Citroen’s driver strategy puts the sport first

Citroen will prioritise the interests of the sport over an easy working life by placing Sebastien Ogier as equal number one with Sebastien Loeb this year.

The French make has won six out of the last eight manufacturers’ titles, including the last three championships in a row with Dani Sordo as team-mate to Loeb.

Sordo, who will switch to the rival MINI WRC Team, has never beaten Loeb on pace throughout his four years of employment with Citroen, but proved to be the perfect team player by regularly scoring manufacturer points. Now though, Citroen is prepared to run the risk of Loeb and Ogier taking points off each other - with neither driver willing to agree to a supporting role.

“Of course, when you have won a certain number of rallies and championships, it would be hard to accept being a number two,” said Loeb. “Instead, I would rather stop.”

Unlike Sordo though, Ogier has ruled out simply becoming Loeb’s understudy. “As far as I am concerned, we start off equal now,” said the winner of the World Championship rounds in Portugal and Japan last year. “I’m determined not to slip into the number two role.”

Team principal Olivier Quesnel has admitted that there is a risk of friction between his two French stars, but he insists that a healthy competitive environment is more important than the convenience of his team.

“This year can be interesting with the two Sebs,” said Quesnel. “But it is very important for Citroen for both drivers to know that they start the year equal. After that, we will see how the season goes, but I think it will be a good story.”

This year’s Citroen crews form the most competitive line-up for the French team since 2003, when Loeb, Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz all drove the factory Xsaras. The firm will launch its new-for-2011 DS3 WRC at its Paris headquarters on Monday (24 January).