World Champion Sébastien Ogier: Winning the 2015 ADAC Rallye Deutschland was one of the most important victories in my career

• Interview with Sébastien Ogier, the three-time rally world champion and recent father about the German WRC event.

Munich/Trier, 22 June 2016 - With world champion Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Motorsport landed a triple podium at the 2015 ADAC Rallye Deutschland. The 32-year old Frenchman is the measure of all things in the 2016 season. He and co-driver Julien Ingrassia are the current leaders in the WRC. Between 18 and 21 August, when the WRC will be back in the greater Trier area, Ogier will be among the top contenders. What's more, as the husband of the German TV anchor Andrea Kaiser, the Frenchman has a special relationship with Germany. In Munich the couple's first baby was born a good week ago on 13 June. We wanted to know whether the happy event would change his way of driving and how he looks at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland.

Sébastien Ogier, please let us congratulate you and your wife on the birth of your son. Your competitors in the WRC probably hope you will slow down now. What do you think: As a father, is it likely you will take your foot off the accelerator a bit earlier?
Sébastien Ogier (laughs): "My competitors may be hoping I will take it a bit easier now. But as far as I'm concerned, the opposite is true: Now that I now that my wife and my little son are waiting for me at home, I'll drive even faster to get home sooner."

In 2015, Volkswagen Motorsport won their first long-awaited home rally at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. Will you approach the Germany rally differently this year? With less pressure on you?
Sébastien Ogier: "The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is always a very special rally for our team. After all it is the home rally for Volkswagen. So actually, the pressure may be higher than usual because here we want to perform especially well for our fans. We were fortunate enough last year to break our losing streak. Winning the 2015 ADAC Rallye Deutschland was one of the most important victories in my career."

After several rallies on gravel, the German event of the WRC means returning to asphalt. How big is the difference between driving on gravel and on asphalt? Is driving technically different at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland?
Sébastien Ogier: "The differences begin with the setup of our car. On asphalt, the setup of the Polo R WRC is a lot stiffer, which makes the whole car more responsive and direct. Because of the better grip, as a driver you can pick later braking points. On gravel or snow, a good flow is decisive. On asphalt the driving is more agressive."

Please explain to a layman, how it feels to virtually fly through the vineyards at the high speed you do?
Sébastien Ogier: "Let me say first, that the character of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is unique among asphalt rallies. The difference between the road tops on the Panzerplatte and the vineyards is enormous. The profile changes again depending on dry or wet conditions, more than it does in other rallies. Driving in the vineyards is among the highlights for every driver because the roads are narrow and the pace is extremely fast. Lots of adrenalin is involved."

Rally drivers must rely on their gut feeling and anticipation to master new situations. How can you train or practice that? Is such a thing possible at all?
Sébastien Ogier: "No amount of practice or training can teach you what a rally requires but it helps if the rally driver is good at multi-tasking. I have to look ahead in the road, feel the car at the limit, have all the data before my eyes and at the same time concentrate of the instructions of my co-driver Julien Ingrassia. When I train at home with my coach, we do exercises developing this type of fast-response multitasking skills."

On the road sections between stages, we imagine you do get a good eyeful of the rally region. What are the most remarkable views or places for you in Trier and the surroundings?
Sébastien Ogier: "The whole region around Trier and the vineyards are really beautiful but unfortunately Julien and I have little time to savour the landscapes. I especially remember the ceremonial start in Cologne with its impressive cathedral." (Editor's note: The show start of the 2013 ADAC Rallye Deutschland took place in front of the Cologne cathedral.)

What is your tip for the fans at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland: Where and when would be the best opportunity to get a Sébastien Ogier autograph?
Sébastien Ogier: "The best opportunity is during the official autograph session on Thursday night on the Trier Hauptmarkt. But whenever there is time we will also gladly give autographs or take selfies with the fans in the Service Park at the Volkswagen Hospitality. Once, a fan came to our hotel in his new Golf GTI and asked if I could sign his dashboard."

And now your tip as a WRC Champion: Where at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland can we expect to see the best action? Which Special Stage would you definitely watch as a fan and why?
Sébastien Ogier: "No doubt that's the Panzerplatte. First of all you can watch our cars passing several times. And then there is a lot of entertainment and info there from concerts to interviews and videos on the big screen. It's really a great job the organiser's do there. Even from the cockpit perspective, it is great fun doing a Special Stage in front of such a crowd."

Get your rally and day passes in pre-sale now!

Just like the planning process, the pre-sale of passes to the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is in full swing. In addition to the four-day rally passes, fans can now also buy day passes for Friday, Saturday or Sunday in pre-sale. On the day printed on the pass, they give access to all spectator areas along each Special Stage and the Trier Service Park. Day passes to the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland at EUR35 are available only in pre-sale. Rally and day passes are now available at http://shop.rallye-deutschland.de.

Attractive packages available in pre-sale

In pre-sale, rally passes for the 2016 ADAC Rallye Deutschland come at a discount and in attractive packages, for the first time including the official rally programme brochure (in German only, with directions, safety instructions etc. in English and French). In pre-sale, a four-day rally pass costs EUR70 (EUR65 for ADAC members). The package including the programme brochure is more attractively priced than in past years. Pre-ordered rally passes are also a better bargain than those bought at the on-site ticket offices, where the regular four-day pass will be EUR80 (no programme brochure and no discount for ADAC members). The rally passes cover:
• Access to all Special Stages on all days
• Access to the Service Park on all days
• Access to the Shakedown on Thursday
• A spectator map providing all the essential information about the rally
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland lanyard
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland sticker
• ADAC Rallye Deutschland programme brochure

ADAC Rallye Deutschland information:

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland has a unique world-wide reputation. Its mix of hairpin stages in the Mosel vineyards, tough tracks on the Baumholder tank range and fast asphalt roads presents extreme challenges for both teams and drivers. This mix requires excellent driving skills and versatility. Diversity, high-class action and closeness to the fans are the ingredients that make the ADAC Rallye Deutschland such an attractive package for spectators as well. Year after year, this major event draws enthusiastic crowds from all over Europe, giving it a special, international atmosphere.