Ogier: “This result feels good”

What does this podium in a World Championship event mean to you?
“It is a reward for the efforts made since the start of the season. We have gained a lot of experience and we have learned from our mistakes. The team worked hard to iron out any small issues we encountered. It had to pay off one day or another. I am happy that this result is coming from Greece. It’s a great reward for us and for the entire team who deserve it. »

The course of the event showed that pure performance would not be enough and that endurance would be essential. Is this a type of rally What do you like?
" Not especially. I prefer beautiful roads to drive and attack. We knew how to race intelligently and never attack too much to preserve the car and the tires. It?s a strategy that pays off upon arrival. »

Were you able to speak to Olivier Quesnel?
“He was very busy a few minutes before the arrival of the 24 Hours of Le Mans but I was able to talk to him. He was very happy. This second place made him happy. »

What else did you learn about this rally?
“Since the start of our career, we have managed to get through difficult races that require car and tire management. I didn't think it would be so difficult here in Greece. There were still a lot of abandonments. I think that in our position, with a rather defensive strategy, this event was made to smile on us. All the better for us. We forced ourselves to ride clean. It shows that when we try to do too much, we take more risks for little. It's a good step to go through an ordeal like this. We were riding well but not to the maximum. This is the method to be safe and confident in the car. We will keep this pace during the next rallies. »

Is this proof of a good knowledge of the Citroën C4? WRC for your eighth rally with this car?
?When I don?t attack too much, I can drive more cleanly. It's quite effective because we managed to set good times. With the experience we have today, this is perhaps the best thing to do. It's still a little too early to attack from the start. We do not have the necessary experience. Ultimately, these are races more favorable to our level of experience. »

Is Jari-Matti Latvala an example?
“Everyone has known for some time that he is a fast driver but he always makes mistakes. This is a defect that he still needs to correct. Many drivers would like to have peak speed but I think it is better to have peak speed and make mistakes than to be consistent without ever setting a time. Our goal is to progress and be faster and faster while making fewer mistakes than at the start of the year. »

Can this podium be a trigger for the rest of the season?
“It will help us approach the next races a little more calmly. After our somewhat average start to the season, we had a little more pressure on our shoulders. This year, we have to prove that we have our place in the WRC. It is certain that this result is good but it is not yet won. We must continue on this path. »

Was this pressure difficult to bear?
“The team helped me a lot without putting too much pressure on me. This weight came from our desire to succeed. I had difficulty explaining these stupid little errors, often lapses of concentration. It?s difficult to translate into words. Obviously, I was waiting for this moment. I wanted success to return a little to be more serene in the future. »

On what point have you progressed the most since the start of the season?
“On taking notes. During reconnaissance, I am more able to anticipate, to predict our way of going through the turns and the speed. I have fewer surprises when I arrive at the race. The notes stick better. It's not over, we still need to progress but it helps us. When I have more experience, more confidence, I will be able to dare a little more. For the moment, I'm trying to have quick but also safe notes. With experience, I will perhaps remove a little margin. »

The next rally begins in just over a week in Poland. This is an event that you know from having participated in the reconnaissance last season. What can you expect from it?
“It will be a new test for everyone. It?s always good for us. We arrive on equal terms with the other pilots. The special stages are very fast and the roads risk deteriorating as you go through them. The surface should be slippery on the first lap as there is a lot of gravel on the road. Last year, we found the stages very beautiful. There is a little relief but without the bumps of Finland. After the recce, we will definitely say that this is not an easy rally because World Championship rallies all have their own difficulties. It won't be easy to let go in such conditions, we don't have enough experience yet. Our objective will therefore not differ from previous rallies. »