Sébastien Ogier has no worries over Julien Ingrassia’s ability to stand-in as his co-driver after almost five years away from the World Rally Championship, after Vincent Landais had to suddenly withdraw from Rally Finland due to personal reasons.
As a pairing Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia started 196 rallies, rising from the entry-level Volant Peugeot series as fresh-faced youngsters all the way to the pinnacle of the sport: winning the World Rally Championship eight times.
Ingrassia hasn’t competed in a rally in the co-driver’s seat since clinching their last world title as a pairing in late 2021, though he has continued to compete sporadically from the driver’s seat.
Ogier and Ingrassia are currently conducting a pre-event test together and the nine-time world champion feels his former long-term navigating partner has lost none of his ability.
“Obviously at a time like this all our thoughts are with Vincent and his family,” said Ogier. “They’re going through a difficult time, and I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision for him not to be here this week.
“But at the same time, I’m very happy that Julien accepted my request to come back and do a one-off alongside me in Finland. It’s not the easiest rally in the championship, but in some ways it’s also one of the most exciting. So from that point of view, it’ll be nice to do another rally with Julien.
“I’m not worried at all about his ability to call the notes. So it’s down to me now to do my job and try to get a big result.
Ingrassia's co-driving career came to a close with a rally victory and world title at Monza in 2021
Despite Ingrassia’s extended spell on the co-driving sidelines, Ogier was certain the duo would pick up where they left off – and initial signs from their first runs together suggest that is the case.
“I was never worried that Julien would be able to read the notes,” said Ogier. “And from the very first run in testing, you could see that all those old instincts and routines are still there. Of course it’s still going to be a challenge for him after five years away from rallying at this level. But together, I think we’ll manage it.
“It’s still a nice story, even though it’s happening in circumstances that obviously aren’t what we would have wanted this week. We’re sending a lot of strength to Vincent and his family as they go through this difficult time. But from my side, yes, it’s definitely nice to have Julien alongside me again.”
Ingrassia believes Landais being the co-driver he is substituting also works in their favor, given the similarities in style between Ogier’s two world championship-winning co-drivers.
“I’ll always remember the first thing Séb said [about Vincent],” said Ingrassia.
Ingrassia has remained active in the WRC in a media role since stepping back from the cockpit, observing Ogier and Landais' working relationship from the sidelines
“At the time I was working for Canal+, at the first Monte Carlo where he was with Vincent and I was there as a pundit. He got out of the car and said: ‘He’s like your little brother. He works the same way, he has the same voice.’
“So in terms of what Séb needs from a co-driver, I don’t think that has changed very much. We haven’t suddenly reinvented the way of doing things.”
Though he said yes to Ogier’s request the same day, Ingrassia admitted a slight hesitation to substitute for Landais given it was at the fastest round of the WRC season at such late notice.
“I didn’t hesitate for long when Séb called me,” said Ingrassia. “It was late notice, and it was Finland, so I did have to stop and think about it because you have to go into something like this 200%. But you can’t allow yourself to doubt. You can’t communicate even the slightest fear to the driver.
“So I still took an hour or two to think everything through, because it’s a big change. 24 hours earlier I was at a festival dancing, so I had to get myself back into rally mode!”
