16 Dec 12

Ogier out
of luck in
Race of
Champions

Sebastien Ogier might have made his Volkswagen Motorsport Skoda Fabia Super 2000 go faster than ever before in this year's FIA World Rally Championship but he wasn't able to transfer that form into the Race of Champions event in Thailand.

Last year’s winner, Ogier started his title defence in style with three group wins out of three A at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium today. However, he fell at the quarter-final stage when he lost out to Tom Kristensen, the man he beat to glory to become last year’s Champion of Champions.

Benito Guerra, who claimed the FIA Production Car world title in 2012, was eliminated in the group stages, losing out to ex-Formula One racer David Coulthard.

Earlier, Ogier had formed part of the French team that lost to Sebastian Vettel and Michal Schumacher’s Germany squad in the Nations Cup. Ogier’s team-mate Romain Grosjean went on to become this year’s Champion of Champions with victory over Le Mans 24 Hours hero Kristensen.

“The Race of Champions is something very special,” said Ogier, who will drive a factory Volkswagen Polo R WRC in next year’s world championship. “To come together and compete against all the greats of motorsport in this atmosphere is just great fun. One thing is clear, however, when we put on our helmets, we are going all out to win. We can be very happy with second place behind Team Germany.”