Ogier Stays In The WRC Saddle

Six-time winner Sebastian Ogier is not giving up on the World Rally Championship.

The second-most successful driver in ARC history, after Seb Loeb, originally intended to pull the pin at the end of 2020.

But, after a shortened and disjointed season at the Gazoo Racing team, Ogier said his time at home has re-energised him for a return in 2021.

“The plan is to keep pushing in 2021 and hopefully have a better, normal season and try to push for a last title,” Ogier said.

“It was not my initial plan, but this 2020 year is very particular for everybody on this planet. I didn’t do the last season I expected to do and ending my career on such a strange season was not great.”

With one event still to run this season, at Monza in Italy, Ogier is running second in the title standings behind his Toyota Gazoo team mate Elfyn Evans with almost no chance of claiming another crown.

He has always taken time to learn a new car, even after winning multiple championships with Volkswagen and Ford after starting his WRC career with Citroen.

Jumping into the Yaris WRC has provided ups and downs through 2020 and that is why he has confirmed rumours that he wanted to do a proper year before calling time on his career. His only victory this year was in Mexico, one of his favourite events.

“This 2020 year was not as long as expected. We had a short season with a few rallies. That was one of the reasons to change my plan about retirement.”

“I’m very happy to finally announce and confirm that I will drive one more year in WRC with Toyota Gazoo Racing.”

Ogier’s announcement comes despite considerable uncertainty about next year’s WRC program, with organisers concentrating on European events during the pandemic and with both Australia and New Zealand left off the calendar because of uncertainty about Covid-19 travel restrictions.