Sebastian Ogier says World Rally Championship chief Thierry Neuville ought to “cease crying” and “be taught 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 major 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 3 cylinders.
It price him worthwhile time however Fourmaux’s demise after stage 4 handed the Frenchman an 11.7s benefit over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak.
Ogier appeared on track 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 general, 2m26.4s from the chief Tanak and 1m41.2s behind Neuville.
Ogier has up to now been vocal concerning the disadvantages of opening the highway, 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
Photograph by: Toyota Racing
When requested concerning the turbo subject suffered by Evans and if the group had although to alter the element on his automotive at noon service, Ogier provided some robust phrases in the 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 automotive till this second and we did the most effective job we might,” mentioned Ogier.
“We proved that the championship chief shouldn’t be that quick actually as a result of he was first on the highway and we had been second on the highway and we took 45 seconds in 4 levels, perhaps he ought to cease crying and be taught driving first on the highway.”
Toyota is but to know the reason for Ogier’s turbo drawback nevertheless it may very well be much like the problem suffered by Evans, who was pressured to finish the ultimate part of the opening stage and the next two morning assessments 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
Photograph by: Toyota Racing
“With Elfyn we all know what’s the root trigger however with Seb in the meanwhile we’re assuming it’s one thing comparable, however till we get the components we are able to’t say for positive. It seems to be like a problem with the turbo charger,” mentioned Toyota technical director Tom Fowler.
“It’s an enormous disappointment as a result of clearly it’s a rally after Finland the place we have now 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 aren’t going to capitalise on the potential efficiency each the automotive and the drivers have.”
Crew principal Jari-Matti Latvala is uncertain if the failure is right down to a defective batch of parts, however did reveal that the group had been unable to alter the turbo on Ogier’s automotive as a precaution at noon service as delays to the opening levels brought on by accidents.
“This morning we had been in a position to change the turbo for Elfyn Evans however we couldn’t change for Seb due to the time restrict,” mentioned Latvala.
“We had been speculated to have a flexi service however as a result of the stage was delayed on SS1 and SS2 it meant the organisers needed to lower 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 alter. 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 have now 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 automotive.”
