France’s Sebastien Ogier wins seventh world rally title

France’s Sebastien Ogier secured his seventh world rally championship on Sunday after winning the closing chapter of the coronavirus-disrupted season in Monza.

The Toyota driver went into the final rally destined to be denied by his teammate and standings leader Elfyn Evans.

WRC in the bag

But the Welsh driver’s title hopes ended when he crashed on Saturday, leaving the path clear for Ogier and co-driver Julian Ingrassia to add to their previous rally crowns with Volkswagen and Ford.

“I’m very happy but I’m not jumping in the air as there are so many people who have suffered this year,” Ogier said after a season severely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ogier’s seventh title in eight seasons put him on a par with Lewis Hamilton, who equalled Michael Schumacher’s record seven Formula One titles last month.

But he is still two shy of the nine rally titles captured by his compatriot and former mentor Sebastien Loeb. 

Ogier was lagging 14 points behind Evans before Monza, announcing before Thursday’s’ first stage that “I’ve got nothing to lose, I’m going to throw everything at it”.

This seventh leg of a season that went into lockdown for five months combined stages at the iconic Formula One circuit with treacherous specials in the snowy hills of Bergamo.

It was on one of these stages on Saturday that Evans’s title challenge ended prematurely when his car slithered off the road.

Hyundai retained their constructors title thanks to deposed champion Ott Tanak and Dani Sordo making the podium.

Sebastien Ogier factfile

Name: Sebastien Ogier

Nationality: French

Date of birth: December 17, 1983 (36 years old)

Place of birth: Gap (Hautes-Alpes)

Team: Toyota

Co-driver: Julien Ingrassia (France, 41, raced with Ogier since 2006)

First rally: 2006

WRC titles (7): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020

WRC Rallies: 156

Teams: Citroen (2008-2011), Skoda (2012), Volkswagen (2013-2016), M-Sport Ford (2017-2018), Citroen (2019) and Toyota (since 2020)

First WRC rally: Mexico 2008

First point: Mexico 2008 (8th) 

First podium: Greece 2009 (2nd)

First win: Portugal 2010

Last win: Monza 2020

WRC wins: 49 

— 2010 Portugal, Japan 

— 2011 Portugal, Jordan, Greece, Germany, France 

— 2013 Sweden, Mexico, Portugal, Sardinia, Finland, Australia, France, Catalonia, Great Britain

— 2014 Monte Carlo, Mexico, Portugal, Sardinia, Poland, Australia, Catalonia, Great Britain

— 2015 Monte Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Sardinia, Poland, Germany, Australia, Great Britain

— 2016 Monte Carlo, Sweden, Germany, Corsica, Catalonia, Great Britain

— 2017 Monte Carlo, Portugal 

— 2018 Monte Carlo, Mexico, Corsica, Great Britain

— 2019 Monte Carlo, Mexico, Turkey

— 2020 Mexico, Monza

Overall championship finishes: 1st (2013-2018, 2020), 3rd (2011, 2019), 4th (2010), 8th (2009), 10th (2012), 21st (2008)