Ogier glad 'dangerous' section cut out of Rally Poland
Sebastien Ogier has applauded the organisers' decision to shorten the longest Lithuanian stage of Rally Poland on safety grounds
The Kapciamiestis-Lithuania test has been cut from 21.15 to 8.02 miles and will be run twice in its shortened form on Friday in the WRC's first ever visit to Lithuania.
It was the first stretch of the stage which gave the organisers' cause for concern after heavy rain had damaged the gravel road.
Ogier said: "Jari-Matti [Latvala, Volkswagen team-mate] and I discussed this section after the recce. We felt it was very dangerous in this section; it's very fast into the narrow forest road with the trees close to the side.
"And when it starts to rain you don't really have control of the car when the road is full of mud - it was really clever of the organisers to make this change.
"There are still some very fast sections in the forests in Lithuania, but the worst have been cut.
"On the second run in these stages, it will be tough - the ground is really soft there and it will cut-up."
Citroen driver Mads Ostberg said he had been looking forward to the cancelled section of stage.
"I was looking forward to it," said the Norwegian. "Sure it is very fast and a bit crazy to be flat-out for 10 kilometres, but OK, I will look forward to sixth gear in a lot of other places."
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