several times.

Q20     Several drivers who have retired from the WRC have returned to motorsport on the Dakar Rally. Does that appeal to you?
A20     Not at the moment. Perhaps that is something for the future but not for now.

Q21     What are your plans after the end of the 2007 season? Business? Leisure?
A21     There are a lot of things to do in Finland with my business, my farm and my family but I don't want to think about life after the WRC until this year's championship has finished in December. There is a lot to concentrate on before then.

A22     I'm not pushing him to drive but if he wants to try then that's something we will have a look at. He is only 11 so there is plenty of time before that will arise.