Causing a stir once more in the World Rally Championship (WRC) this past weekend was the role that team tactics played in the outcome of a rally. The events of this weekend’s WRC Rally Greece didn’t, however, create tension between the sport’s biggest protagonists, the Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team and the Citroën Total World Rally Team. Rather, it was in-fighting in the latter team between its two Sebastiens.
Over recent events Sebastien Ogier has supported his teammate Sebastien Loeb (the current series leader). For this event though, those same tactics have seemingly worked against Loeb to hand Ogier victory.
In fairness to Ogier, he drove a storming rally from SS1 to the Power Stage to record his third win of the 2011 season. After a duel with Petter Solberg and then with his teammate, Ogier powered to the top of the leader board. Loeb, on the other hand, was unable to push as hard as he would’ve liked thanks to his road-sweeping duties on the final day. In fact, Loeb claimed second spot by only 03sec from Mikko Hirvonen.
It seemed that Ogier (and team boss Olivier Quesnel) used those same tactics to provide the young Frenchman with the edge needed to secure victory in Greece. Ogier was, to be honest, not in a sensible position to assist or support Loeb as his lead and the chasing Hirvonen made this situation all the more complicated. It would have been silly had Ogier slowed over the final speed tests to allow Loeb to score the maximum number of points in his bid to win his eighth Drivers’ title. To boot, Loeb’s ultimate speed was retarded by his road position. What was also clear from his reaction was that the initial team tactics employed by the team were for Ogier to heed to his teammate. Ogier was somewhat exonerated of blame in this situation.
