The World Rally Championship heads to Hokkaido, Japan for round 10 with Sébastien Loeb in touching distance of his seventh title.
The Frenchman travels to the Sapporo-based event with a 58-point cushion over closest rival – and current team-mate –Sébastien Ogier. That means that if Loeb wins in Japan and Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala, Petter Solberg and Dani Sordo all finish lower than seventh, then he will be crowned champion with three rallies remaining.
'We have the same aim as in all gravel rallies – a place on the podium' – Ogier
Loeb has fond memories of the Japan too, having clinched his 2005 and 2008 titles at the event. However, he concedes that if he is to stretch his reign, which began back in 2004, then he will probably have to wait until the Rally of France at least.
“I don’t know exactly what has to happen, but it’s not so likely,” the 36-year-old said. “Maybe one of the other rallies is more possible.”
Ogier’s form this season meanwhile has seen him promoted to the factory Citroën team for the remaining asphalt rallies alongside Loeb. However, with no previous experience of racing in Japan, the young Frenchman is concentrating on safeguarding second-place in the overall championship.
Citroën Sport Photos
“It's not going to be easy given our lack of experience, but we have the same aim as in all gravel rallies – a place on the podium,” he said. “That would help Citroen score good points for the manufacturers' World Championship.
“Concerning the drivers' one, I'm not under any illusions where the title's concerned. My aim is to hold on to second place and fend off Jari-Matti, Petter and Dani. Finishing in the runner-up spot against all these drivers would have been a dream at the start of the season. Now, it's up to us to make the dream come true!”
Ogier’s place in the Junior Team has been taken by Sordo, who also still has an outside chance of winning the championship himself after finishing second last time out in Germany. However for the man who came close to winning in Japan in 2007, it will be an up-hill battle with four drivers currently ahead of him.
Citroën Sport Photos
“I’m going to be giving my all to show that I can drive just as quickly on gravel as I can on asphalt,” said the Spaniard. “I’ve got some great memories of Japan. It’s a long way away but a very beautiful country. The route is really complex though. As a driver you have to be very precise in order to place the car accurately on very narrow roads and the co-driver has a lot of pace notes to get through, which need to be read out with perfect timing.”
One man with fond memories of racing in Japan is Sordo’s team-mate, Kimi Räikkönen, who won there in Formula one in 2005. The Finn will be presented with a completely different challenge this weekend though, and despite finishing in the points in Germany is goal remains unchanged.
“I’m expecting it to be a very tricky event for us,” The Finn said. “From what I’ve heard, the Rally Japan is particularly complex. And it’s sure to be even more complicated for a beginner like me.
“My targets [this weekend] are exactly the same. From the first few stages in Japan we will be able to see the pace we can run at. But once more the main thing will be to be there at the end of the rally.”
For more news and info about Rally Japan, head to our dedicated event page.
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