Sebastian Ogier says World Rally Championship chief Thierry Neuville ought to “cease crying” and “study driving first on the street” 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 phases, beginning second on the street, behind Neuville, having now emerged because the Belgian’s essential 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 diminished to a few cylinders.
It price him invaluable 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 the same turbo failure that befell his team-mate, Elfyn Evans, on the opening stage.
In consequence, Ogier dropped to fourth total, 2m26.4s from the chief Tanak and 1m41.2s behind Neuville.
Ogier has previously been vocal in regards to the disadvantages of opening the street, however this season it’s long-time factors chief Neuville who re-ignited the talk in Latvia having led the championship for the reason that opening spherical in Monte Carlo.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Picture by: Toyota Racing
When requested in regards to the turbo problem suffered by Evans and if the workforce had although to vary the part on his automotive at noon service, Ogier provided some robust phrases in the direction of his title rival.
“From my facet I didn’t know [about Elfyn’s turbo issue] I simply drove my race usually and was feeling fairly good within the automotive till this second and we did one of the best job we may,” stated Ogier.
“We proved that the championship chief isn’t that quick truthfully as a result of he was first on the street and we have been second on the street and we took 45 seconds in 4 phases, perhaps he ought to cease crying and study driving first on the street.”
Toyota is but to know the reason for Ogier’s turbo downside however it could possibly be much like the difficulty suffered by Evans, who was compelled to finish the ultimate part of the opening stage and the next two morning assessments in street mode. The Welshman, who additionally picked up a puncture in stage one, misplaced nearly 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 comparable, however till we get the elements we are able to’t say for positive. It seems to be like a difficulty 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 we now have a very robust efficiency within the automotive, and in Finland we didn’t capitalise on that, and it seems to be like right here we’re not going to capitalise on the potential efficiency each the automotive and the drivers have.”
Group principal Jari-Matti Latvala is uncertain if the failure is right down to a defective batch of elements, however did reveal that the workforce have been unable to vary the turbo on Ogier’s automotive as a precaution at noon service as delays to the opening phases brought on by 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 minimize the flexi service away.
“As a substitute of getting 12 mechanics engaged on one automotive we had six guys working for one automotive 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.
“After all Hyundai is in a robust place [1-2-3] going into Saturday, we have to keep affected person as a result of issues can occur. If we now have issues they might have issues you by no means know. However with this warmth and this roughness it’s asking quite a bit from the automotive.”
