Rally New Zealand (6-9 May 2010)
This year’s World Rally Championship programme for Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia wasoriginally scheduled for 12 events, but now it has been extended to take in New Zealand as well.The French crew is driving a C4 WRC run by the Citroen Junior Team, and just like last year theynow benefit from a full FIA World Rally Championship season in 2010.
The route for the 40th Rally New Zealand incorporates many elements of the itinerary that was runbetween 2005 and 2008. The first day will take competitors north towards Whangarei on roads thathaven’t been used on the event for five years. On Saturday the competitors will head south towardsHamilton, where the Rally New Zealand was formerly based. Finally, the last day will be concentrated onthe west coast around Raglan – including two passes over the famous Whaanga Coast test (SS19 andSS21), which all the drivers love.
Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were meant to have taken part in just 12 rallies this year, but nowthey have an unexpected bonus in the form of Rally New Zealand. The decision was taken on the RallyMexico, following a stunning performance from the 2008 Junior World Rally Champion. The budget tomake the trip to New Zealand, where Ogier and Ingrassia will be competing on completely new territoryfor them, was topped up with the help of Citroen Racing’s partners.
“I’m expecting it to be a more difficult rally for us than Turkey, as we are discovering an event that theother drivers already know well,” said Sebastien. “But I really can’t wait to get started, as the stages inNew Zealand are some of the best in the world.” After setting 12 fastest stage times so far this season,Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia are among the best performers of 2010. Only Sébastien Loeb andPetter Solberg are in front of them.
In New Zealand, the firm objective for Sébastien and Julien will be to gain experience on a completelynew 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 areally nice opportunity for me to drive the Citroen C4 WRC on fast and flowing stages.”
The 40th Rally New Zealand will start on May 6 from Auckland: the country’s largest city, which is hometo about a third of the population. With a total of 396.5 competitive kilometres, this will be the longestround of the World Rally Championship since the 2003 Rallye de France-Tour de Corse.
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. Bycontrast, Julien went all the way back to France by coach with some of the team. I’ve not got too much tocomplain 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 thisextra event come about?
“Our initial programme was for 12 rounds of the World Rally Championship. Then the team managed toget the budget together to fund the remaining event. I think our results since the start of the yearcertainly 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 inthe 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 driveat a much quicker pace now. We’re maybe taking a few more risks, but we’re keeping calm about it. Westill have a lot to learn, but our results show that we are on the right road.”
