Sébastien Ogier: ‘We can all look forward to a great rally’

• Interview with eight-time world rally champion Sébastien Ogier

• Toyota driver hopes for fine autumn weather and a balanced competition

• Ogier: ‘The Central European Rally is unique for the teams and cool for the spectators.’

Sébastien Ogier (FRA) will also be competing with co-driver Vincent Landais (FRA) at the Central European Rally from 17 - 20 October and wants to get into the fight for the WRC crown - the Toyota driver confirmed this in an interview. Photo: RedBull

Record champion Sébastien Ogier (40) was actually planning to take it easy in the 2024 season when he received a call from the Toyota works team: the Frenchman, who has a second home in Bavaria, was only supposed to complete individual WRC rounds of the season, but then returned full-time to support the Japanese team in the fight for the WRC title. A direct hit, because although he missed three rounds, he is currently in second place in the WRC - and now has a clear goal: to win the WRC titles in the drivers‘ and manufacturers’ standings! This would be Ogier's ninth title, but he has a lot of hard work ahead of him. At the Central European Rally from 17 to 20 October, he will also have to be faster than all the other drivers and, above all, leave world championship leader Thierry Neuville (BEL, Hyundai) behind.

You recently announced that you would be taking part in all the remaining rounds of this year's World Rally Championship, confirming your participation in the ADAC Central European Rally ...Sébastien Ogier: ‘To be honest, the rallies in Chile and Central Europe were not originally on my list. Given the current situation in both the manufacturers‘ and drivers’ championships, we have decided that I will compete in the remaining WRC rounds and fight for the WRC titles again. After all, we don't hold all the aces at the moment and are behind in both championships. So every single WRC round, every WRC stage and every WRC point counts.’

Although you have only contested six of the nine races so far this season, you are second in the standings with three wins and three second places. Where does your current strength come from?

Sébastien Ogier: ‘I don't know. I'm pretty relaxed and feel comfortable in the car. What's more, I haven't had any particular problems with flat tyres or defective rims this season. Good luck, good luck - things are going pretty well at the moment.’

‘It was quite difficult to be at the front,’ says eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, describing his experience of the selective stages of the CER on its debut in 2023. Photo: RedBull

How much are you looking forward to the Central European Rally?

Sébastien Ogier: (laughs) ‘Even if the rally is my second home event after Monte Carlo because of my home and family, that remains to be seen, as the WRC rounds in Greece and Chile are still to come. The better things go there, the better my starting position will be. There's no question that a tarmac rally is much more fun if you start further forward and the track is a bit cleaner on the first run. We saw that last year as well. As the rally is a little earlier this time, nice autumn weather would still be high up on my wish list. I like it when the conditions are as equal as possible for everyone and everyone has a fair competition. I would like it to remain a close fight for the titles, then everyone can look forward to a great rally.’

You only just missed out on the podium in fourth place on your debut. How did you like the premiere of the Central European Rally last year?

Sébastien Ogier: ‘As I said, the starting position plays a big role. We came from further back, which didn't make it any easier, especially with the mixed weather and the resulting dirty tracks. After an early puncture, it was then very difficult to be right at the front. But the event itself is good, starting with the idea of racing in three countries. There were a lot of spectators, which I think speaks in favour of the event. However, the long liaison stages are not so great for us drivers.’

‘Unique for teams and spectators’ is how Sébastien Ogier describes the pan-European Central European Rally with its different stages in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Photo: RedBull

Which region, or rather special stages, did you particularly like?

Sébastien Ogier: ‘First of all, I have to say that there are real differences in the tarmac stages, just like at the old Rally Germany. I liked the Sunday with the special stages in Germany and Austria the best. But bumpy tarmac tracks or patchwork carpets with different grip levels, as in the Czech Republic, are simply part and parcel of the World Rally Championship. It's cool that different rallies have been combined in one event. This is something unique for the teams, but also for the spectators.’

What can the fans expect from you?

Sébastien Ogier: ‘The goal is always the same: when I start somewhere, I want to win. My worst result this season was second. That's where I want to be - and with regard to the world championship, I have to keep at it. In the remaining four rallies, I have to maximise my WRC points for the manufacturers‘ and drivers’ titles.’

Sébastien Ogier

Birthday: 17 December 1983

Place of birth: Gap (F)

Country of origin: France

Rally career:

2006: First rally

2008: First of 188 WRC rounds; Junior World Champion

2010: First of 61 WRC victories

2013 - 2016 4 x world champion (VW)

2017/18 2 x world champion (M-Sport)

2019 World Championship third place (Citroën)

2020/21 2 x world champion (Toyota)

2022 Sixth in the WRC (6 starts, 1 win)

2023 World Championship fifth (8 starts, 3 wins)