Sebastien Ogier is setting his sights on a push for a record-equalling ninth World Rally Championship title after finishing third in Rally Finland.
Ogier’s sixth podium from six events contested during a part-time season this year has cut the deficit to new championship leader and team-mate Elfyn Evans to 13 points, with rounds in Paraguay, Chile, Central Europe, Japan and Saudi Arabia remaining.
The Frenchman has missed event rallies in Sweden, Kenya and Estonia, but has scored wins in Monte Carlo, Portugal and Sardinia, while finishing second in the Canary Islands and Greece.
The 41-year-old reiterated before Rally Finland that his main priority from this year’s partial campaign is to help Toyota in the manufacturers’ fight, but didn’t rule out a drivers’ title push.
Ogier’s partial 2024 campaign extended to 10 rounds last year when Toyota asked the Frenchman to assist the manufacturers’ championship hopes, which ultimately led to the Japanese car maker winning an eighth constructors’ crown.
After seeing the gap to the championship lead decrease from 21 points to 13, Ogier says he is excited to be in a four-way title fight with Evans, Finland winner Kalle Rovanpera and Hyundai’s Ott Tanak.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Toyota Racing
“It [the points gap] is definitely not much regarding the fact we have missed three rallies,” Ogier told Autosport. “Six podiums out of six rallies. This is our worst result but we can’t complain about it, and we must be very happy with the outcome. This fight was worth it, collecting 22 points.
“People asked me already this week and I was not hiding anything on the fact I will be starting the next rally in Paraguay, it was planned already before this week. Now it is exciting to be part of this four-way fight for the title.”
When asked if he will assess his title bid after Paraguay later this month, he added: “The plan is to go for it now.”
Ogier’s team-mate Evans now holds a three-point lead over Rovanpera in the title race and expects Ogier to be among his rivals for the championship.
“It is fine. I have said all along that he can do what he wants and it is a world championship at the end of the day and you have to beat whoever is there,” Evans told Autosport.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala, who missed out on the WRC2 victory by 1.1s in Finland in a rare one-off outing, says Ogier’s programme beyond Paraguay is yet to be decided.
“I think we will see how it looks when he does Paraguay and then there is a chance and a possibility it might be possible that we add events [for Ogier], but it is not decided yet,” Latvala told Autosport.
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