Relations between Citroen drivers Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier have been put to the test at Rally Germany on Saturday, following comments from the younger of the two Frenchmen after Loeb suffered his puncture on the final stage of the day.
Ogier had been frustrated when team orders were applied last night, forcing him to follow the seven-time world champion through day two. But Loeb's puncture on the Panzerplatte test at the end of today's leg looks near-certain to bring to an end his eight-year reign as the only ever winner of Germany's World Rally Championship round.
Tensions were rising throughout the day between the pair and when he heard about Loeb's puncture, Ogier said: "At least there is some justice in the sport."
Asked to explain that comment, Ogier said: "I mean that, people who know all the elements can understand that, but not everybody. I have nothing more to say about that."
Loeb responded by saying: "Maybe he talks too much sometimes. It's not his fault I got the puncture; he can say what he wants."
Citroen team principal Olivier Quesnel confirmed there would be no more team orders tonight, saying: "It [the result] will stay like it is, Ogier will lead with Seb [Loeb] behind. But it depends, if Ogier gets a puncture then it can be reversed again."