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ADAC Rallye Deutschland - Press Conference Day 2

Present:
Olivier Quesnel, Citroën Total World Rally Team, Malcolm Wilson, Abu Dhabi Ford World Rally Team, David Richards, MINI World Rally Team, Ken Rees, Petter Solberg World Rally Team, Sébastien Ogier, Citroën Total World Rally, Team, Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total World Rally Team, Dani Sordo, MINI WRC Team

 
Olivier, it has been a day full of drama. There was a lot of talk about team orders, Sébastien Loeb had a puncture on the final stage and now we have Sébastien Ogier in the lead. How are you feeling?
 
OQ:
I am feeling okay, there are still two Citroëns in the lead. We decided for a team order last night. There are only four events remaining this season and we are leading in the world championship standings, and we have to look after Citroën's interests. Séb (Ogier) had a fair chance, we did it last night. But in the end, I am happy, because we are first and second, but it is not finished yet. It could very well be that Ogier has a puncture tomorrow. After all, everybody has had a puncture, except Ogier.
 
We found it a little bit unusual. There have been no team orders all year, you have stressed that, and then on the second day, when there are only seven seconds between the two Sébastiens, you impose team orders. Don't you think that Ogier could have gone out there and beaten Loeb and still can be on the road?
 
OQ:
I have talked with Ogier first and asked him if he felt like he could win the rally, and he said that it would be very difficult, as on Saturday, with the stages in the Saarland and the Panzerplatte, Loeb has far more experience, so in this case, it was logical. And what is more, we had to do Panzerplatte twice, which is very competitive for the cars.
 
Ogier is obviously frustrated, and he said at the end of the day: "I am not happy when my team-mate has a problem, but I am happy to see that there is justice in the sport." What do you think of that?
 
OQ:
I think he is young, and it can happen. He doesn't have a lot of experience, he has to learn, and I hope he will understand that it was not so clever what he did. But I think he will understand. Nobody will be angry with him, because he is young and it can happen.

David, no such dramas for you. It has been a really strong day for the MINIs with Dani Sordo in third place. He has done a great job holding off Mikko Hirvonen this afternoon...
 
DR:
Absolutely. Dani has driven superbly, the cars have performed exceptionally well. Dani did exactly what he needed to do, I am very impressed.
 
It would be fantastic for you guys to see the MINI on the podium. Do you think you will be able to hold it tomorrow?
 
DR:
There is another day to come. The weather is changing and we are expecting rain tomorrow, so we don't know.
 
What about Kris Meeke, he seems to be doing a very good job, too.
 
DR:
Absolutely. We have to keep in mind that he is not as experienced as Dani, Dani really is the benchmark. He is getting more experienced.

Malcolm, let's talk about Jari-Matti Latvala first. He started the day not feeling well, but he set the fastest time on the first stage. Then it came to disappointment in the afternoon. Talk us through that first day.
 
MW:
After yesterday, there was nothing more we could do than just improve Jari's pace and see where he could go. That went really well on the first four stages thus morning, but in the afternoon, he came off the road and had a puncture. That was the end of the rally today for him, but we hope we can get him back out for tomorrow, he should be out there.
 
Mikko Hirvonen is in fourth position at the end of the day. Only five stages tomorrow, is there a possibility that he can still make it on the podium?
 
MW:
When you look at the speed Dani has been doing today, you would have to say no, he is doing very well. But Mikko will keep on pushing and with the weather tomorrow, you never know.

Ken, Petter in sixth position at the end of the day, he is not too far away from Kris Meeke. What is the plan on the final day?

 KR:
To hold position. We had a couple of punctures this afternoon, that was very unfortunate and prevented us from moving any further up. We are the leading privateer team, which is very good, and we try to keep that position tomorrow.
 
You mentioned a lot of punctures. Was that a case of Petter hitting anything, or were they unexplained?
 
KR:
It can happen quite quickly. When you briefly come off the line, you hit the stones, that is what can occur.
 
Final question to Olivier. Citroën always seems to get the weather forecast right. Do you want to let these guys in on what is going to happen?
 
OQ:
I think it will rain.

 
Sébastien, it has been a strange day. We have seen you really frustrated because of team orders that were imposed on you this morning, you were told to hold positions. How did that make you feel when you went out to compete this morning?
 
SO:
It was very difficult. That is not the way I prefer to race, but finally, I decided to accept it and I was able to improve my driving, I was quite happy with that. At the end of the day, it was a really strange day.
 
At the end of the day, Loeb picked up a puncture. You came through and you said: I can never be happy that my team mate has had a problem, but I can see that justice has been done in the sport. What did you mean by that?
 
SO:
It was my own reaction. Maybe not a good one, but that was the way I felt it.
 
What about tomorrow? We have five stages left, you are over a minute in the lead. You wanted to win here for the drivers' championship. It could be game on now.
 
SO:
I don't know. I will continue to drive like this, I have no more information.

 
Sébastien, it was huge disappointment for you, the puncture on the final stage. Talk me through what happened.
 
SL:
Nothing happened. I was driving quite carefully, but I think it was on a straight. There were stones everywhere. I saw it in the recce, in the first passing, and now in the next corner, I felt that I had a puncture. I was a bit unlucky with that, but I am not the only one with a puncture here, and that's life.

Were you happy that the team orders were imposed at the end of last night?
 
SL:
You know, it is not to me to decide, but I think that in some situations, it is normal that a team takes some decision. Yesterday evening, we both were nearly two minutes in front of everybody, so for sure, Citroën wants to secure a 1-2, it has always been like that, so it is sometimes normal.
 
But you are both fighting for the drivers' championship. Doesn't it seem a little unfair?
 
SL:
Yeah, it can be, but like you say, sometimes there is a decision to take and the team decided to take it.

Dani, it is fantastic to see you sitting here. Coming here with the MINI, did you expect to be on the podium at the end of day two?
 
DS:
Obviously not, because it was really close at the end. I am really happy with the MINI. The suspension was always good, the engine is getting better and better, so I am really happy, not only for the position, but also because we are really close to the top drivers, which is very important.
 
You have got 32 seconds in your hands. Do you think you can bring the podium finish home tomorrow?
DS:
It is podium or nothing! I am confident