Sebastien Ogier: Rally Catalunya final-stage crash was 'stupid'
Sebastien Ogier said the shock final-stage crash that cost him Rally Catalunya victory was caused by an over-ambitious pacenote change after the first run
Ogier was checked in hospital in Sunday night after the accident, and reported that he was shaken but otherwise fine.
He had been leading the rally by 50 seconds when he hit a barrier on the Duesaigues stage.
The World Rally champion admitted he had adjusted the pacenote for that spot after the morning run of the stage, and had been pushing to entertain himself with a bid for maximum powerstage bonus points following a largely uneventful second half of the rally.
"I felt the exit of the corner was faster, but the entrance was not faster," said Ogier.
"I was not out by much, maybe I was 10cm too wide.
"I leaned a bit on the barrier, but then the pole stopped us and removed the wheel. It was game over.
"This wasn't the most exciting rally, I was controlling the pace since Saturday midday and I wanted some fun in the final stage.
"It was a stupid mistake. I played and I lost, but Julien [Ingrassia, co-driver] is OK - we are both safe and we didn't cost the team too much."
Ogier's error handed Volkswagen team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen a surprise victory, just three seconds ahead of the third Polo of Jari-Matti Latvala.
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