Citroen Junior Team driver Sebastien Ogier is considering an offer from Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson to switch manufacturers and drive a Ford Fiesta in next year’s World Rally Championship.
Ogier, 26, is one of the brightest young stars of the series. He won the Junior World Championship with Citroen in 2008, and underlined his potential in a World Rally Car by taking his maiden WRC victory at Rally New Zealand in May this year.
At today’s shakedown test for Rally Bulgaria, Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson told wrc.com that he would like to see Ogier driving for his team in 2011.
"We were approached by his management team a while ago, I have had meetings with then since Portugal Rally and yes, we have made Sebastien an offer," he said. "We’re obviously always looking at ways to strengthen and improve our team performance and Sebastien is a driver without a signed contract."
But if Ogier does make the jump to the blue oval, it won’t be at the expense of current drivers Mikko Hirvonen or Jari-Matti Latvala. "I want to make it very clear that Mikko and Jari-Matti will still be the main drivers at the BP Ford Abu Dhabi team for 2011," added Wilson. "We’re looking at other ways to incorporate him [Ogier] but we’re not in a position to disclose those just yet."
Ogier, who also has an offer to stay at Citroen next year, refused to discuss the details of either deal but said he hoped to make a decision this month: "For the moment I don’t have much more to add - I prefer to stay concentrated on this rally and this season - but yes I have a proposition from Ford, and I’m happy with that because it proves I’ve had a good drive this season and a good progression."
"It’s good for me to see that both manufacturers want me - that’s good. We will know soon. It’s difficult to say when but I hope it will be arranged by Finland," he added.