Sebastien Ogier’s Strong Start in WRC and Potential for a Title Bid
Sebastien Ogier, a name synonymous with success in the World Rally Championship (WRC), has shown renewed interest in competing for a world title. Despite not participating in all events this season, his performance has been nothing short of impressive, raising questions about whether he might consider a more active role in the championship if his form continues.
Ogier, an eight-time world champion, has already secured three victories this season—Monte Carlo, Portugal, and Sardinia—and finished as runner-up in two other rallies: the Canary Islands and Greece. With only five rallies completed, he is currently sitting in third place in the championship standings, just 21 points behind the leader, Ott Tanak. His average of 28 points per round is a testament to his consistent performance, and his gap to the championship leader is narrower than it was at the same stage last year.
While Ogier has made it clear that his primary focus is on supporting Toyota rather than chasing a ninth title, his strong results have not ruled out the possibility of a championship bid. He acknowledged that his current position is closer to the lead than he anticipated, given that he has missed three events so far this season.
“I’m honest, it is not my priority to be fighting for the championship otherwise I would be there full-time,” Ogier said ahead of this week’s Rally Finland, which marks his sixth start of the year. “I know that my chance of winning it, missing some rallies, is very small. Everything has to run perfectly the whole year, and it has been the case so far.”
Ogier emphasized that maintaining his current pace is crucial. If he can continue scoring consistently, he might consider taking part in more events toward the end of the season. “If we can carry on at this level, we could have a chance to fight for it, but it won’t be easy,” he added.
His decision to participate in more events will depend on how the championship evolves. “If we manage to keep such a strong points-scoring every weekend, yes we would consider doing more events towards the end of the year,” he said.
Toyota’s Strategy and Team Adjustments
Ogier is expected to once again perform well in Finland this weekend, following his absence from Rally Estonia, where Toyota Rally1 debutant Oliver Solberg claimed victory. The Frenchman noted that the Toyota team has been exploring different setup strategies after Solberg’s impressive performance.
“It is no surprise that the whole team is trying to explore a bit the things that Oliver has done in Estonia, because he had a quite impressive performance,” Ogier explained. “From one driver to another, we are not always wanting the same thing.”
During testing, Ogier tried out some of the setups used by Solberg, but he found it difficult to replicate the same feeling during Thursday’s shakedown. “I explored it in the test and it felt good, but here I couldn’t really get the feeling anymore. We had to find a compromise that still has some influence from what he has done in Estonia.”
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, Ogier’s participation in more events will likely depend on how the championship race unfolds. While he remains focused on supporting Toyota, his performances this year have kept the possibility of a title challenge alive. Whether or not he takes on a more active role, his presence in the WRC continues to be a significant factor in the competition.
With Rally Finland set to take place, all eyes will be on Ogier as he looks to maintain his strong form and potentially extend his involvement in the championship.