Post
by saif » 08 May 2010, 20:45
Citroen: no team orders in New Zealand
Sebastien Ogier will be allowed to fight for victory on Rally New Zealand’s final leg, even though Citroen team leader Sebastien Loeb has closed to within 5.3 seconds of his understudy following a thrilling fight back on the second day of the event.
Ogier has been told there are no team orders although Citroen team manager, Sven Smeets, concedes the young Frenchman’s running position of first on the road will make it difficult for him to hold on to his advantage.
“We can’t have team orders because [Jari-Matti] Latvala is only 30 seconds behind and he knows the stages whereas Sebastien [Ogier] is discovering them for the first time,” said Smeets. “Although there is less sweeping today it will still be very hard for him running first on the road, but, for sure, both Sebastiens will be told to go flat-out.”
Ogier, who is on the verge of winning his first world championship rally, said: “I will fight for the win but there is a long way to go today and it is very close. My goal is to finish like this but a podium position will also be very good.”
). He got this rally as a bonus and what a sweet victory it would be for him.
