Rally Japan, the tenth of the thirteen rounds of the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship couldprove decisive for the attribution of the World Drivers’ title. Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena arehaving their best season since 2006, and they could win the crown in Asia. As in Finland, theCitroën Total World Rally Team will give its second C4 WRC to Sébastien Ogier and JulienIngrassia, who will be having their first taste of the stages on the island of Hokkaido.
After missing a year, Rally Japan is back on the WRC calendar. This event has a very special ambiencebecause of the change of scenery for the European teams, and the enthusiasm of the Japanese fans forthe world rally stars. Like previous years, the rally will be based in Sapporo on Hokkaido island. The routehas been given a revamp for this event with several new stages.
Rallye Japan has good memories for the Citroën Total World Rally Team. In addition to a victory in 2006,Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena clinched the 2005 and 2008 world titles in the event. Àt this stage ofthe 2010 season, five drivers, including four at the wheel of a Citroën, are mathematically in with achance of winning the drivers’ title: Sébastien Loeb, leader with 191 points, Sébastien Ogier (133), Jari-Matti Latvala (117), Petter Solberg (102) and Dani Sordo (95). At the end of the event, Sébastien Loebwill win the title if he has a 75-point lead over his rivals. In short, if the six-time world champion racks uphis 60th victory it will give him the title, provided Ogier does no better than sixth.
“Before that happens there’s still a lot of ground to cover,” says Loeb playing down his chances. “Like allthe rounds of the World Rally Championship, Rally Japan has its particularities. To be quite honest, Ican’t say it’s one of my favourite events. The stages aren’t all that exciting and the fact that they’re verynarrow doesn’t really encourage you to let rip behind the steering wheel! However, I think we’ll be inpretty good shape with the C4 WRC. The car’s reached the end of its development and we know the kindof setup to use on this type of surface.”
Ogier and Ingrassia have been integrated into the Citroën Total World Rally Team as in Finland andGreat Britain, and they will be making their debut in this event : “I’ve never set foot in Japan and I’mtrying to engrave the stages on my mind by looking at the maximum amount of on-board footage. I havethe impression that the vegetation hides the corners and the traps they contain,” explains Ogier. “It’s notgoing to be easy given our lack of experience, but we have the same aim as in all gravel rallies – a placeon the podium. That would help Citroën score good points for the Manufacturers’ World Championship.Concerning the drivers’ one, I’m not under any illusions where the title’s concerned. My aim is to hold onto second place and fend off Jari-Matti, Petter and Dani. Finishing in the runner-up spot against all thesedrivers would have been a dream at the start of the season. Now, it’s up to us to make the dream cometrue!”
Three questions to Sébastien Loeb
Let’s come back to your eighth consecutive victory in Germany. Are you going to reveal the secretsof your invincibility at last?“There’s no magic potion! Work’s the secret. The team’s never rested on its laurels. Even if we know thisevent very well, we prepared for it down to the last tee. For example, we did some reconnoitering nearthe military camp to test the tyres’ durability on the long Panzerplatte stage. So I knew what rhythm toadopt to get a good performance out of my tyres without putting too much stress on them. Of course it’strue that I feel pretty good on this type of surface. Right from the opening stage I can push really hardand get to grips with the race. But, quite honestly, there’s no real secret.”
Japan is a big change. How do you feel about this rally?“Well, I can’t say that the stages are my favourite part of the rally. What I like is the atmosphere, thisfeeling of being in another world for a few days. The spectators are really faithful fans and I recognizethem from one year to the next. Thanks to the World Rally Championship, we can experience othercultures, and it’s a good thing to go to Japan even if we don’t race in the most beautiful landscapes of thearchipelago.”
You are often asked where you would like to win the title. Some even insist on the fact that youshould win number seven in France. What’s your opinion on this?“I don’t think you choose the place where you’re going to win the title. All I want is to win as soon aspossible and I’ll do everything to achieve this. If I’m in the lead and Sébastien Ogier is only sixth, I’mcertainly not going to slow down to put off the date. There’s no sense in that. We work like crazy toobtain the best possible results. In any case, winning the title in Japan doesn’t depend on me alone butalso on the positions of the other contenders. Let sport roll the dice!”
