Sébastien Ogier: “Take every chance to score points”

Placed as opener in Sweden after his victory at Rally Monte Carlo, Sébastien Ogier was quickly able to see that the Swedish round of WRC could not smile at him given the road conditions.

Dixième avant la dernière spéciale, offrant les fameux points bonus, le champion du monde en titre et son équipe M-Sport Ford, ont alors choisi de retarder le départ de la Fiesta n°1 sur le parcours de la Power Stage afin de bénéficier d’une meilleure position sur la route.

A choice that paid off since Ogier set the second time, earning himself four points. Better for the Frenchman, a late score from Elfyn Evans finally allowed Ogier to recover tenth place, and an additional point.

« As there was nothing to lose, we had to try and salvage something, so the team made the decision to delay Sébastien's start for the final stage, giving him an equal chance of getting points in the Power Internship, comments Team Principal Malcolm Wilson.

We can all be encouraged by his second best time. This gives him four more points for his championship defense and proves that we would have been on pace if the time had not been against us. »

“For years, I have been fighting for different rules regarding the starting order,” recalls Ogier. At the end of the day, it's a world championship and everyone is trying to do their best and take every chance to score points.

At least on this stage we had the opportunity to score points. I would have preferred to come here with a realistic chance of fighting for victory or even a podium, but that was not possible since the start of this weekend. »

Sébastien Ogier, however, cedes control of the Drivers' championship to Thierry Neuville, winner yesterday for the seventh time in his WRC career.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Swedish Rally, produced by our special correspondent, in AUTO issue 2153hebdo, available from this Monday evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.