Sebastien ogier, the reigning world rally champion is all set to clinch his second consecutive title
Sebastien Ogier taking a selfie with his wife.
Hyderabad: Each time Sebastien Ogier rolled his car back into the service park for the customary check, during the recent Rally Australia at picturesque Coffs Harbour, he made a quick dash into the hospitality area to cuddle his wife Andrea Kaiser. The newly-weds spent every spare moment at the rally event in each other’s arms, and were a picture of romance and marital bliss.
The Frenchman, who is the reigning World Rally Champion and in line to clinch his second consecutive crown, walked down the aisle with his German TV presenter girlfriend at a private, low-key ceremony in France, only recently.
And with the new co-driver in his life, the Volkswagen driver celebrated his 23rd career victory, down under. “This is my first win after donning the wedding ring. I couldn’t be more thrilled,” said 30-year-old Ogier, sipping wine at the team’s dinner bash.
In a way, Rally Australia helped Ogier redeem himself following a massive crash at VW’s home event in Germany. The couple had a whistle stop holiday in Thailand before flying to Australia. “We managed to squeeze out a few days for a quick getaway. The beautiful beaches in Krabi and Phi Phi islands were quiet relaxing. Look at him now, he’s back at his best,” said Andrea, a sports presenter on a German TV channel.
A mere mention of India gets the world champ excited. “I was in New Delhi for the FIA awards gala night in 2011. The first thing that caught my attention was the traffic. It was crazy. I think, if you can drive in India, you can drive anywhere,” quipped Ogier.
Ogier said he would love to return to India and explore the country further. “One of Andrea’s close friends lives in India. So, she has heard a lot about the country and its culture,” he said.
The World Rally Championship calendar is spread across 11 months and 13 countries. Add to that frequent sponsor programmes that make Ogier’s life as fast his rally car. How does he unwind with such a packed schedule? “With a great holiday. When you are inside a car for more than 250 days in a year, a few free days that come by are really precious.
When I am at home, I like to relax on my sofa, or heading out to the countryside for a bit of exercise like jogging or mountain biking. There is hardly any time to be bored,” said Ogier, who ended his countryman Sebastien Loeb’s decade-long monopoly in the WRC when he won the title in 2013.
Ogier and Andrea currently live in Switzerland, away from media glare. “Our house is close to Lake Constance. It’s so beautiful out there. Whether hiking or mountain biking, everything is just around the corner. Andrea loves pets and we are looking to get a dog,” he said.
Born in the French Alpine town of Gap, Ogier grew up on the slopes, mastering the art of skiing. He was a professional ski instructor for about two years before his driving career took off. His skiing skills give him an edge on the rallying circuit.
“There is a lot you can learn from skiing that’s useful in a rally car. While at first sight there may appear to be little in common between a pair of skis and a 300-horsepower World Rally Car, but there are a few areas in which the two worlds collide,” said Ogier. The first common factor is carbon fibre. Modern skis and rally cars both make ample use of cutting-edge weight-saving materials, with the common goal of going faster.
Ogier’s tryst with motorsport started with the first cross-kart he received as a Christmas gift when he was eight years old. “My dad, who is an Ayrton Senna fan, had to close the road in our small village so I could have my first-ever gravel experience. Later, when I got my driving licence, I realised that rallying is what I love, more so because it is a more accessible form of motorsport compared to circuit racing,” he recalled.
So, what makes rallying so special? Ogier said circuit racing has its own appeal, but he would never swap his Polo WRC car for love or money. “We drive at 13 rallies per season, and each one is in different conditions – from the heat of Australia to the cold in Sweden. We drive on snow and ice, gravel and asphalt, through mountains, towns and the countryside. Then you have the many fans who flock the route. Another hugely important aspect is that behind every successful driver, there is a co-driver and a great team,” he said.
Ogier shares a special bond with his mechanics who work tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare his car. After every rally weekend, he throws a party for them. “They are the real heroes. I have retired a few times in the last two years, but had were not because of an issue with my Polo car,” said Ogier.
( Source : dc )
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