Three questions to Olivier Quesnel

Ahead of the Spanish Rally

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15 October 2011 - 11:03
Three questions to Olivier Quesnel

Sébastien Loeb being the joint leader in the world championship two rallies from the end is not the scenario you imagined a few weeks ago, is it?

“We never stopped repeating the fact that we had to be on our guard and that nothing would be decided before the end. Unfortunately, events have proved us right. A puncture, an accident and a mechanical problem have reduced the gap that Sébastien Loeb patiently opened up to zero. Sébastien Ogier, who lost precious points in the early part of the season has galloped back to the
front thanks to his two victories in the last three rallies. It’s true that the situation before the start of Rally Spain is an unexpected one. But we’re still well placed beginning with the manufacturers’ championship that we’re determined to clinch this weekend.”

How do you see the last two rallies of the season unfolding?

“Sébastien Loeb is still the hot favourite; he’s not been seven-times world champion for nothing! Seb has not been beaten in Spain since 2005 and in Great Britain since 2008! I still remember the dashing way he won the title in 2009. Obviously, he’s got his back to the wall but he knows how to cope with this type of situation. He knows that the team’s doing its utmost to give him a DS3 WRC that’s as quick as it’s reliable. If Seb runs into more trouble, we can count on Sébastien Ogier. He’s only three points behind so he’s more than an ace in the hole for Citroën!”

Does this mean that your two drivers won’t be free to fight for the title?

“The biggest mistake we could make would be to choose the wrong rival. Mikko Hirvonen is tackling Rally Spain with the same number of points as Sébastien Loeb. He’s the dangerman, nobody else! In these conditions we have to bet all our chances on the driver who has the most points in the drivers’ world championship. And that driver is Sébastien Loeb.”

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