Sebastian Ojier and Dani Sordo
During the Sardinian WRC, the leaders who went on the track were the first to do so cleaning the road for others, from time to time in one of the interviews expressed their dissatisfaction with these rules developed by the FIA. Sebastian Ogier, Terry Neuwil and Ots Tanak often comment on the starting order, when on the first day the athletes go to the track in the order in which they are ranked in the WRC.
This situation is perfectly used by the Hyundai team and its driver Dani Sordo. Given that this was only the second WRC rally in Sordo this year, he was the last of the WRC riders on the track when the road conditions were much better for him than the leaders. If Sordo could drive fast and not risk unnecessarily, then both Neuwil and Ogier admitted after the finish that they had squeezed everything out of themselves. The drivers risked grabbing Sordo, but they failed. Sordo celebrated the victory at the finish, helping Hyundai to win valuable points in the manufacturers’ cup. It should be noted that the Hyundai team nominates one of the pilots (Dani Sordo, Sebastian Leb and Craig Brin) as the third driver in each rally, who is then one of the last drivers, which gives them an advantage over the others who take the full championship.
Sordo celebrates his victory. Photo: wrc.com
In one of the talks when the Sordo portal DirtFish gave an interview, Ozier did not hesitate to come and partly jokingly, but partly telling the truth to express his opinion. Here’s what the two drivers discussed:
Ozier: I heard that you, Sordo, have been ordered to slow down.
Sordo: Ogier complains a lot, but he’s a good guy.
Ozier: (laughs) Why am I complaining? I tell the facts, true. Sordo it is not necessary. He is also good. He doesn’t need that advantage (it’s meant to start from the end when grip is better than competitors).
Sordo: I explained to him that I was a slow driver, so I have to give Ojö an advantage, better conditions.
Ozier: (Laughs). Show me tomorrow who is a slow driver. Wait a minute. But be careful, we will drive very fast. Do not slow down too much.
Sordo: I have known you for many years (both laugh).
Conversation between the two athletes:
Later, when the athletes gave the interviews separately, Ogie admitted that “the WRC rally has become a very friendly championship for guests (for riders who do not spend the whole season). A very, very friendly championship. You give them victory on a silver platter. It’s just funny. “It’s nothing new. Rallying is an amateur sport and it will stay that way until it is managed professionally.”
Photo: toyotagazooracing.com
Sordo owes his answer to his former teammate. “I won’t go down to the same level as Ogie. So I have nothing to say. The rules are right now. If you don’t like rallying, then don’t drive. Maybe he should sit at home for six months and then go to the same program as me? You can stay home, watch TV and then come and go. That’s fine. “
The FIA Rally Director, in response to Ojie’s comments, added: “I don’t want to spend a lot of time on it. I haven’t heard anything like this from WRC leader Elfina Evans, who should complain the most (Evans is the first to go on the track in the last rallies). “We are trying to have riders’ representatives present in these talks, but none. Ozhye is welcome to take part in the working groups and express his ideas to help lead the championship properly.”
