The seven-time world champion lost to his teammate

World Rally Championship

The ninth stage of the World Rally Championship, which took place in Germany, resulted in another triumph for the strongest team in the Citroen series. Its riders took two first places. Moreover, the second number of the “stable” - Sebastien Ogier - managed to get ahead of his legendary partner - the winner of seven previous world championships, Sebastien Lob, who was let down by a punctured tire.

The key event of the German rally took place on its second day - Saturday evening. Before this, everything went to the point that the Citroen pilots would finish, so to speak, according to their status: the great Sebastien Lob was in first place, his younger partner Sebastien Ogier was in second.

There was no longer any doubt that no one would get between them and no one would get ahead of them. It seems that the only one who was ready to compete with the two Frenchmen on the roads in the surrounding area was Finn Jari-Matti Latvala from Ford. On Friday, after the starting special stage, he even polished. But soon Latvala's team made a fatal mistake. It started to rain in Germany, and the Finn was allowed onto the track on hard tires. As a result, he lost a lot of time and switched out of the fight. And Ford leader Mikko Hirvonen, usually a biter and clinging to Citroen drivers with his teeth, for some reason looked very bad and passive at this rally and did not make it into the top three at the finish.

In general, Sebastien Lob and Sebastien Ogier dealt with each other. And on Saturday, these showdowns almost became quite scandalous. The fact is that after the end of the first day, Citroen executives ordered Ogier not to put pressure on Lob. They were understandable. There was no need for risk in this situation. Prizes from the drivers could not go away, and Lob, who was leading in the championship, probably needed points more.

However, Sebastien Ogier proved what he had long been suspected of - that he still has the same character. Not caring about the team's instructions, he rushed in pursuit of the seven-time world champion, who was a little ahead, and reduced the gap to a minimum.

It was then that a misfortune happened to Lob. At the final Saturday special stage, feeling Ogier's breath behind him, he drove at full speed and did not notice the sharp stones lying on the road. Hitting them cost the Frenchman dearly: he punctured his tire and let Sébastien Ogier pass ahead. Moreover, he immediately received a margin of safety - more than a minute, and the last day of the rally thus turned into a formality.

However, Sebastien Lob had no reason to despair over his misfire. After all, second place in Germany did not make his position in the battle for the championship title any less strong. Today they are not just durable, but reinforced concrete. Before the end of the season, the World Championship participants had four stages left to complete. And Lob is ahead of his closest pursuer - the same Ogier - by 25 points.

Alexey Dospehov

Sebastien Lob suffered a small puncture