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Teammates unwilling to give up ground
Source: Agencies |
September 6, 2011, Tuesday
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THE relationship between World Rally Championship leader Sebastien Loeb and closest challenger and teammate Sebastien Ogier appears strained heading into this week's Rally Australia.
Citroen driver Loeb, who has won the last seven WRC titles, leads fellow Frenchman Ogier by 25 points, with four rallies to go.
Ogier closed the gap in the last round in Germany when he held onto first place after reportedly ignoring a team order to let Loeb win.
The pair will resume their testy relationship on and off the course when the four-day, 26-stage, 369-kilometer Rally Australia which begins on Thursday on the roads around Coffs Harbour, a tourism area in northern New South Wales state halfway between Sydney and Brisbane.
Ogier did not attend a media conference on Sunday and Loeb said he hadn't seen him since the rally in Germany ended on August 21.
Asked if he still was upset with Ogier's refusal to comply with team orders in Germany, Loeb said, "It was his problem with the team, it was not my problem I didn't ask for any orders, he was just doing what he wanted."
Not beaten
Ogier's win ended Loeb's run of eight straight victories in Germany. Loeb had not been beaten there since the country became part of the world championship in 2002.
Loeb said he was considering whether to go flat-out for a win in Australia or make sure he covers Ogier and Finland's Mikko Hirvonen, the only other realistic title contender, who is 36 points off the lead.
"It's not a massive lead, it's always more important to score points than to win, but still we have to push," Loeb said. "We'll see. I'll drive like I feel and for sure if I can fight for the win I'll try to do it."
Ford driver Hirvonen, who won WRC races in Australia in 2006 and 2009, said "if I want to fight for the title, I would need to win this one."
Ogier should benefit from following Loeb through the gravel stages on Friday as it should leave him a cleaner surface.
"On gravel, it is a bit of a disadvantage to be first on the road, that's the challenge I expect to have," Loeb said.
Loeb was hoping for a better outcome than the last WRC event in Australia two years ago, when a time penalty for a technical infringement denied him victory.
Citroen driver Loeb, who has won the last seven WRC titles, leads fellow Frenchman Ogier by 25 points, with four rallies to go.
Ogier closed the gap in the last round in Germany when he held onto first place after reportedly ignoring a team order to let Loeb win.
The pair will resume their testy relationship on and off the course when the four-day, 26-stage, 369-kilometer Rally Australia which begins on Thursday on the roads around Coffs Harbour, a tourism area in northern New South Wales state halfway between Sydney and Brisbane.
Ogier did not attend a media conference on Sunday and Loeb said he hadn't seen him since the rally in Germany ended on August 21.
Asked if he still was upset with Ogier's refusal to comply with team orders in Germany, Loeb said, "It was his problem with the team, it was not my problem I didn't ask for any orders, he was just doing what he wanted."
Not beaten
Ogier's win ended Loeb's run of eight straight victories in Germany. Loeb had not been beaten there since the country became part of the world championship in 2002.
Loeb said he was considering whether to go flat-out for a win in Australia or make sure he covers Ogier and Finland's Mikko Hirvonen, the only other realistic title contender, who is 36 points off the lead.
"It's not a massive lead, it's always more important to score points than to win, but still we have to push," Loeb said. "We'll see. I'll drive like I feel and for sure if I can fight for the win I'll try to do it."
Ford driver Hirvonen, who won WRC races in Australia in 2006 and 2009, said "if I want to fight for the title, I would need to win this one."
Ogier should benefit from following Loeb through the gravel stages on Friday as it should leave him a cleaner surface.
"On gravel, it is a bit of a disadvantage to be first on the road, that's the challenge I expect to have," Loeb said.
Loeb was hoping for a better outcome than the last WRC event in Australia two years ago, when a time penalty for a technical infringement denied him victory.
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