Despite Sebastien Loeb's prediction that Rally of Portugal winner Sebastien Ogier can challenge him for this year's title, team principal Olivier Quesnel has underlined the French firm's commitment to a seventh title for Loeb.
Loeb was unable to catch Ogier on the final day of last week's Faro-based sixth round of the World Rally Championship, prompting the series leader to praise his fellow Citroen driver as the fastest man in the WRC. Loeb added that Ogier did posess the speed to sustain a title threat, but added that an element of that threat depended on the speed Ogier can find on asphalt.
Quensel has largely poured cold water on any possible title fight between the Citroen Total and Citroen Junior team drivers, saying: "We can't forget there are four rallies are on tarmac, they [Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia] need some training and my main objective is to get both titles: for Sebastien Loeb and for Citroen."
Quesnel was full of praise for Ogier, adding that he had been surprised at the speed of his ascendancy.
"I didn't think it would come so quick. Even for the Rally of Portugal, I didn't think he would be able to win," he admitted. "This is it – I'm pleased for him. He goes very fast for his career."