Sebastian Loeb has stated that he will take a conservative approach towards next weeks Neste Oil Rally Finland.
Loeb conquered all before him on the 2008 round, but last year couldn't match the pace of home hero Mikko Hirvonen. But this year, with a 51 point lead over namesake Sebastian Ogier, he says that another Rally Finland trophy isn't at the forefront of his mind.
“I said after I won [in 2008] that I wouldn’t take that kind of risk again in Finland. That was what I felt like after the rally, but when you are in the fight you still go to it and take the risk. Like in New Zealand this year, I was driving like crazy. It depends how I feel during the rally, but sitting here now I don’t take those risks. For the three gravel rallies to come, I don’t think there’s so much pressure for me. I don’t need to win those rallies. When I start a rally I always try to fight, but for sure it’s less pressure for that.” said Loeb.
When you look at the statistics from last year's Rally Finland, it is visible why Loeb won't be pushing on the next event. Mikko Hirvonen's overall average speed from last year was 121 kph. Travelling at 121 kph on forest roads, which are littered with fast corners and mammoth jumps, Loeb's no-risk approach to the event is justified.
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