Citroen will start Rally d'Italia Sardegna later this week aiming to extend is run of victories to four with its DS3 WRC.
Following Sebastien Loeb’s win in Mexico back in March, team-mate Sebastien Ogier has triumphed on the last two events, which has put him firmly back in contention for the drivers’ title while Citroen now ties with Ford at the top of the manufacturers’ classification.
“This string of successes has come at just the right moment as it has put us right back in the running for the title,” said Ogier. “Our early season results are looking much better because of these two wins. But nothing’s really changed. We were quick and always in the running for victory in the previous events. Only a mistake in Mexico cost us a lot of points. In Portugal and Jordan where we were under pressure to score a good result we managed to win. We haven’t changed our approach or suddenly found a new tweak. In Sardinia, we’ll have to try and keep up the good work.”
He continued: “There’s still a long way to go in the championship and it’s not the right moment to start calculating. Our aim is to win even if this forces us to open the road in the next rally. It’s a hotly contested season and every point is important.”
Loeb, world champion for seven years running, heads the drivers’ championship following his third place finish in Jordan. As a result he will tackle Friday’s stages first on the road.
“When you’re well placed in the championship you’re badly placed at the start of the following rally,” he conceded. “Being first certainly isn’t the most advantageous position. We won’t be masters of our destiny as the other crews will know our times and they can pace themselves accordingly.”
Loeb can count on a strong record of success in Sardinia, having won the rally three times in the past. “The event requires 100 per cent concentration as it’s a very tricky route,” he said. “Your notes have to be very accurate and you have to drive very cleanly. We’ll see how and when the race begins to pan out but we have to be in the right group to be able to fight our corner till the end.”
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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