Despite falling 38 points behind World Rally Championship leader Thierry Neuville at Acropolis Rally Greece, Sébastien Ogier will honor his commitment to Toyota and contest all three remaining rounds of 2024.
Ogier had intended this season to be another one of his part-time campaigns – something he has done since lifting his eighth world title back in 2021.
But he accidentally brought himself into title contention with three victories and three second places in six starts prior to last week’s Acropolis, which made him Toyota’s leading contender in the drivers’ championship despite missing three rounds.
Toyota therefore asked if Ogier would do the last four events of the season and he accepted, but Greece didn’t go as planned as a turbo problem cost him over two minutes and the rally lead, and then a crash on the final stage cost him a likely 12 points from Super Sunday and the powerstage.
His deficit to Neuville therefore grew from 27 to 38 points, making any chance of a shock ninth title improbable.
Despite his own championship chances fading, and Toyota’s hanging by a thread with team principal Jari-Matti Latvala conceding Hyundai is likely going to win it, Ogier will stand by the commitment he made to Toyota in completing the season.
“It’s a satisfaction for me to still be able to compete at this level,” Ogier told DirtFish.
“Of course, I enjoy that and I enjoy pushing the limit. It’s been fun in the car this weekend. Again, the weekend could have been so much better, but I know it very well now after all those years in the championship that sometimes it goes like this, sometimes it doesn’t go your way.
“I will still be there in the next three events. I’ve taken this engagement for the team, so for sure I will be present and continue to give my best.”
Ogier has not totally ruled out the possibility of securing an unlikely ninth world title
In many respects Ogier is in a no-lose situation, as he never set out to try and become world champion this year. Although he admitted his chances are “pretty small”, he has not totally dismissed himself from the equation.
“Well, mathematically we’re still in, but realistically the chances are pretty small. Again, I’m totally relaxed regarding this target, which, like you say, wasn’t really a target. It just came up now in the last part of the season,” he said.
“I was mentioning before the start, let’s see what happens here in Greece. The luck factor will play a big role. It didn’t help us so much, the luck factor, this weekend. The gap doesn’t go the right way.
“It means with three rallies to go, it’s unlikely, but it’s still rallies and still many things can happen. That’s why we’ll be there and we will keep fighting.”
The only other Toyota driver contesting the three remaining rounds (Chile, Central Europe and Japan) this season is Elfyn Evans.
Takamoto Katsuta has been dropped for Chile in two weeks’ time, replaced by Sami Pajari who will also drive in Central Europe. Katsuta will return for the two Tarmac rounds that conclude the season.
Reigning world champion Kalle Rovanperä will take part in Chile but not in CER. He is however expected to appear at Toyota’s home event in Japan.
