Sebastien Ogier is convinced that he can still challenge for this year’s world title despite his crash on Rally Guanajuato Mexico earlier this month.
The French star was beating Citroen team-mate and seven-time world champion Sebastien Loeb on the final day of the rally when he broke his DS3 WRC’s front-left wheel running wide into a rock and retired.
As a result the 27-year-old has slipped to sixth in the drivers’ standings, 31 points shy of title leader Mikko Hirvonen and 22 points adrift of Loeb with 11 events remaining, starting with next week’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal.
Ogier, who is co-driven by countryman Julien Ingrassia, claimed his maiden WRC win on the Algarve event last season and remains convinced that he can get the better of his more illustrious team-mate this year following his setback in Mexico, which marked his first retirement of 2011.
“I’m sure [in Mexico] I was faster than him compared to my road position; I was still in the fight,” said Ogier. “With the same conditions I think I could be faster than him so that is good but for me the season is still very long.”
A repeat victory for Ogier in Portugal would put him firmly back in the hunt for the drivers’ crown, especially if he can bag bonus points with a top three result on the rally-closing Power Stage. And with a starting position of sixth on the Faro-based contest, Ogier is a hot favourite to challenge for his third WRC career win.
“I’ve got a lot of motivation to continue to push because there is still 11 rallies left,” said the former Junior world champion. “We have a good starting position [in Portugal] and I will be in the perfect position to manage my race.”