Ogier draws 'additional strength' from fatherhood
World championship leader Sébastien Ogier believes the birth of his first child earlier this month will have a positive effect on his performance at the upcoming PZM 73rd Rally Poland (30 June - 3 July).
The Frenchman and his wife Andrea Kaiser-Ogier welcomed their son, Tim, to the world on 13th June - one day after the conclusion of the championship's previous round in Italy.
And as Ogier prepares to get back to the rally stages next week, he admitted the experience of becoming a father had changed him.
"My new situation in my private life gives me additional strength, I imagined that it would be wonderful to be a father, but I never thought it would be so overwhelming,” he said.
Ogier has won the Mikolajki-based event for the last two years and is a fan of its high-speed gravel stages. And on a road surface that doesn't handicap early runners as much as it did in Sardinia, Ogier is optimistic about his chances of success as he bids for a fourth title.
"Compared with the Rally Italy, the gravel is totally different, and won’t be quite as challenging for our car. Things are currently going really well for Julien and me in the World Rally Championship. Even though it’s been four rallies since our last win, we have consistently extended our lead in the championship, which means my confidence is high heading to Poland," he said.
