Sébastien Ogier’s former team principal at M-Sport, Rich Millener, has tipped the seven-time champion to take a shot at Sébastien Loeb’s record of nine World Rally Championship titles.
Millener worked closely with Ogier through the Gap star’s two years at the M-Sport team and he’s confident an eighth crown this year could mean a prolonged stay for Ogier.
“If Séb [Ogier] keeps winning, I think he will find it hard not to stay and have a go at Loeb’s record,” Millener told DirtFish.
He’s been talking about retiring for a couple of years now,” said Millener, “but I just can’t really see itRich Millener
“This is just my personal opinion, but look at what he’s achieved and look at what he keeps achieving. He’s driving as well as ever and winning rallies. If he gets to eight [titles], then nine is possibly right there and that’s an opportunity to equal and possibly beat an amazing record. I think he’d go for that.”
Ogier originally intended to retire at the end of last season but reversed that decision due to the COVID-19-condensed calendar, and has since talked of staying on for more WRC action with Toyota next year as well.
“He’s been talking about retiring for a couple of years now,” said Millener, “but I just can’t really see it.
“No doubt, he’ll have a good car from the team for next year and he has this opportunity to cement his name in the championship for a very long time if he breaks that record.
“And look how long it would take somebody to beat that record once Séb’s gone – it’s going to be at least a decade, if not an awful lot longer.”
Ogier won two drivers’ titles in 2017 and 2018 with Millener, while the Ogier-Julien Ingrassia-M-Sport partnership swept the WRC board in ’17 with the manufacturers’ title too.
Can you see Ogier extending his WRC career at the end of the year to chase after Loeb’s record – and would you want to? Have your say.
