Toyota has formally announced Sébastien Ogier’s participation in next month’s World Endurance Championship rookie test in Bahrain.
The seven-time World Rally Champion revealed last month that he would be part of the test, and that it could dictate the number of World Rally Championship rounds he contests in 2022.
Ogier has completed two days in Toyota’s simulator at its Cologne headquarters ahead of his run in the GR010 Hybrid Hypercar, which will take place at the Sakhir circuit on November 7, one day after the final round of the WEC season.
A two-hour morning session will be followed by a three-hour one in the afternoon.
“I’m happy to be driving the GR010 Hybrid Hypercar on track for the first time in the official WEC rookie test in Bahrain,” said Ogier.
Introducing our "rookie" for the Bahrain test… @SebOgier
Not many rookies come with seven world titles 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
We can't wait to see what you can do in our GR010 HYBRID Hypercar!#PushingTheLimitsForBetter @FIAWEC @24hoursoflemans pic.twitter.com/hQt0r68IM8— TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WEC (@TGR_WEC) October 22, 2021
“The simulator session went well; it was nice to work with the team and discover the GR010 Hybrid for the first time.”
Though the current WRC points leader has expressed a desire to race in the WEC, it is understood Toyota’s line-up for next year is full.
Ogier reiterated “it’s a dream of mine to compete in endurance racing”, adding the test would be important to learn both “more about the car and about my own level”.
When revealing his involvement in the test in the build-up to Rally Finland, he said he knew “it would take time” to get used to the car and that he would be open to competing in other circuit-racing categories if it helped him progress to the WEC.
“I don’t expect to jump in this WEC car and be the best, you have to be realistic,” he said.
“It’s quite different to what I have done so far but I think this first test will give us an idea about it.
“We will discuss with the team what’s the best plan for me and best plan for all of us, for the team.”
Ogier, who will share Toyota’s third 2022 WRC drive with Esapekka Lappi, is so far due to contest the Monte Carlo Rally season opener with no other entries confirmed beyond that.
There are two WRC/WEC schedule clashes next year; the Acropolis Rally falls on the same weekend (September 8-11) as the WEC round at the Toyota-owned Fuji Speedway, while both series’ season-ending events take place on the weekend of November 10-13.
