Second match ball for Sebastien Ogier. After seeing in Finland how his teammate Elfyn Evans prevented the French from being crowned, in Spain the options increase. They arrive 24 points apart, and the Frenchman needs to leave Salou with 30 to score what would be his eighth title and presumably the last, since next year he will not run the entire World Cup.
In a quick calculation, if Ogier wins the Rally of Catalonia and finishes second in the ‘Power Stage’, the championship is secured. But the one from Gap does not want to throw the bells to the flight. “I have a good lead and I am in a good position, but with two races to go there is still work to be done and I hope Elfyn will give it her all. You have nothing to lose. I’m looking forward to a great fight and I’m looking forward to it starting, “Ogier confessed.
“I am quite relieved to be back on the tarmac and not start a rally thinking about how much time I will lose on the first day “, explains after having suffered the disadvantage of opening the road in gravel tests. “It’s about giving everything and being quick from the start to win this rally. I feel good, excited and really motivated. Of course the plan is to try and finish high and now I have two asphalt rallies ahead of me, and after some where it was difficult to open the road, there are real possibilities. In my head, I want to win these last two rallies. “
Evans for his part assures that he is prepared for the attack, but warns that “you have to be careful with the cuts here, as it is impossible to pass the rally without a puncture if you are prepared to take all the risks, “he explains referring to the use of the ditches on the lines.” I don’t think it’s worth it, but it is about being perhaps a little more selective as to where to enter or not. There is a lottery element here with the cuts, but you shouldn’t think too much about it and trust the work you’ve done on the accolades. “