Vincent Landais: “I love it, I enjoy it”

Just like Craig Breen in M-Sport avec James Fulton, Sébastien Ogier welcomed a new navigator at his side in the person of Vincent Landais. The two men knew each other a little after Monte-Carlo. Simon Jean-Joseph looking for a collaborator to replace Benjamin Veillas in the opening car, it was Landais who was asked. The quality of his work was not forgotten by Ogier who called him again to carry out the test session before Spain. After the Catalan event, the latter was confirmed in place of Veillas for the rally from Japan. In the cockpit, the duo was perfectly aware of the challenge that would have to be taken up in this event which promised to be demanding. “ This is immediately a big test, declared the pilot. This was also the goal of our weekend. We have to discover ourselves, it will be difficult, but at least we will quickly settle on a lot of things. » At the end of the reconnaissance, Ogier was very satisfied with the work accomplished and for his part Landais did not allow himself to be overwhelmed by the event. “ It is true that it is complicated, he smiled just before getting on the starting podium. However, starting at Monte-Carlo would also have been tough. There, if there is a continuation, it should appear simpler. I'm not sure it would have been easier for me if I had ended up on a round that they all know by heart. Here, you will have to find the ideal tempo in the announcements, because there is a lot of information to give. We recognized at 60 km/h that it was going to turn into a race. Sébastien's notes are also different from those of Pierre-Louis, but after 3 days of recce it is already better. I feel that there is pressure because there is a little more at stake, but I will do my job as I did with Loubet and we worked well so I have a good base. » Building perfectly on his achievements, Landais began his collaboration with Ogier with a best time and first place on Thursday evening. The rest was more complicated with a puncture and a wheel change during the opening SS on Friday. Landais, however, was smiling at the end of the stage. “ I know I only made progress throughout the day, he analyzed calmly. I'm not yet completely relaxed like with Pierre-Louis, but it's getting better and better. In the right seat, I admire Sébastien's way of driving. It’s just flexibility and delicacy. You are never bullied. I love it, I enjoy it. » Ayant déjà entamé sa remontée hier, le nouveau duo du Toyota Gazoo Racing est revenu aujourd’hui à la 6^e place with a better time in SS9 which must not have displeased Vincent Landais.