Ogier: "We will keep fighting"

The eight-time champion was frustrated with a Wolf Power Stage roll which ruined the conclusion of his EKO Acropolis Rally Greece on Sunday. The Frenchman had led the event on day one before a turbo problem slowed him on Friday afternoon. He battled back and was running second when he crashed on the final test of the Lamia-based event.

Asked about his title chances, Ogier said: “It wasn't looking really good before now and it is not going in the right direction, that's for sure. That's not a big deal for me – it was just something now which popped up. Mathematically, it’s still possible so I will still be there in the next three events, continuing to give my best and keep fighting.

“I tried really my best up to the last stage, but it doesn't count if you don't finish it. We gave everything all weekend. We did a lot right, we had a great feeling in the car and great pace, and we fought as hard as we could until the last stage.

“It’s been a strange weekend. In many aspects it was close to perfection, but it doesn’t count in rallying if you don’t bring it all to the end. This is not a rally where you want to be taking risks, you need some luck to do so, and it was not on our side. It’s satisfying for me to still be able to compete like this: I enjoy pushing the limits, it’s been fun in the car. But I know very well after all these years that sometimes it doesn’t go your way.”

Ogier has slipped back one place in the championship standings and heads to Chile third behind Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak. The Frenchman is 38 points behind the Hyundai-driving Belgian.