Ogier lays down Power Stage challenge
Sébastien Ogier has challenged WRC rivals to beat his Power Stage performance in Italy, when he set the fastest time despite overshooting a corner and reversing back onto the road.
Ogier has taken more bonus points than anybody on the Live TV stages, including 16 points so far this year courtesy of five maximum scores from the six rounds contested.
But even by his own standards his most recent win was impressive. Approaching the finish, Ogier failed to make a tight left turn and had to back up to get the car around.
"I think I set a new record, and it is going to be hard to beat this one - making the Power Stage win using the reverse. The other guys can try to beat it!" said Ogier who admitted the fastest time came as a surprise.
"The conditions were extremely difficult with the ruts and when I arrived I could not make the car turn. I was just a passenger. Luckily I managed to engage reverse very quickly so I did not lose so much time, maybe two seconds. It is not the kind of power stage that I love the most."
Third position in Italy and three Power Stage points enabled Ogier to extend his championship lead for the sixth rally in a row.
"We achieved the maximum we could. These 18 points are another great step towards the fourth title," he said.
