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Ogier’s mistake leaves Prokop leading J-WRC
After driving the perfect rally for 11 stages, Frenchman Sebastien Ogier’s event turned from potential triumph to disaster on the day’s final test.
The Citroen C2 driver damaged the radiator on his car and has retired from the event. Martin Prokop now holds a lead of close to two minutes in the Junior World Rally Championship section.
Ogier went into the second run at La Llena more than a minute up on Prokop, when he was caught out by a fast left-hand corner five kilometres from the end of the stage.
Having effected repairs to his C2 at the end of the stage, Ogier began the journey back to Salou, but stopped not far down the main road - concerned about doing further damage to the Citroen engine. He said: “I did a mistake and had a spin. I hit the front of the car. I tried to fix the radiator and fill it with water, but it has not worked. I have to stop now.”
Citroen Sport team principal Olivier Quesnel was surprised by the mistake the Junior champion elect made. Quesnel said: “I am disappointed, but Sebastien is young and there is a lot of pressure on him.”
Prokop was equally surprised at his elevation to the top spot, saying: “I don’t understand why he was pushing so much. He had a good lead. This was quite a nasty place where he has gone off: fifth gear and maybe 140kp/h. For me, the afternoon was good. I did nothing special, I wasn’t taking any risks or anything like that. Just driving.”
Despite running first, the potential 10 points on offer for Prokop would still not be enough to elevate him into the fight for J-WRC honours on next week’s Tour de Corse. The final-round battle is most likely to be between Aaron Burkart, who is currently third and Ogier. Burkart (Citroen) ends the second day 45 seconds behind Alessandro Bettega’s Renault Clio R3.
Bettega was delighted with his performance through day two, despite a final-stage spin. “It’s been very good,” he said. “I have tried to stay neat and tidy to look after the tyres. The gravel was terrible on the final section of the last stage. When we spun, I was very careful and in second gear and not taking the risk, but the car just went around.”
Burkart was another spinner in the last few competitive kilometres of the day. Shaun Gallgher (Citroen) and Patrik Sandell (Renault Clio) moved up a place to fourth and fifth consecutively following the demise of the leader.