Sébastien Ogier highlights the challenge of tire management

After a Rally de Turquie compliqué dans le clan M-Sport Ford, Sébastien Ogier will try to forget his disappointment of the past weekend by committing to DTM as a guest, during the Austrian meeting in Spielberg, on the Red Bull ring.

Aligned with a Mercedes-AMG, le champion du monde des rallyes en titre s’offrira une nouvelle expérience en circuit, lui qui avait déjà pu s’essayer à la Porsche Supercup ou au FFSAGT. A confrontation with the best specialists, after discovering his mount, during trials in Vallelunga in Italy.

“I felt like I had been transported back to my childhood, like I was given a new toy, underlines Ogier. I tried to have fun and find the limit. Two of the biggest differences from rallying are certainly braking and cornering speeds.

I haven't done any special preparation for the weekend, but as soon as I get on the track I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions for my engineers and teammates.

After all, I haven't figured out the procedures for the weekend the same way everyone else has, so I'll have to go my own way. This will definitely be very stressful for me, but before I begin, I will try to absorb as much information as possible. »

Among the challenges highlighted by the French driver, tire management. With the new aero rules coming into force, the tire parameter has taken on increased importance this season, and this novelty could help in a sense the debut of Sébastien Ogier.

“Everyone knows I don't have much track experience, I'm just not used to it, argues Ogier. Therefore, I will try to stay level as much as possible.

I also know how difficult it is to get the tires into the correct operating window. Maybe the new rules will work a little for me, because everyone lacks experience in this regard. There are so many new things I need to pay attention to that I can expect challenges in all areas. »