CITROEN GOES ALL SÉBASTIEN FOR FINLAND!
Citroën has gone all Sébastien for the Finland round of the 2010 World Rally Championship this weekend (29-31 July 2010) with up and coming rally super star, Sébastien Ogier, joining six time world champion and leader of the 2010 race for the drivers’ title, Sébastien Loeb, in the Citroën World Rally Team.
The 60th anniversary of the event renowned for its ‘yumps’ that send the rally cars flying through the air, the organisers have tightened the event up into a two day event – this Friday and Saturday – rather than the traditional three day WRC event making the event an even tougher test of man and machine.
Victorious in 2008, Sébastien Loeb achieved a real feat by putting his name on the short list of non Scandinavian driversalongside Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol who have won this rally. The six-timeworld champion, who finished second in 2009, is tackling this year’s event in a humble frame of mind.
“Ireally wanted to win this rally. Now that I’ve achieved this objective, I see things a bit differently,” says Loeb. “This yearI’ll be starting with sixty-five points in hand over Mikko Hirvonen. I can afford to control my lead as thereare three more asphalt rallies to go this season. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not going for the win! Todo that, though, I have to feel completely at ease.”
Rally Finland with its stages in the forests represents a very special test for the drivers:
“Victory isgenerally just a question of seconds,” Loeb goes on. “To win here you have to be in complete harmonywith your car and your notes. You have to be able to really let go and attack each corner, almost as ifyou’re overdoing it. When you’ve got this off to a tee, you can really throw the car and place it to take theperfect line in the corner.”
For rally fans, the Rally of a 1000 Lakes is always associated with its famous jumps! But in Loeb’s opinionthe biggest difficulty of the event lies elsewhere.
“You don’t win the rally by jumping high and long. What’s more important is what you find behind the jumps. It’s crucial to position the car correctly to stayon the right line for the corner coming up after you land. Once you’re in the air you can’t make anyadjustments! Year after year I fine-tune my notes with this aim in mind.”
While Loeb has already raced inthe event ten times, Sébastien Ogier’s experience is much more limited. The winner of Rally Portugal ishaving his first outing in the Citroën Total Rally Team and he will have to cope with some additionalpressure:
“Unlike the previous rounds I’m going to have to drive my rally in view of scoring points for theManufacturers’ World Championship title. The aim is a little different but the approach is the same.
Julien and I have done a lot of work preparing for this rally, and we’ll do our very best. It’s a difficult eventwith high average speeds and the trees are never too far from the road! It gives you a rush of adrenaline,but we like that; we’re ready to take up the challenge and we’re absolutely determined to show that we’reworthy of the trust that’s been placed in us.”
Three questions to Sébastien Ogier
You’re going to carry the colours of the Citroën Total World Rally Team in Rally Finland. How doyou feel about this promotion?
“Above all I feel proud and joyful. It’s every driver’s dream to join a works outfit one day. It was alreadymore or less the case with the Citroën Junior Team, which gave me a top-class car to drive. But thisrepresents a step up to the very top of the ladder as I’m joining the reigning world championship team.I’m happy even it means a little bit more pressure and greater expectations of me. I’m trying not to askmyself too many useless questions and I’m preparing for this rally like the previous ones.”
Your first outing comes in a particularly difficult rally for foreign drivers. How are you going tomake up for your lack of experience?
“I think I’ve lacked experience in all the rallies since the start of the season! It’s true that Finland is one ofthe most difficult terrains, but I like this rally. Last year, I was happy just to be able to steadily up the paceto the extent that I set the fastest time in the third stage. It remains to be seen if I feel as good again inthe opening stages this year. To help my confidence the team has scheduled three days of tests, which isan enormous boost.
What’s your aim for this rally?
“That’ll depend above all on the objectives the team sets for me. Since the start of the season we’veshown that we can take the fight to the best on gravel. Even if it’ll certainly be difficult, a podium wouldbe a great result.”
Information
Rally Finland (round 8/13) (29 – 31 July)
Surface: gravel
Where: Jyväskylä
Practical info: The service park, HQ and the media centre are in the ‘Paviljonki’ in Jyväskylä. There is a 1-hour time difference between Finland (GMT + 3) and France (GMT + 2). At 12h00 in Jyväskylä, it is11h00 in Paris. On the first day of the rally, Friday 29th July, the sun will rise at 4h31m and set at
22h14m. In July, the average maximum temperature exceeds 20°C. The local currency is the euro.
Technical: The engines have already been used in Bulgaria. They will be installed in the C4 WRCs in
Germany. The transmissions and spares have been shared with Rally Portugal (already run).
Tyres: 36 Pirelli Scorpion WRC soft tyres can be used including 6 in the shakedown.
Reconnaissance: It is programmed for Tuesday 27th July and Wednesday 28th July from 08h00 to
18h00 with two runs maximum through each stage.
Shakedown: Thursday 29th July between 8h00 and 12h00 in Muurame on a 4,46 kilometre stage whose start is 10,26 km from the service park.
Press Conference: Thursday 29th July at 13h30 in the Media Centre.
Start: Thursday 29th July in Paviljonki at18h00.
Route: 1307.87 km long including 310,05 timed kms. 19 stages (11 different).
Timing: Day 1 – 661,73 km including 147,27 timed kms chronométrés (11 SS, 6 different). Thursday
29th July: start: 18h00 – SS1: ‘Laajavuori 1’ (4,19 km). Friday 30th July – Service A (6h30 / 15 min) –
SS2: ‘Urria 1’ (12,75 km) – SS3: ‘Jukojärvi 1’ (22,29 km) – SS4: ‘Urria 2’ (12,75 km) – SS5: ‘Jukojärvi
2’ (22,29 km) – Service B (12h30 / 30 min) – SS6: ‘Lankamaa’ (24,87 km) – SS7: ‘Sirkkamäki 1’
(6,45 km) – SS8: ‘Myhinpää 1’ (15,52 km) – SS9: ‘Sirkkamäki 2’ (6,45 km) – SS10: ‘Myhinpää 2’
(15,52 km) – SS11: ‘Laajavuori 2’ (4,19 km) – Service C (20h30 / 45 min) – last car in parc fermé at
23h59.
Day 2 – Saturday 31st July: 646,14 km dont 162,78 timed kms (8 SS, 5 different). Startt: 5h50 –
Service D (5h50 / 15 min) – SS12: ‘Kolonkulma’ (10,35 km) – SS13: ‘Väärinmaja’ (29,29 km) –
SS14: ‘Surkee 1’ (19,59 km) – Service E (10h46 / 30 min) – SS15: ‘Leustu 1’ (21,35 km) – SS16:
‘Himos 1’ (20,63 km) – SS17: ‘Surkee 2’ (19,59 km) – Service F (15h10 / 30 min) – SS18: ‘Leustu 2’
(21,35 km) – SS19: ‘Himos 2’ (20,63 km) – Service G (19h08 / 10 min) – Finish at 19h45.
Podium : Sarurday 31st July, at 19h45.
Press conference: Saturday 31st July at 20h30 in the Media Centre.
Crews before this rally:
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena:First WRC rally: Spain 98 (Saxo Kit-Car / Rtd.) – WRC rallies: 131 –
Victories : 58 – Titles : 6 (2004 to 2009)
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia: First WRC rally: Mexico 08 (C2 S1600 / 8th, 1st J-WRC) – WRC
ralies: 27 – Victories: 1 – Junior title: 2008 (C2 S1600).
Crews at the start of Rally Finland:
Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena: 11th participation: 2000 (Saxo VTS / Rtd.) – 2001 (Saxo S1600 /
28th) – 2002 (Xsara WRC / 10th) – 2003 (Xsara WRC / 5th) – 2004 (Xsara WRC / 4th) – 2005 (Xsara
WRC / 2nd) – 2006 (Xsara WRC / 2nd) – 2007 (C4 WRC / 3rd) – 2008 (C4 WRC / 1st) – 2009 (C4
WRC / 2nd).
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia: 3rd participation : 2008 (C2 R2 / 35th) – 2009 (C4 WRC / 6th).
(ends)
For further information:
CitroenAustralia Media Web Site:
Miles Williams
/ Tel: (02) 8577 8020General Manager / Fax: (02) 8577 3555
CitroenAustralia / Mob: 0419 800 520
E-Mail:
Edward Rowe
/ Tel: (02) 8677 8015Public Relations Manager / Fax: (02) 8577 3555
CitroenAustralia / Mob: 0407 913 244
E-Mail:
Citroen Australia
Street Address: 862 – 874 Elizabeth Street, Waterloo, Sydney, NSW 2017Australia.
Postal Address: Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd,Pty Ltd,Locked Bag 5018, Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia
Telephone: 02 8577 8000; Direct Telephone 02 8577 8015 Fax: 02 8577 3555. Mobile +61 0407 913 244
A.B.N. 34 000 486 706
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EJR/ejr/998
7/25/2010