Seb bet's on red!
After a long discussion during which he went through all the options, the seven-time world champion decided to continue his career in the WRC and to renew his confidence in Citroën Racing, his present team. Here are his first thoughts!
You have given much thought to the future of your career. The desire to continue in the WRC has remained the strongest, why?
It's clear that I have been asking the question for a while, to stop, to continue, a change of discipline... I was going through the options, it must be confessed, still with a desire for a new discipline... But between the say and do, this is not the same. It is not easy to say stop, to say to rallying, well, now it's over...
And then with regard to my results, you cannot say I'm on the down. I am leading the championship. While it is not easy this year, I'm still ahead, and I hope to remain so. So I thought it was a shame not to continue. I'm still young, and my motivation remains intact for the win!
At times you seemed very close to stopping. Do you have the impression you have come full circle regarding the WRC?
Sure, I've won seven World Championship titles, all with Citroën. At one point, actually, I wanted a change of scenery. But as I said, between saying and thinking and actually doing it is very different! I thought of new challenges, but ultimately, I am staying... and that's fine. I am relieved to have made this decision and to continue.
Did the rule change affect your thinking?
It is not necessarily essential, but it changes the game. I was pretty excited this year with how to manage the races, with Ogier always behind me so that I have to sweep the road. I always used to have a team behind me, who supported me and I admit at one point I started to have doubts. But the rules are like that and fortunately they are changing next year, so these problems will be avoided. What I want is to have a team that support me, with whom I am happy to share the victories.
How much did your familiar and friendly environment affect your decision? For them, was the trend more for stopping or to continue?
Rather to continue... As I thought but in which discipline? Rally, DTM, Endurance, was more the question... Then after careful consideration, I thought that the DTM or the endurance races will have to wait a little…
Which team did you have contact with? Who were the two finalists?
I had a proposal from VW, which I must admit had my full attention. I think this is the proposal that convinced me to stay in rallying. I have been in contact with Carlos Sainz, with whom I still have a very good relationship and the challenge would be to develop a new car and to try to win a title with a new manufacturer...
The means of VW are very important, superior to Citroën that is clear. For them testing is not limited. I would test on every surface for the WRC next year, without having the pleasure of the competition and also without the certainty of having a car at the end of the day. In the end, my schedule was not going to be very different either.
What has finally tipped the balance in Citroën’s favour?
With Citroën I evolved, learned a lot, and I won my titles and did not want to hurt the team. They would feel that I had betrayed them by going to another manufacturer. My relationship with the team, with the management of the PSA, the engineers, the mechanics has always been excellent and I did not want to spoil everything.
What is your new contract in the WRC?
2 years.
Apart from the WRC, which options have you pushed more seriously?
Sure I was tempted by the DTM. I like the discipline. The cars are not only beautiful, but powerful. And a new challenge attracted me a lot. But we'll see later!
Scores of fans will be happy with your decision. Does this matter to you?
Of course it matters! They have always supported me and I would not want to disappoint them either. I have had a lot of encouragement for me to continue, even if ultimately the decision was mine. I hope to give them a lot of pleasure.
