Q & A with Sebastien Ogier

Sebastien Ogier: I want to just think about the positive. For sure it's big frustration to lose my first victory so close to the end of the last stage. But if I look at my rally it was almost the perfect weekend. Three corners from the end and it would have been the perfect weekend, but one mistake and I lose the victory. For my first time here, compared with my experience it's a good performance. We had a great feeling for the drive here, that's good for my future.

Q. Even more so because this is quite a technical rally to learn...

SO: Yes it was quite technical. It was very fast and you need perfect pace notes. I think one of the keys of my performance was the perfect recce I did with Julien [Ingrassia]. I was able to push really hard for all the weekend. Until last night [Saturday night] we had no moments, it was a safe drive with no pushing. Then today [Sunday] we had two mistakes, but compared with the attack we had, it's maybe normal. Everybody has mistakes today, even Sebastien [Loeb] made two mistakes and Jari-Matti [Latvala] hit some bank and was close to going off as well. Petter [Solberg] went off. It was maybe everybody on the limit today. It was the maximum. It's like this. I'm happy for me and the team to finish second.

Q. Did you think this was possible before the start of the event?

SO: I know I am so close to fight for the podium on each rally. When I come I say: "Okay, I have to discover this rally, if I can be top five and not far from the podium, this can be a good result." But, from the second stage, we find the good rhythm and, okay, maybe I can fight for the podium this weekend. I tried to do that. We lead the rally for a long time, but finally we finish second. But, it's a good weekend.

Q. What's the next step for you? You want to win a rally, is Portugal possible? Maybe after the speed you've shown on this fast rally, maybe Finland is possible?

SO: Yeah, maybe Finland is difficult for sure against the Finnish driver. I don't really think. I want to continue like this. I think it's important for me not to think too much about this, not to worry about it. I can lose more to try and have a victory now compared to continuing like this, a bit slower, some more podiums. The victory will come automatically some day.

Q. By the end of the year?

SO: Yes, it's possible if you look at this weekend, but that's not my real target. If it's coming, it's coming. If it does, it's perfect, but I prefer to take maybe five or six podium until the end than to have one win.

Q. Malcolm Wilson thinks you are ahead of Loeb in career progression. What do you think of that?

SO: It's always good to hear that. Sure the progress is really fast, but Sebastien is an incredible driver and his career is just incredible. It will be difficult for everybody to do the same as him, but I will try to have the best career I can. I know for the moment I have the fastest progression for the rally ever, but still the most difficult is to do - to be consistent, to be fast and to win rallies and titles. Okay, it's a pleasure to have that from Malcolm.