No further action taken in Ogier case

Sebastien Ogier says his only focus is "driving as fast as possible" on the final day of Rally Guanajuato Mexico on Sunday following a stewards’ hearing tonight.

The Citroen Total World Rally Team driver was speaking after attending a meeting of the event stewards following the completion of Saturday’s final stage.

Accompanied by co-driver Julien Ingrassia and two representatives from the Citroen team, Ogier was called to explain an incident prior to Friday’s midday service, which resulted in a report being issued by the clerk of the course which stated that Ogier “turned left into the service park area instead of turning right into the technical zone as indicated in the event road book”.

The report stated that, “in explanation, the crew described how the area was confusing and there were no marshals giving directions. Whilst the co-driver was presenting the driver’s car at the control point, the driver proceeded to follow the road into the service area, the co-driver chased after him, catching him as he entered the team’s service area and advised him he had gone the wrong direction and guided him to reverse back to the control point.”

After due deliberation by the three-strong team of stewards it was confirmed that no further action would be taken as, according to the stewards’ report, “although a minor transgression occurred, this however did not devalue the competition”.

Afterwards, the 27-year-old Ogier, who will start Sunday’s first stage with his lead of 10.5s intact, said: “I explained to the stewards about that and at the end there is nothing. It is finished and we don’t have any penalty. I will start tomorrow in my position as the leader.

“My job is to drive fast and my co-driver’s is to show me the way. There was a very small confusion [and the procedure] was not so clear. Now it is finished and I can concentrate on the last day of the rally and to drive as fast as possible.”