Sebastian Ogier says World Rally Championship chief Thierry Neuville ought to “cease crying” and “study driving first on the highway” following an eventful opening day on the Acropolis Rally.
Ogier’s feedback aimed on the Hyundai driver arrived after the eight-time world champion gained three of the day’s six levels, beginning second on the highway, behind Neuville, having now emerged because the Belgian’s important title rival, simply 27 factors adrift.
Competing in a partial marketing campaign this season, Ogier will now contest the remaining rounds of the season to spice up Toyota’s producers’ title hopes, and within the course of problem for a ninth drivers’ crown.
The Toyota’s driver tempo on Greece’s tough gravel roads put him into the lead of the rally at noon service over M-Sport-Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux with Neuville in fifth after the latter’s i20 N Rally’s engine was lowered to 3 cylinders.
It price him useful time however Fourmaux’s demise after stage 4 handed the Frenchman an 11.7s benefit over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak.
Ogier appeared heading in the right direction to finish Friday with the rally lead earlier than his GR Yaris suffered an identical turbo failure that befell his team-mate, Elfyn Evans, on the opening stage.
Because of this, Ogier dropped to fourth total, 2m26.4s from the leader Tanak and 1m41.2s behind Neuville.
Ogier has previously been vocal concerning the disadvantages of opening the highway, however this season it’s long-time factors chief Neuville who re-ignited the debate in Latvia having led the championship because the opening spherical in Monte Carlo.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Picture by: Toyota Racing
When requested concerning the turbo problem suffered by Evans and if the workforce had although to vary the element on his automobile at noon service, Ogier provided some robust phrases in direction of his title rival.
“From my aspect I didn’t know [about Elfyn’s turbo issue] I simply drove my race usually and was feeling fairly good within the automobile till this second and we did the very best job we may,” stated Ogier.
“We proved that the championship chief will not be that quick actually as a result of he was first on the highway and we have been second on the highway and we took 45 seconds in 4 levels, perhaps he ought to cease crying and study driving first on the highway.”
Toyota is but to know the reason for Ogier’s turbo downside but it surely may very well be just like the problem suffered by Evans, who was compelled to finish the ultimate part of the opening stage and the next two morning exams in highway mode. The Welshman, who additionally picked up a puncture in stage one, misplaced virtually 10 minutes altogether.
Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Picture by: Toyota Racing
“With Elfyn we all know what’s the root trigger however with Seb in the intervening time we’re assuming it’s one thing related, however till we get the elements we will’t say for positive. It seems to be like a problem with the turbo charger,” stated Toyota technical director Tom Fowler.
“It’s an enormous disappointment as a result of clearly it’s a rally after Finland the place now we have a extremely robust efficiency within the automobile, and in Finland we didn’t capitalise on that, and it seems to be like right here we aren’t going to capitalise on the potential efficiency each the automobile and the drivers have.”
Workforce principal Jari-Matti Latvala is uncertain if the failure is right down to a defective batch of parts, however did reveal that the workforce have been unable to vary the turbo on Ogier’s automobile as a precaution at noon service as delays to the opening levels attributable to accidents.
“This morning we have been in a position to change the turbo for Elfyn Evans however we couldn’t change for Seb due to the time restrict,” stated Latvala.
“We have been imagined to have a flexi service however as a result of the stage was delayed on SS1 and SS2 it meant the organisers needed to reduce the flexi service away.
“As an alternative of getting 12 mechanics engaged on one automobile we had six guys working for one automobile and we had different issues to vary. We had time for Elfyn however we didn’t have time for Seb after which it broke down.
“In fact Hyundai is in a powerful place [1-2-3] going into Saturday, we have to keep affected person as a result of issues can occur. If now we have issues they could have issues you by no means know. However with this warmth and this roughness it’s asking rather a lot from the automobile.”
