Quesnel: “This rivalry will help the team”

Sébastien's victory Loeb in Mexico and the performance of the DS3 throughout the rally allow Citröen Racing to approach this Portuguese meeting with complete peace of mind. Only the duel between the two Sebs could disturb this apparent tranquility.

A DS3 WRC on the highest step of the podium, the other who gives up on the last day. Is the Rally Mexico result a glass half full or half empty?
“What history will remember is above all the first victory of the DS3 WRC and the 63rd victory of the Loeb/Elena crew. This test allowed us to confirm in the most beautiful way the competitiveness of the car, this is a point that should not be underestimated. Obviously, we would have preferred to score a double, but rallying is not an exact science. As was already the case several times in 2010, Citroën let sport do the talking. Sébastien Ogier, who does not have a No. 2 status within the team, made a mistake. It?s a hard blow for the team, but it?s even more so for him. He put himself in an unfavorable situation for the World Drivers' Championship. This will give him a good starting position for the next rallies, but his comeback will be no less difficult. Ultimately, this is not the first time that Citroën has recorded the abandonment of one of its cars in Mexico, and yet that did not prevent us from being World Champions six times? »

How do you plan to manage this rivalry in the future?
“Adversity between two drivers of this caliber is inevitable. Sébastien Ogier has enormous ambition, but he is facing Sébastien Loeb at the top of his game after having won seven consecutive world titles. Seb? Loeb is filled with an immense desire to show that he remains the best driver in the world. We knew we would face this situation, except we didn't think it would happen so soon. In Mexico, this rivalry did not lead to a completely positive result for Citroën, but I am sure that it will help the team to achieve great results in the next rallies. This management is part of my job as team manager; I must ensure that the interests of the brand are preserved above all else. We must stay united and continue to work to give both our crews the best chance of winning. »

In these conditions, what is Citroën's objective in Portugal?
“It is no different from the previous one, nor from the next rally: we are starting to win. Our drivers know the challenges: they must lead the Citroën brand to a new title of World Manufacturers' Champion. If they achieve this objective, they will necessarily be in a position, one, the other or both, to aim for the Drivers' title. In Portugal, they will have to score big points? And scoring big points means starting the rally with the objective of winning! »