First chance to see the next world champion?

He’s called Sébastien, he drives a Citroën and he has put in some stunning drives this year.

But he is not six times world champion Sébastien Loeb.

He is Sébastien Ogier and, as he makes his first ever visit to New Zealand this weekend (6-9 May 2010) for the Rally of New Zealand, he is, just four events into his second season at the sport’s highest level, being tipped to take over the crown as world number one when Sébastien Senior finally decides to hang up his crash helmet.

Sébastien Junior, as he is inevitably known in the Citroën Junior Rally Team, was not planning to come to New Zealand – the manufacturers number two teams are allowed under the rules to drop one round – but such has been his performance this year, that Citroën found the extra Euros to send the talented youngster to Auckland.

Despite his outstanding performances this, including setting better stage times than drivers, including Loeb, in the front line World Championship teams, and even leading events, Sébastien Junior is not expecting the Rally of New Zealand to be a walk in the Kauri forest.

“I’m expecting it to be a more difficult rally for us than Turkey, as we are discovering an event that the other drivers already know well,” said Sébastien. “But I really can’t wait to get started, as the stages in New Zealand are some of the best in the world.”

After setting 12 fastest stage times so far this season, Sébastien Ogier and Co-driver Julien Ingrassia are among the best performers of 2010. Only Sébastien Loeb and Petter Solberg – another Citroën C4 WRC driver – are in front of them.

In New Zealand, the firm objective for Sébastien and Julien will be to gain experience on a completely new event for them. New Zealand also marks the occasion of their 25th World Rally Championship start, in their 19th different country!

“I think it’s a rally that I’m going to like,” Sébastien added. “It will be a really nice opportunity for me to drive the Citroen C4 WRC on fast and flowing stages.”

Three questions to… Sébastien Ogier
How did you get back from Istanbul?
“I only had to wait for one day in Istanbul before I was able to get a plane to Lyon and return home. By contrast, Julien went all the way back to France by coach with some of the team. I’ve not got too much to complain about compared to some other people!”

New Zealand wasn’t on your programme at the start of the year. How did the decision to do this extra event come about?
“Our initial programme was for 12 rounds of the World Rally Championship. Then the team managed to get the budget together to fund the remaining event. I think our results since the start of the year certainly created extra motivation for everyone.”

You seem to have made a notable step forwards since last year. What has changed?
“It’s a massive help to have had one full season of the World Rally Championship already behind me in the Citroen C4 WRC. Rallying is a sport that requires a lot of experience if you want to fight at the front. All the different stages on all the different surfaces that we have covered so far in the C4 allow us to drive at a much quicker pace now. We’re maybe taking a few more risks, but we’re keeping calm about it. We still have a lot to learn, but our results show that we are on the right road.”


General Information
Rally New Zealand (round 5/13) (6th – 9th May)
Surface: Gravel
Where: Auckland
Practical info: The service park is on Queens Wharf. The PC and Media Centre are in Skycity Auckland, Corner Victoria and Federal streets. There is a 10-hour time difference between New Zealand (GMT+12) and France. At 12h00 in Auckland, it is 2h00 in Paris. On Friday 7th May, the first day of the rally the
sun will rise at 7h05 and will set at 17h29. In May, the temperature varies between 10°C and 20°c with occasional showers. The local currency is the New-Zealand dollar (1 euro = 1.85 NZD).
Technical notes: The engines used in New Zealand have already been used in Sweden and Jordan. The spare parts (gearboxes, differentials, front and rear cradles, steering racks and turbos) were also used in Jordan.
Tyres: 36 Pirelli Scorpion WRC hard tyres will be given to each crew including 6 for the shakedown.
Reconnaissance: It is scheduled for Tuesday 4th May from 7h30 to 18h00, and on Wednesday 5th May from 7h30 to 14hj00 and Thursday 6th May from 9h00 to 9h30 with a maximum of 2 runsthrough each stage. Maximum speed allowed is 70 km/h except where signs indicate a lower speed, and 30 km/h in the super-special.
Shakedown: Thursday 6th May between 9h30 and 13h00 in Auckland Domain in SS9.
Press conference: Thursday 6th May at 13h30 in the Media Centre
Start: Thursday 6th May from Viaduct Harbour at 18h30.
Route: 1496,51 kms including 396,50 timed kms, 21 special stages (12 different). Timing: Day 1 – Friday 7th May: 556,75 kms including 159,18 timed kms (9 SS, 6 different). Start: 7h15 – SS1: Waipu Gorge (11,09 kms) – SS2: Brooks 1 (13,60 kms) – SS3: Bull 1 (32,56 kms) – SS4: Cassidy 1 (22,20 kms) – Service A (12h50/15 min) – SS5: Springfield (9,78 kms) – SS6: Brooks
2 (13,60 kms) – SS7: Bull 2 (32,56 kms) – SS8: Cassidy 2 (22,20 kms) – SS9: SSS Auckland Domain(1,50 kms) – Service B (19h08/45 min) – Last car in parc fermé at 23h00.
Day 2 – Saturday 8th May: 511,17 kms including 155,62 timed kms (8 SS, 4 different). Start: 6h00: - Service C (6h10/15 min) – SS10: New Franklin 1 (20,82 kms) – SS11: Baker 1 (21,42 kms) – SS12: Te Akau Coast 1 (30,89 kms) – SS13: SSS Hampton Downs 1 (4,68 kms) – Service D (11h56/15 min)
SS14: New Franklin 2 (20,82 kms) – SS15: Baker 2 (21,42 kms) – SS16: Te Akau Coast 2 (30,89 kms) – SS17: SSS Hampton Downs 2 (4,68 kms) – Service E (17h13/45 min) – Last car in parc fermé at 22h45.
Day 3 – Sunday 9th May: 428,59 kms including 81,70 timed kms (4 SS, 2 different). Start: 6h00 – Service F (6h10/15 min) – SS18: Te Hutewai 1 (11,18 kms) – SS19: Whaanga Coast 1 (29,67 kms) – Service G (10h20/15 min) – SS20: Te Hutewai 2 (11,18 kms) – SS21: Whaanga Coast 2 (29,67 kms) – Service H (14h20/10 min) – Finish: 15h00.
Podium: Sunday 9th May at 15h00.
Closing press conference: Sunday 9th May at 15h45 in the Media Centre.

The crew before this rally:
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia: First WRC rally: Mexico 08 (C2 S1600 / 8th, 1st JWRC) – WRC rallies: 24 – Junior World Rally Champions: 2008 (C2 S1600).