Sebastien Ogier inadvertently set for WRC title fight
5th August 2024Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier has admitted that the rest of the season may be out of his control as he looks set for a title fight in the World Rally Championship.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Following Kalle Rovanpera’s untimely exit from Rally Finland on the penultimate stage of the weekend, as a result of a loose rock mid-corner, Ogier has admitted he may have to compete the rest of the season.
The WRC’s eight-time world champion has not competed in a full-season programme since he clinched his eighth world title back in 2021, allowing Rovanpera to seal two titles since then.
Having missed out on three rallies of the season; Sweden, Kenya and Poland, Ogier has inadvertently put himself in a position to be in for a title challenge.
This follows incidents from both Hyundai’s Ott Tanak and Toyota teammate, Elfyn Evans, who both crashed out of Rally Finland and left empty-handed.
Speaking after the Wolf Power Stage, where he bagged his 61st career win, Ogier admitted he may have no other choice. He said:
“I have to see, but it looks like I have no other option. It’s not my priority anymore but we’ll see.”
Due to missing out on other rallies, and as a result of his finishing position in rallies he competed in, it meant that Ogier had benefitted from an improved road order compared to the full-time crews.
As it currently stands, the Frenchman finds himself as Thierry Neuville’s closest championship rival, 27 points behind, as Hyundai inches closer to Driver and Manufacturer glory.
Whilst it’s not confirmed if he will compete in the remaining four rounds of the season, it has been reported that he will be competing in the Greek Rally next time out – Acropolis Rally Greece.
Read more WRC here:
- Kalle Rovanpera claims nothing would’ve stopped Rally Finland crash
- Ogier takes Rally Finland WRC win after Rovanpera crashes out
- Kalle Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans crash out of Rally Finland on penultimate stage
- Gregoire Munster crashes out in Rally Finland on SS11
- Rovanpera heads Toyota 1-2-3 on home soil in WRC Rally Finland
- Tänak and Järveoja out of Rally Finland after SS3 crash
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
