Q&A - Sebastien
Ogier

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This week’s Neste Oil Rally Finland marks the debut of Citroen’s latest weapon in the World Rally Championship battle: two Sebastiens.

After a mid season re-shuffle, French rising star Sebastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia have been promoted to the main factory team, to work alongside the team’s number one driver - Sebastien Loeb.

Finland is the first of three works team appearances Ogier will make this year, while Dani Sordo slots into the vacant Junior team C4 WRC for the rounds in Japan and Great Britain.

Ogier has only driven Rally Finland twice before; in 2008, when he drove a Citroen C2 R2 to 35th, and in 2009, when he drove a Citroen C4 WRC to a fine sixth. Here’s what he had to say before his third attempt:

How do you feel about your promotion to the Citroen Total World Rally Team?
“Above all I feel proud and joyful. It’s every driver’s dream to join a works outfit one day. It was already more or less the case with the Citroën Junior Team, which gave me a top-class car to drive. But this represents a step up to the very top of the ladder as I’m joining the reigning world championship team.

I’m happy even it means a little bit more pressure and greater expectations of me. I’m trying not to ask myself too many useless questions and I’m preparing for this rally like the previous ones.”

Are you approaching this rally in a different way than you would if you were driving for the Juniors?
“Unlike the previous rounds I’m going to have to drive my rally in view of scoring points for the Manufacturers’ World Championship title. The aim is a little different but the approach is the same.

Julien and I have done a lot of work preparing for this rally, and we’ll do our very best. It’s a difficult event with high average speeds and the trees are never too far from the road! It gives you a rush of adrenaline, but we like that; we’re ready to take up the challenge and we’re absolutely determined to show that we’re worthy of the trust that’s been placed in us.”.

Your first outing comes in a particularly difficult rally for foreign drivers. How are you going to make up for your lack of experience?
“I think I’ve lacked experience in all the rallies since the start of the season! It’s true that Finland is one of the most difficult terrains, but I like this rally. Last year, I was happy just to be able to steadily up the pace to the extent that I set the fastest time in the third stage. It remains to be seen if I feel as good again in the opening stages this year. To help my confidence the team has scheduled three days of tests, which is an enormous boost.

What’s your aim for this rally?
“That’ll depend above all on the objectives the team sets for me. Since the start of the season we’ve shown that we can take the fight to the best on gravel. Even if it’ll certainly be difficult, a podium would be a great result.”

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