Sebastien Ogier is 10th overall and top 'Junior' Ogier at the top of the provisional Junior WRC leaderboard
The opening day of the 2008 Rally Mexico saw the Equipe de France FFSA pairing Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia emerge on top of the provisional FIA
Junior World Championship standings at the wheel of their Citroen C2 Super 1600. The French crew claimed seven of Friday's eight stages to end the day a remarkable 10th overall.
The day's programme featured six stages, plus two attempts at the evening's super-special in Leon, for a total competitive distance of 135.74km through the hills of GuanajuatoState.
Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia didn't show the slightest sign of nerves for their world class debut, despite a somewhat agitated start to their day: "On SS1, we hit a stone and bent the steering, and then finished the stage with a punctured," reported the 24-year old French driver. However, that didn't prevent him from posting the first of his score of seven fastest times, an outstanding performance given that he has only been rallying for three years. His Citroen C2 completed the morning's loop with a lead of 13.2 seconds.
The afternoon turned out to be just as productive for the Equipe de France FFSA crew which went on to end the leg at the top of the provisional Junior WRC leaderboard. "It's been a very positive day," concluded Sebastien Ogier. "It was all somewhat unknown territory for us but we're leading this evening. Our Citroen C2 has been very competitive and PH Sport did a tremendous job. We mustn't get carried away, though. There are two more days to come and a great deal can still happen."
FFSA
