Sebastien Ogier gives update after Rally Finland crash
3rd August 2026Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier suffered a terrifying crash on Saturday at the World Rally Championship’s Rally Finland, and the nine-time world champion has offered up an update.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Ogier had been leading the Finnish event from Friday morning, taking over from Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, who took the overnight lead on Thursday afternoon. The nine-time world champion looked to be on course to secure victory over home hero and teammate, Sami Pajari.
However, on SS17, the nine-time champion ran off the road in between a fast left-right kink, and crashed into the trees at high-speed, rolling to a stop. Thankfully, both Ogier and his stand-in co-driver, Julien Ingrassia, were unhurt from the incident and managed to escape their wrecked Yaris without help.
Following the incident, the pair were kept in overnight at the local hospital. After the conclusion of Rally Finland, won by Pajari, Ogier said:
“This was not the way that we wanted to end this weekend, especially after everything was going so well. But the most important thing is that we are both OK, so a big thank you to the team for building such a strong car.
“I also need to thank Julien for taking good care of me immediately after the impact and reassuring my family I am well. We will take some rest now and make sure we are back to full strength soon and thank you for all the messages we received.”
Pajari takes over Rally Finland after Ogier suffers big crash
After Ogier crashed out on Saturday, the defending world champion leaves Finland pointless, having retired from the event, remaining on 139 points across the season. But, more importantly, the French pair are okay.
He remains in contention for the World Rally Drivers’ title, with 140 points still up for grabs across the remaining four rounds, but it is unlikely Ogier will be able to defend his championship title as he trails the championship leader and teammate, Elfyn Evans, by 62 points.
Rally Paraguay, the next WRC event, has yet to release the entry list, so it remains unclear if Ogier and his returning co-driver Vincent Landais will be in attendance.
Read more WRC here:
- Pajari takes over Rally Finland after Ogier suffers big crash
- Sebastien Ogier has returning co-driver for Rally Finland
- 2026 Rally Finland: Full WRC stage guide and times
- Sami Pajari claims maiden victory in Rally Estonia
- Sami Pajari inches closer to maiden win in WRC Rally Estonia
- Sami Pajari ‘under control’ after dominating start to Rally Estonia
- WRC Rally Estonia: Sami Pajari undefeated lead after opening day
- Drivers awarded speeding fines ahead of Rally Estonia
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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.
