The battle in Germany of Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier, Red Bull’s asphalt kings, soon turned into a war of words.
The weekend started with the news that Loeb had signed with Citroën for another two years, meaning that he would continue to be team-mates with Sébastien Ogier until 2013. “That’s good news for me,” insisted Ogier. “I’d rather win one title against him than three in his absence.”
But the fighting talk turned nasty when Citroën imposed team orders to ensure that Loeb would finish ahead of Ogier in Germany – until a puncture at the end of the second day put the seven-time World Champion behind his younger team-mate.
“Sometimes there is justice in the sport,” said Ogier. “People who have all the elements can judge: I won’t say anything more.”
Predictably, Loeb saw it differently: “I think he’s speaking a bit too much,” came the terse reply.
Germany was the first asphalt rally of the year – but not as we know it. The surfaces were abrasive and changeable, especially over the concrete roads of the Panzerplatte military ranges on day two, which according to one British journalist “took no prisoners”.
Proof of just how tough it was came via the 15 or so punctures picked up by the frontrunners – including Loeb. “There were some rocks and stuff in the middle of the road; they weren’t big but that must have been the cause,” he reflected. “It’s just bad luck I suppose.”
