Sebastien Ogier’s struggle for a fourth successive World Rally Championship title has seen an unprecedented tale of unhappiness from the driver at the top of the championship tables.
Sebastien Ogier has struggled running first car on the road in 2016.The reigning champion was not enjoying rallying as he should, on account of the famous running order rules. The topic was raised at the Volkswagen Fifty Year celebrations in Berlin, when he quickly responded.
“I would love to discuss that. Yes, of course I think it (the rule) is not right. I think a lot of people realise that,” Ogier said.
“I don’t want to talk too much about it today, because there is a meeting soon about it where hopefully a better solution is going to come out. It is a difficult question. There are many possible solutions.
“For me the only thing I wish is for fairness. As fair as possible. We all know that in rally you cannot have 100% similar conditions for everyone, it will always change car after car.
“But there is many possibilities to make it that it is not 80% of the time the same guy having the disadvantage. It will be a big gain for the championship if we skip this subject.
“All the time this subject is in the mind of everyone, it is impossible to avoid it. It is such a big influence on the performance and the result of everyone. We have no other chance than to speak about it when you talk about my performance.
“Everyone knew I have been (driving just as hard), and I’ve proved it when I had favourable conditions on every PowerStage and Sunday morning. So I just wish for something which is acceptable, as fair as possible. That’s it. The sport will be for sure better.
“With more manufacturers coming, I guess more young drivers now have made good steps and are able to fight on the front. There are now a lot of drivers able to win rallies in the WRC championship, which has not often been the case in history.
“Please, next year I just wish that we could fight together with fair condition. For sure it will be more exciting (if the rules are changed) if instead of having two drivers fighting for the lead because they are running 10th or 15th on the road, we would have, say, four guys fighting for the lead at the front of the rally.”
- Martin Holmes
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