[WRC] News & rumours (part II)

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Originally Posted by dupanton

In the beginning, yes!
But lets watch his last year at WRC: eWRC-results.com - profile Sbastien Ogier
5 victories, 2x 3th, 2x4th
2 retirements: 1 due to engine, 1 due to a crash
2 times Superrally: crash at SS1 of Wales Rally and something in Australia (dont remember).

Not to bad :)

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Bear in mind the Super rally in Wales was his 'Loeb is on his own' statement (alledgedly) to Citroen and his performance in winning the power stage was just to rub it in !
Anyone who has watched Ogier in the Fabia cannot help but admit he is a special talent, trying set ups, perfecting notes but still able to get a stage win and a 4th place. He is special. I am also sure that in a properly managed team that JML will perform to the standard people know he can achieve, wins in Sweden, Finland, New Zealand and Wales are not usually 'gimmes'.

Of course Ogier is special....she have Finnish manager :D

I'm not saying Ogier isn't special and among the fastest if not THE fastest!! Just remember he (still) is mortal, not demi-god. Let's wait till first quarter of next season and check then how the levels ... well, level :)

Sébastie Ogier is very fast driver, but nothing extremely special. PG Andersson with Proton or Breen with Ford were able to do the same times like Ogier (when they wanted, usually they were using tactics for receive points in SWRC), Mikkelsen was also on same speed like Ogier (before he was asked not to push to Ogier)... Good results of Ogier in WRC with S2000 was not mainly because of his speed, but mainly because of quality of his rivals...

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Originally Posted by PLuto

Sébastie Ogier is very fast driver, but nothing extremely special. PG Andersson with Proton or Breen with Ford were able to do the same times like Ogier (when they wanted, usually they were using tactics for receive points in SWRC), Mikkelsen was also on same speed like Ogier (before he was asked not to push to Ogier)... Good results of Ogier in WRC with S2000 was not mainly because of his speed, but mainly because of quality of his rivals...

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The difference is that while those others were sometimes able to make similar times and add some punctures and offs Ogier was always same fast and except one crash always on the road till start to to finish. He did just a fraction of Mikkelsens punctures. That's why he was above them and therefore something special.

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Originally Posted by PLuto

Sébastie Ogier is very fast driver, but nothing extremely special. PG Andersson with Proton or Breen with Ford were able to do the same times like Ogier (when they wanted, usually they were using tactics for receive points in SWRC), Mikkelsen was also on same speed like Ogier (before he was asked not to push to Ogier)... Good results of Ogier in WRC with S2000 was not mainly because of his speed, but mainly because of quality of his rivals...

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Sorry Pluto your analysis is flawed. Don't forget that Ogier was not competing but pushing the set up development. When he chose to put the hammer down he was easily quicker than Mikkelsen and only Paddon approached his speed from the SWRC contestants. Breen and PG were very rarely in the same ball park.

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Originally Posted by PLuto

Mikkelsen was also on same speed like Ogier (before he was asked not to push to Ogier)...

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This is past, and we dont see that in 2013 ... there are coming a lot of problems to the norvegian ...

So no news yet on second driver at citroen???

There is no question Ogier is fast and will provide much enjoyment over the coming years in WRC however there is really nothing in his history to suggest he will be the dominant force at all. But he's spectacular and will be great to watch.

Latvalas website have new look etc.

http://www.jmlatvala.com