Ogier, the year of confirmation

Sébastien Ogier, before starting the Rally of Sweden, was able to benchmark himself during the last Monte-Carlo Rally, where he showed that he could compete with Mikko Hirvonen, second in the last world championship. “ He showed a strength of character worthy of the greatest, declared Olivier Quesnel, director of Citroën Racing, on RMC. He went out on a patch of snow left by the spectators, he took two minutes... With the experience he has, the ambition he had, everything was there to make him give up. But he attacked again, he drove at the limit, he regained 1?20?? to Mikko. Then, on the last night of the Turini, he had the breakdown that we know about (alternator belt rupture, editor's note). Of course, he wouldn't have won but he was the best performer. »

After this restart on the snow in the south of France, the Citroën Junior Team driver was able to drive in Sweden, in order to prepare for the first event of the season. WRC. " We covered 200 kilometers to get our bearings and refine the settings of the Citroën C4 WRC, explains Ogier. I am satisfied with the behavior of the car. I quickly regained my sensations, I like driving in these conditions. »

Ready to fight, the pilot, of whom Olivier Quesnel affirms that he “ has teeth that scratch the floor » due to his great motivation, should be able to join the fight for the first places more and more often, even if the field is high. “ We expect Sébastien to start this 2010 season at the pace he finished 2009 with., says Benoit Nogier, team manager of the Citroën Junior Team. With the same application, the same work and the same speed. Ultimately, he should be in a position to get on the podium. The last steps are the most difficult to climb, we are aware of it and he is aware of it, but that is the objective that we must have during this season. »

Hostilities begin this Thursday with the super special of the Rally Sweden, in Karlstad, from 20 p.m.