Sebastien Ogier pleased Sebastien Loeb is staying at Citroen

The pair have forged a difficult alliance in the team this season, with those troubles bubbling over on the Acropolis Rally earlier in the summer, when Loeb accused the French team of favouring Ogier over him.

Asked how he felt about the news, Ogier told AUTOSPORT: "It's good news for the team, he is a very good driver. It's good for the team to have his service and for me it's also good news - it's nice be in the same team as him and Daniel [Elena], we have good relationship together.

"For sure, it's difficult in that he is a very strong driver and when you have him as a team-mate you also have him as an adversary. As usual, he will be a difficult man to beat."

Ogier added that having Loeb alongside him in the team helped to improve his own driving.

Ogier said: "It will push me more to improve myself. He is the strongest, when you want to beat him you have to be on the limit and you have to be at perfection. To beat him and be world champion would definitely mean more satisfaction than if he retired.

"For me, the main thing is to be world champion one day - to do it against him would be better for me, but I'm not going to be fixated on this. He will be there and it will be nice for the fight. I am young, I have a lot of year in front of me. For me it's not bad news."

Ogier added that he had not spoken to Loeb about his decision, adding: "I knew one hour before you."