Ogier "disturbed" by ongoing dispute over WRC future

World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier says he became so dispirited by the debate over the future of the series that it damaged his motivation during the 2014 season.

Ogier secured his second straight WRC title with victory in last weekend's Rally of Spain. But the 2014 WRC season has been overshadowed by the series' promoter's efforts to introduce a radical format revamp – a push that finally ended earlier this month when it became clear that the FIA was unlikely to change its stance after rejecting the initial proposal.

Volkswagen driver Ogier admitted that the turmoil around the WRC had played on his mind.

"I had some difficult moments this season," he said. "I was a bit weak mentally – I was disturbed by the future of the sport, and my motivation really went down.

"When this happens then you are not performing at 100 percent anymore. Even if some people say it looks easy, it is never easy. Just a small moment of inattention, if we don't give anything [back], then things start to go in the wrong direction.

"The most important thing is that I reacted. A lot of people helped me with this, the team helped me, [team boss] Jost [Capito] helped me and my wife helped me a lot. I couldn't lose what I had been working on from the beginning of season. It would have been stupid to lose it like that."

Ogier's main complaint has been the running order rules and the need for the championship leader to start stages first on the opening day of rallies. Next year that will apply for the first two days of each event – to his frustration.

"It's exactly what we didn't want," said Ogier. "If you are in the lead of the championship then you open the road for two days and, on some rallies, you will have no chance to win.

"I don't know a sport when the leader of a championship has no chance to win the next round."