Croatia: Stéphane Lefebvre is Sébastien Ogier’s new fly-half

How was your decision to join Sébastien and Vincent Landais?

Seb asked me several times if I would be interested in working with him. From Ypres 2021, he knew it was my place and he asked me to point out the traps. He really liked the work I had done beforehand. I wanted to continue riding so that couldn't happen. Sébastien asked me again in recent years, but each time I said “ not immediately ”, because I hadn’t completely given up on running. This year, I finally accepted.

What is your vision of this work?

I know the importance of it. I know what a pilot expects. You have to be able to anticipate the evolution of the roads a little and find perfect consistency in the corrections. Today, things are happening so quickly that it is a mistake to want to indicate everything. You don't have time to take it all in. We must try to get to the point and point out the real pitfalls.

What do you think of the Croatian round?

I did the rally in 2022… and it was already raining so I know how complicated it can be. It's going to be a great test and I'm approaching it relaxed. I definitely take this as a new enriching experience.

Doesn't opening for Sébastien put more pressure on you?

I am aware that he is very demanding, but that does not destabilize me because I was too. I'll pretend it's for me and we'll adjust things a little. I'm relaxed, because I think we have the same vision of modern rallying. I go there without preconceptions and I tell myself that this is the opportunity to learn from the best.