Ogier regrets missing Loeb showdown

Sebastien Ogier is disappointed he will not be able to compete against former team-mate Sebastien Loeb on a “fair deal” in the 2013 World Rally Championship.

Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sebastien Ogier. Net photo.

Sebastien Ogier is disappointed he will not be able to compete against former team-mate Sebastien Loeb on a "fair deal” in the 2013 World Rally Championship.Loeb will only compete in four WRC events next year after securing his ninth consecutive world championship with Citroen this season.Ogier will start the year as one of the favourites for the title when Volkswagen makes its full-time debut in the WRC with the Polo R.Loeb and Ogier were team-mates at Citroen in 2011 and had a strained relationship, resulting in the latter leaving to join VW.With Ogier having lacked experience when last pitched against Loeb, he feels it is a shame that they will never get a more equal season-long head-to-head."It’s a shame that he stopped his career, but we have to accept it,” said Ogier ahead of the Race of Champions in Bangkok. "He’s been in this championship for a lot of years."Obviously he’s won everything, a lot of victories and a lot of titles, so maybe he lost a bit of motivation now."But it would have been nice to compete against him on a fair deal this time. But that’s what it is. He will be there a few times next year.”