Sebastien Ogier won't rule out WRC title push  

Sebastien Ogier says he would be interested in a World Rally Championship title bid and will consider doing more events if his impressive partial campaign continues. 

The eight-time world champion has enjoyed a stellar season to date having recorded three wins (Monte Carlo, Portugal, Sardinia) and two second place finishes (Canary Islands, Greece) from the five rallies he has contested thus far.  

Despite missing three events, Ogier sits third in the championship, 21 points adrift of championship leader Hyundai’s Ott Tanak and has averaged a stunning 28 points per round. Ogier’s margin to the championship leader is seven points less than it was last year at this point in the season.  

While Ogier maintains that his priorities are to help Toyota rather than bid for a ninth world title, his success this year means he is not yet ruling out the prospect of a title bid if his form continues.     

Ogier’s partial 2024 campaign extended to 10 rounds last year when Toyota asked the Frenchman to assist the manufacturer’s championship hopes, which ultimately led to the Japanese car maker winning an eighth constructors’ crown.  

Podium: Winner Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, second place Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, third place Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images

“It is true that I am closer than I would think [to the championship lead] missing three rallies. It is true we have to keep an eye open on how the situation will evolve," said Ogier, ahead of this week’s Rally Finland - which marks his sixth start of the year. 

“I’m honest, it is not my priority to be fighting for the championship otherwise I would be there full-time. 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 and after five rallies a 28-point average has been amazing. If we can carry on at this level, we could have a chance to fight for it, but it won’t be easy.  

“I will stay with a cool head, but I will try my best and what I can say if we are very close and if we manage to get closer I can’t say I would not be interested to fight for it. 

“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." 

Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Ogier is once again expected to feature at the sharp end in Finland this weekend after sitting out Rally Estonia, which was claimed by Toyota Rally1 debutant Oliver Solberg two weeks ago.  

The Frenchman says the Toyota team has been exploring different set up directions following Solberg’s domination in Estonia. 

“I think 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. From one driver to another, we are not always wanting the same thing,” Ogier added.  

“I explored it in the test and it felt good, but here I couldn’t really get the feeling anymore [in Thursday’s shakedown]. We had to find a compromise that still has some influence from what he has done in Estonia.”