Sebastien Ogier, seven times world champion (only Sebastien Loeb has more titles), an absolute rally phenomenon. On Sunday the Frenchman was the protagonist of a surreal episode, he hit a car in Zagreb traffic during the transfer before the seventeenth special stage of the rally of Croatia.
He was together with the trusted navigator Julian Ingrassia on the Yaris Wrc: he changed lane, swerving to the right to approach without seeing another car. The collision damaged one side of the Yaris quite heavily, causing it to lose aerodynamic performance. But even more incredible what happened next. Reconstructed from the videos of passers-by and the report of the race judges, after Ogier himself won in the rally with an advantage of only six tenths over his teammate Elfyn Evans, the space of a curve.
After the accident, the 37-year-old from Gap (born on the streets of the Monte Carlo rally, it was destiny that he would become a driver) he is stopped by the Croatian policemen, gets out of the car, tries to explain himself, tries to make him understand that he has to arrive at the time control on time, otherwise, goodbye to the race. He is in a hurry, gesticulates, wants to leave immediately. Except the agents don’t speak English, and they don’t even recognize it. So after an exchange, he gets back in the car and drives away while a policeman tries to stop him by putting his hands on the hood. Uselessly. Indeed, it risks being overwhelmed.
Later Ogier himself he had to publicly apologize with an intervention on social media explaining that he was not running away and that it was all generated by a misunderstanding caused by language barriers. He also posted a photo in front of the police station.
To understand what happened, you need to read the report of the FIA stewards. In which it is written that Ogier leaves the scene of the accident while a policeman was still in front of the car, and for this he is sanctioned. The seven-time world champion gives his version of the facts: after leaving the service park, he realizes he has to stop again to check something on the car. He locates a bus stop, changes lanes but does not notice the other passing vehicle taking him. After the collision – the report continues – Ogier stops on the side of the road and exchanges general information and telephone contacts with the other driver.
The police, who do not speak English arrive at the scene, also Jarmo Lehtinen, a member of the team Toyota Gazooo Racing, a former pilot. He is delegated the task of handling the paperwork, the friendly finding of an accident, who knows, he talks on the phone with the race management, it is clear that the crew can start again. clear to Ogier, not the agents. And in fact one appears in front of the Yaris.
Agli steward, il winner of the rally of Croatia, said he was sure he could get away. However, he admitted that he shouldn’t have acted in such a hurry, said he shouldn’t have acted like this and promised that he would personally apologize to both the collided driver and the policeman who tried to stop him.
The verdict? According to the judges, the fact does not represent a violation of the rules, but Ogier’s behavior however unacceptable because he created a dangerous situation, starting again with the policeman still in front. A conduct in contrast with the values of motorsport, concludes the sentence. The penalty is a 5,000 euro fine and the suspension from a WRC World Championship race if the Frenchman violates the regulations again by 26 October. With such a tight World Cup he will have to be very careful …
April 25, 2021 (change April 26, 2021 | 00:17)
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