Praise for Ogier from legend Sainz

Double world rally champion Carlos Sainz has praised Sebastien Ogier following the Frenchman’s hugely impressive start to Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia.

Sainz, who works as a consultant to Ogier’s team Volkwagen Motorsport, has been following the former Junior world title-winner’s progress in his Super 2000-specification Skoda Fabia, which gives away some 20bhp to the pacesetting World Rally Cars. After seven stages Ogier is fifth overall.

“Ogier has been very impressive here,” Sainz told Wrc.com. “For him to be in front of cars that are more than a second per kilometre faster is very good. But in Monte-Carlo the tyre choice is the most important thing, and so far he has got that exactly right.”

Sainz, who has won Rallye Monte-Carlo three times, believes that this event represents Volkswagen’s best chance of its highest overall placing with the Fabia.

“With the tyre choice, you can make or lose big gaps, and of course there is no [Rally 2],” he added. “If things go well this is definitely the best possibility to finish high up overall, but to get near the podium I think would be really difficult.”

Sainz also singled out Volkswagen’s junior recruit, Kevin Abbring, for praise. The Dutchman is just outside the top 10 in the other Volkswagen Motorsport Skoda, on his first event on asphalt with the car.

“Considering his lack of experience, that’s good,” said Sainz. “It’s important to finish the rally and he seems to be driving at the right pace.”