From wrc.com
Citroen Racing chief Olivier Quesnel believes Sebastien Loeb has what it takes to make it eight world titles in a row, starting with victory on the penultimate event of the campaign, RallyRACC-Rally de Espana this week.
Sebastien Loeb has scored the same number of points as Ford rival Mikko Hirvonen during the first 11 rounds of the season and has won in Spain for the past six seasons.
“Sebastien is the hot favourite; he’s not seven times world champion for nothing,” said Quesnel. “Obviously he’s got his back to the wall but he knows how to cope with this type of situation [from 2009]. He knows that the team’s doing its utmost to give him a DS3 WRC that’s as quick as it’s reliable.”
If Loeb’s troubled sequence of events continues in Spain - he crashed in Australia and suffered an engine failure in France - then Citroen will look to its rising French star Sebastien Ogier, who is just three points behind Loeb following his victory on home soil earlier this month.
“We never stopped repeating the fact that we had to be on our guard and that nothing would be decided before the end,” Quesnel continued. “Unfortunately, events have proved right. A puncture, an accident and a mechanical problem have reduced the gap that Loeb [had] opened up to zero. Ogier, who lost precious points in the early part of the season, has galloped back to the front thanks to his two victories in the last three rallies. We can count on him.”
Citroen can secure the WRC manufacturers’ title for a seventh time if it leaves Spain 43 points clear of Ford.
Citroen Racing chief Olivier Quesnel believes Sebastien Loeb has what it takes to make it eight world titles in a row, starting with victory on the penultimate event of the campaign, RallyRACC-Rally de Espana this week.
Sebastien Loeb has scored the same number of points as Ford rival Mikko Hirvonen during the first 11 rounds of the season and has won in Spain for the past six seasons.
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| Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen. (Photo: WRC) |
“Sebastien is the hot favourite; he’s not seven times world champion for nothing,” said Quesnel. “Obviously he’s got his back to the wall but he knows how to cope with this type of situation [from 2009]. He knows that the team’s doing its utmost to give him a DS3 WRC that’s as quick as it’s reliable.”
If Loeb’s troubled sequence of events continues in Spain - he crashed in Australia and suffered an engine failure in France - then Citroen will look to its rising French star Sebastien Ogier, who is just three points behind Loeb following his victory on home soil earlier this month.
“We never stopped repeating the fact that we had to be on our guard and that nothing would be decided before the end,” Quesnel continued. “Unfortunately, events have proved right. A puncture, an accident and a mechanical problem have reduced the gap that Loeb [had] opened up to zero. Ogier, who lost precious points in the early part of the season, has galloped back to the front thanks to his two victories in the last three rallies. We can count on him.”
Citroen can secure the WRC manufacturers’ title for a seventh time if it leaves Spain 43 points clear of Ford.