Loeb aims to get world title chase back on track

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb will be aiming to get his campaign for an eighth consecutive world rally championship back on track when the Rally of Australia begins today.

Citroen driver Loeb finished second to fellow countryman and teammate Sebastien Ogier in last month’s Rally of Germany after Ogier defied team orders instructing him to let Loeb overtake him.

Ogier, now 25 points behind Loeb with four of the 13 rounds remaining, arrived in Australia early to prepare for the rally and has not spoken to his teammate since the German race.

He did not attend a press meeting in Sydney earlier in the week, adding to speculation of a tense relationship between the two Frenchmen.

Loeb insisted he hadn’t asked for preferential treatment during the German rally. “It was his (Ogier’s) problem with the team, it was not my problem,” Loeb said this week.

“I didn’t ask for any orders, he was just doing what he wanted.”

Loeb said he was still unsure whether to go all out for victory or to do just enough to keep ahead of Ogier and third placed Mikko Hirvonen of Finland, who is 36 points off the lead.

“It’s not a massive lead, it’s always more important to score points than to win, but still we have to push,” Loeb said.

“We’ll see – I’ll drive like I feel and for sure if I can fight for the win I’ll try to do it.”

Following the German race, Ogier said he still believed he had a chance of ending Loeb’s seven-year reign.

“As long as there is a mathematical chance of winning the world title, I will continue to believe in it,” he said.

Ford’s Hirvonen is the only other driver with any chance of taking the title but conceded he would have to make his move this week.

“If I want to fight for the title I would need to win this one,” he said.

The last Rally Australia two years ago was marred by protesters who were upset the course went through their region of northern New South Wales.

This year’s race is being held 300 kilometres south of the previous rally and organisers said they were not expecting any problems.

The route, to the west, south and north of Coffs Harbour, will comprise 26 competitive stages over 369 kilometres.