Why Sebastien Ogier is returning to Rally New Zealand
The fourth event contested by Sébastien Ogier (Toyota), as part of his partial program this season in WRC, is known. After Monte Carlo (2nd), Portugal (retired) and Kenya (4th), the eight-time world champion confirmed his presence at the start of the race. New Zealand rally. Round 11 of 13 of fiscal 2022 will take place from Thursday, September 29 to Sunday, October 2.
A taste of unfinished business in 2010
His first success in the World Rally Championship, Sebastien Ogier almost won it New Zealand. It was in 2010, during his second full season at the Citroën satellite team. While he was leading at the start of the last special, 6.2 seconds behind Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford), the Gap native was finally beaten by the Finn, just 2.4 seconds behind. Thus, the vagaries of the world calendar meant that he never had the opportunity to compete in this event again. As in his three previous commitments in 2022, he will be linked up with co-driver Benjamin Villas, since Julian Ingracia retired at the end of last season.
Auger: “magic ways”
“In 2010 I came close to my first career win, always an important step, Little Sebastien Auger. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to get it after three weeks in Portugal so I didn’t have to wait long. So I have a taste of unfinished business in New Zealand and that’s one of the reasons I come back. Although I don’t ride full time anymore, I expect to be competitive and hope to get a win soon. And the roads there are magical when it comes to driving. There are curves that we don’t have in Europe, that allow you to dance from one turn to the next. It’s very interesting for a rally driver.”
preferred starting point
If the weather remains dry, the sweep inherent in a gravel tour such as New Zealand tends to penalize the first cars responsible for making the track. The partial program allows Sebastien Ogier to avoid this phenomenon that he has suffered on many occasions during his career. The starting order on Friday is determined by the championship classification. Ninth in the current hierarchy, Gapençais could drop further at the end of the Rally Greece, which he won’t compete with this weekend. So their advantage in terms of grip on New Zealand roads will be greater, because when it’s not raining, grip is constantly improving on the trails.
Absent lube
Having jointly disputed over Monte Carlo, Portugal and Kenya, the French multiple world champions have just distinguished themselves as they set out the rest of their partial program in 2022. While Sebastien Ogier decided to skip the Rally Greece to devote himself to New Zealand, Sebastien Loeb (Ford) made the opposite choice, by committing to the Acropolis and being absent on the occasion of the next round. Like Gapençais in New Zealand, the Alsatian, who are currently eighth in the tournament, should take advantage of a good starting position on Friday in Greece to play for victory.
More information:
WRC Rally 2022: calendar, drivers, teams, standings
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