Who is Sébastien Ogier?
Sébastien Ogier, a French rally driver, is currently partnered with co-driver Vincent Landais on the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team in the World Rally Championship (WRC).
With a total of 60 wins and 8 titles, including 6 consecutive wins from 2013 to 2018, he is the second most successful driver in WRC history, after his former Citroën WRC teammate Sébastien Loeb, who has 9 titles.
Rally Career
In 2005, Ogier embarked on his rally journey by winning the French Federation’s Rallye Jeunes competition. As a result, he was offered a spot in the Peugeot 206 Cup for the next season.
Alongside co-driver Julien Ingrassia, he secured a podium finish at Terre des Cardabelles and sixth place in the championship, earning him the Best Rookie award.
In 2007, Sébastien Ogier achieved success in the Peugeot 206 Cup, securing four wins (Diois, Langres, Causses, Touquet) and two second-place finishes (Alsace-Vosges, Limousin).
He also claimed victory in the Rallye Hivernal des Hautes-Alpes. In April of the same year, he made his debut in a regional rally (Rallye du Quercy) and finished in third place overall while driving a Peugeot 206 XS.
Ogier was awarded the prestigious Espoir Echappement de l’année prize, which is highly regarded by both experts and supporters. He now joins previous recipients such as Didier Auriol, François Delecour, and Sébastien Loeb.
Championship
During the 2008 season, Sébastien Ogier joined the Equipe de France FFSA team and participated in the complete Junior World Rally Championship with a Super 1600-class Citroën C2.
He made his World Rally Championship debut at the 2008 Rally Mexico, where he not only won in the JWRC class but also became the first JWRC driver to earn a WRC point by achieving eighth place overall.
He emerged victorious once more in Jordan, bouncing back from a four-minute setback caused by a mechanical issue. He eventually claimed the top spot after the leader veered off the road.
Despite retiring from Rally Sardinia due to a broken steering rod, he was able to continue competing thanks to the SupeRally rule and finished in fifth place.
Sébastien Ogier continued his winning streak in the junior category by triumphing in Germany. He also dominated his class in the Rally Catalunya, setting the fastest times, but unfortunately crashed during the final leg.
Despite a careful start at his hometown race, the Tour de Corse, Ogier secured the Junior world champion title with a second-place finish.
On September 28, 2018, it was revealed that Ogier and Ingrassia will once again team up with the Citroën World Rally Team for the 2019 season. This will signify the comeback of the six-time world title holders to the French brand after a seven-year absence.
Ogier secured his sixth back-to-back victory in Monte Carlo, a milestone 100th world rally triumph for Citroën. Following an early withdrawal in Sweden, he triumphed in Mexico and achieved podium finishes in the following three rounds.
In 2020, Sébastien Ogier joined Toyota Gazoo Racing, joining forces with Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä to form a completely new driver lineup. He achieved his seventh World Rally Championship title in eight seasons with the team, triumphing in the last rally of the season at Monza thrillingly.
In 2021, Ogier’s one-year deal with Toyota was his last full season before retiring from the WRC. He proved his skills by securing his eighth Drivers’ Championship in the final round at Monza.
In 2021, Sébastien Ogier said he would leave the sport. But he changed his mind and stayed in WRC. He only joined some events, though. He still won one race and got on the podium twice. He finished the season in sixth place.
In 2023, the French driver competed in selected events and still managed to finish fifth overall. He won in Monaco, Mexico, and Kenya. For 2024, Ogier will again have a partial campaign. He retired from full-time competition at the end of 2021.
Accident
According to a statement released by the Toyota Gazoo racing team on X, Sebastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, eight-time world rally champions, were in a car accident in Wlosty, Poland on Tuesday, June 25.
Ogier, who is 40 years old, is currently hospitalized and will be staying overnight, but his injuries are not severe, as reported by the Associated Press. Landais, 32, has already been released from the hospital.
According to local police spokeswoman Marta Domańska, the couple was driving a Toyota when they collided with a Ford containing a 69-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman. The accident occurred on a single-lane unpaved road that was not blocked off for traffic.
Police spokesman Tomasz Markowski in Olsztyn, Poland said the drivers were airlifted and the passengers taken by ambulances. Sébastien Ogier went to a hospital in Olsztyn, while the other driver went to one in Slupsk. Landais and the other passenger went to Gizycko Hospital.
