Alen's record in sight for Ogier in Portugal

Four times winner in the last six editions of the Rally from Portugal, Sébastien Ogier has the opportunity to enter a little more into the legend of the Lusitanian event. The three-time reigning world champion can, in the event of success next week, return to the level of the record holder for victories, the Finn Markku Alén, winner in 1975 (FIAT 124 Abarth), 1977, 1978, 1981 (FIAT 131 Abarth) and 1987 (Lancia Delta HF).

“It gives me extra motivation,” confesses the Volkswagen Motorsport driver, even if I won’t be thinking about that during the rally. What makes this event so special are the Portuguese fans, who support us with great enthusiasm. And Fafe's jump on the Power Stage is the highlight in terms of spectacle, which helps to make the rally an extraordinary event. »

Portugal has also always been a special test for Sébastien Ogier since the start of his career at world level. “ This rally is very special for me. This is where I won my first victory in WRC – an important step in my career (driving a Citroën C4 WRC in 2010, against the world champion at the time Sébastien Loeb, Editor’s note). I had more success there than on any other rally. »

Beaten by Hayden Paddon in Argentina, Ogier will try to regain the top step of the podium in an event where Volkswagen had scored a hat-trick in 2015, led by the Finn Jari-Matti Latvala.