For the first time in his career, Sébastien Ogier doesn’t need to stress about powerstage bonus points from Sunday’s Monte Carlo Rally finale. The line is not exactly the same from his team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
If Ogier retains a healthy advantage going into the 17th and last test of the 2022 World Rally Championship season-opener, he will want to guide his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 through at a safe and sensible pace to deliver a record-extending ninth win in the French Alps.
The absence of a full championship campaign means he’d be happy with the rally win and 25 points rather than the perfect 30.
Toyota, however, wants the extra five points on offer for a stage win through the second run at Briançonnet-Entrevaux.
Latvala said: “I asked Séb this morning: what is his feeling if he can push in the powerstage? He doesn’t need to push for his personal championship – but we would like him to push for the manufacturer [powerstage] points.
“We agreed to see how it is with the feeling after the first run before he goes into the powerstage. Last year he was winning many powerstages, it would be nice for him [to continue this trend].”
