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OGIER READY TO BATTLE TÄNAK

Andries Van der WaltComments Off on OGIER READY TO BATTLE TÄNAK
REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION SÉBASTIEN OGIER SAYS HE’S NOT AFRAID OF FIGHTING OTT TÄNAK ON TOYOTA’S HOME GROUND IN FINLAND THIS WEEK.Toyota’s Finnish-built Yaris is unbeaten at Neste Rally Finland and championship leader Tänak dominated last month’s Shell Helix Rally Estonia, an official WRC promotional event and a loosener for the Jyväskylä-based fixture.
Sebastien Ogier

Despite odds building in Tänak’s favour, Ogier says his road position will help him take the fight to last year’s Finland winner.

Ogier said: “When it’s possible, I always try to race the Toyotas. The problem we often face is with the start order and when I start first on the road on a dry gravel event, I know I will have no chance against them. And I don’t fight them.

“But now, starting behind him, I’m definitely going to try to fight with him. That’s what I’m going to Finland for. Even if it’s Finland and even if it’s one of the strongest events for him and for Toyota.”

Tänak will open the roads on Friday’s first day of gravel special stages with Ogier, also a former Finland winner, directly behind in his Citroën C3.

The Frenchman is searching for a seventh straight title and is pushing the Citroën squad hard to keep pace with Toyota.

“Of course we keep working,” said Ogier. “We hope for the best material all the time – but we have to do the best with what we have. There will be some evolutions for Finland, but I go to every event believing in my chance, that’s always been my philosophy.”

  • ÄSSÄMÄKI 1 (SPECIALSTAGE   5) (12.33 KM)

OVERALL

POS CAR NO DRIVER CO-DRIVER TEAM ELIGIBILITY GROUP CLASS TIME DIFF PREV DIFF 1ST
1. 8 ESTO. TÄNAK ESTM. JÄRVEOJA TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT M RC1 33:20.8
2. 5 GBRK. MEEKE GBRS. MARSHALL TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT M RC1 33:25.0 +4.2 +4.2
3. 10 FINJ. LATVALA FINM. ANTTILA TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT M RC1 33:26.7 +1.7 +5.9
4. 4 FINE. LAPPI FINJ. FERM CITROEN TOTAL WRT M RC1 33:27.0 +0.3 +6.2
5. 42 IRLC. BREEN IRLP. NAGLE HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM M RC1 33:30.3 +3.3 +9.5
6. 1 FRAS. OGIER FRAJ. INGRASSIA CITROEN TOTAL WRT M RC1 33:31.8 +1.5 +11.0
7. 89 NORA. MIKKELSEN NORA. JAEGER HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM M RC1 33:32.5 +0.7 +11.7
8. 11 BELT. NEUVILLE BELN. GILSOUL HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM M RC1 33:44.7 +12.2 +23.9
9. 3 FINT. SUNINEN FINJ. LEHTINEN M-SPORT FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM M RC1 33:47.2 +2.5 +26.4
10. 33 GBRG. GREENSMITH GBRE. EDMONDSON M-SPORT FORD WORLD RALLY TEAM M RC1 34:18.2 +31.0 +57.

Source: WRC