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In 2010, Sebastian Ogier was the caller kid connected the block. A prodigious endowment racing for the Citroen inferior team, the Frenchman had each the makings of a champion.
From the infinitesimal helium stepped onto the WRC country successful 2008 helium was making waves, winning the archetypal peculiar signifier helium competed successful in the apical division.
Two years later, connected the accelerated and flowing New Zealand roads, a triumphant archetypal triumph looked assured.
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That was until a mistake connected the last Whaanga Coast signifier cruelled his hopes. Instead, it was Ford operator Jari-Matti Latvala who took the triumph by conscionable 2.4 seconds aft 3 days of racing.
More than a decennary connected with 54 wins, 92 podium finishes, much than 600 signifier triumphs, and 8 FIA World Rally Championships to his name, Ogier is backmost successful New Zealand.
Rally New Zealand remains 1 of conscionable a fewer rallies the centrifugal racing icon hasn't conquered.
It's a lawsuit of unfinished concern for the present 38-year-old, who, ironically, present drives for the Toyota squad led by Latvala.
"Back then, it was a spot bitter, for sure," Ogier told the Under The Helmet podcast.
"It was hard to take. But luckily 3 weeks aboriginal I got my archetypal triumph successful the WRC successful Portugal. So I didn't person to hold truthful overmuch longer.
"Preparing for the lawsuit this year, I was watching immoderate of the onboards from the time, particularly the celebrated Whaanga Coast stage, which we are going to bash again this year.
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"I watched the 30 kilometres, which was the past signifier of the rally successful 2010, and I was seeing that I was truly hot, to beryllium honest.
"There were a mates of moments done the signifier wherever I was truly connected the bounds and unluckily I spun 3 corners earlier the end, and that outgo maine my archetypal win.
"To look astatine that now, to look back, it's inactive a bully memory. Like I say, I'm truly looking guardant to driving those roads again due to the fact that they look beautiful.
"For sure, motorsport is brutal. There are galore examples successful this athletics that amusement you it's ne'er implicit until it's over.
"Until you person crossed the decorativeness line, thing tin happen. That was someway a acquisition backmost then.
"I was young, I was pushing, and astir apt not knowing precisely yet however to negociate those kinds of situations – erstwhile you request to propulsion and erstwhile not.
"It was a bully learning and present for sure, the program is to effort and beryllium competitory this twelvemonth again, adjacent though I person been 3 months retired of the championship.
"The situation volition beryllium to find my bushed arsenic soon arsenic imaginable astatine the commencement of the rally. The program is to effort and combat for the triumph again."
Ogier has enjoyed a prosperous vocation successful the WRC, winning each rubric barroom 2018 betwixt 2013 and 2021.
The archetypal 4 from 2013 to 2016 came with Volkswagen earlier continuing that dominance with Ford successful 2017 and 2018.
A disappointing play by his standards followed successful 2019 with Citroen, finishing 3rd overall.
His 2 afloat seasons with Toyota to day person been fruitful too, winning the 2020 and 2021 campaigns.
At the extremity of past season, Ogier announced his status from full-time competition.
However, the allure of New Zealand was excessively beardown and helium made definite to adhd it to his part-time schedule.
"To beryllium honest, I'm truly looking guardant to coming backmost to New Zealand," said Ogier.
"The information is, I've lone been determination erstwhile successful my vocation due to the fact that unluckily the past 12 years New Zealand was not connected the calendar successful the WRC.
"I've been missing it, truthful I person specified a bully representation from my lone commencement successful Auckland.
"I retrieve these beauteous roads, beauteous flowing pieces of roadworthy which are truthful enjoyable to thrust with the satellite rally car.
"Of course, erstwhile I heard it was coming backmost successful the championship, I decidedly planned it successful my partial championship."
Coverage of Rally New Zealand, Round 11 of the FIA World Rally Championship, volition beryllium live, exclusive and ad-free connected Stan Sport.
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