Loeb and Ogier play down rivalry

Citroen team-mates Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier have insisted their growing rivalry will not affect their working relationship when the World Rally Championship resumes in Australia this week.

Loeb, the seven-time world champion, heads his understudy Ogier by 25 points in the title fight but has dismissed talk of a cooling of relations between the pair following a stormy ADAC Rallye Deutschland last month when Ogier was ordered to remain behind the seven-time world champion until Loeb suffered a puncture and dropped behind Ogier.

“There is no special discussion and the atmosphere is like it is,” said Loeb. “We are here to do our jobs. I am doing my best and he is doing his best. We work together in the briefing and when we are discussing the set-up. Nothing changes and that’s it.”

Ogier said a meeting had taken place between him and Citroen officials following the German round but refused to disclose any of the details. “There is not so much to say about that,” said Ogier. “We talk after, we needed to but the conversation just concerned the team and must stay inside. It’s okay actually.”

Citroen will move closer to a seventh manufacturers’ title with a one-two finish on Rally Australia. Asked whether this will have an affect on his approach on the Coffs Harbour round Loeb said: “For the moment we are first and second in the championship so we clean the road and maybe it will not be possible to beat the Fords. We will try as much as possible and we will see how it goes.”

On the subject of his title ambitions, Loeb added: “I have no precise plan. I will try to find the right rhythm and we will see what we can do. I always try to do the best result that I can but for sure it’s more important to score points than to win.”

Ogier said: “It’s still possible mathematically so I will try like all the time to do my best in the car. For the rest I can’t say anything.”