Sebastian Ogier says World Rally Championship leader Thierry Neuville should “stop crying” and “learn driving first on the road” following an eventful opening day at the Acropolis Rally.
Ogier’s comments aimed at the Hyundai driver arrived after the eight-time world champion won three of the day’s six stages, starting second on the road, behind Neuville, having now emerged as the Belgian’s main title rival, just 27 points adrift.
Competing in a partial campaign this season, Ogier will now contest the remaining rounds of the season to boost Toyota’s manufacturers’ title hopes, and in the process challenge for a ninth drivers’ crown.
The Toyota’s driver pace on Greece’s rough gravel roads put him into the lead of the rally at midday service over M-Sport-Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux with Neuville in fifth after the latter’s i20 N Rally’s engine was reduced to three cylinders.
It cost him valuable time but Fourmaux’s demise after stage four handed the Frenchman an 11.7s advantage over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak.
Ogier appeared on course to end Friday with the rally lead before his GR Yaris suffered a similar turbo failure that befell his team-mate, Elfyn Evans, on the opening stage.
As a result, Ogier dropped to fourth overall, 2m26.4s from the leader Tanak and 1m41.2s behind Neuville.
Ogier has in the past been vocal about the disadvantages of opening the road, but this season it is long-time points leader Neuville who re-ignited the debate in Latvia having led the championship since the opening round in Monte Carlo.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
When asked about the turbo issue suffered by Evans and if the team had though to change the component on his car at midday service, Ogier offered some strong words towards his title rival.
“From my side I didn’t know [about Elfyn’s turbo issue] I just drove my race normally and was feeling quite good in the car until this moment and we did the best job we could,” said Ogier.
“We proved that the championship leader is not that fast honestly because he was first on the road and we were second on the road and we took 45 seconds in four stages, maybe he should stop crying and learn driving first on the road.”
Toyota is yet to understand the cause of Ogier’s turbo problem but it could be similar to the issue suffered by Evans, who was forced to complete the final section of the…
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