Loeb: Ogier’s exit is a blow

Sebastien Loeb says team-mate Sebastien Ogier’s exit from the opening stage of Wales Rally GB means he will have to keep pushing in his efforts to win an eighth world crown.

Loeb was hoping that his fellow Citroen driver would take points off title rival Mikko Hirvonen from the works Ford team. Although Ogier will restart under SupeRally regulations on Friday morning, the Frenchman us unlikely to fight his way back into a point-scoring position due to the time penalties he will receive.

“I thought he was maybe the only one I could count on for the victory,” said Loeb. “If Mikko is leading I have to be maybe first or if he finishes first and I am second everything will be played on the Power Stage. In this case for sure it could help me if [Ogier] was there to [help me]. Now there is no chance for anybody to help me, even Petter because it will be tough for him now with the time he lost. Now I am alone.”

Ogier’s Citroen team said the intention was for the former Junior world champion to restart on Friday morning following overnight repairs in Builth Wells. His Citroen DS3 WRC sustained damage to the left-rear corner after he slid into a wall 1.6 kilometres from the start of the first Great Orme run, held on slippery asphalt roads.