Ford team director Malcolm Wilson says Sebastien Ogier could be on track to become even more successful in the World Rally Championship than six-time title holder Sebastien Loeb.
Wilson spoke in the wake of Ogier's second place at Rally New Zealand – an event the 26-year-old was tackling for the first time last week. Having watched both Frenchmen progress through their first quarter century of world rallies, Wilson says Ogier's record looks likely to stand up well against Loeb.
"[Sebastien] Ogier has improved again, hasn't he," said Wilson. "The way he drove in New Zealand was very, very good. If you look at both his and Sebastien Loeb's career's, I'd say Ogier is probably ahead. He's clearly going to be a big name in the future."
Ogier led last week's Rally New Zealand for 12 of the 21 stages and only missed out on his first WRC win when he spun his Citroen C4 WRC with three corners of the rally remaining.
Ogier said: "Sure the progress is really fast, but Sebastien [Loeb] is an incredible driver and his career is just incredible. It will be difficult for everybody to do the same as him, but I will try to have the best career I can."