Sébastien Ogier is hoping Sébastien Loeb will rejoin him on the start list of next year’s Monte Carlo Rally.
Ogier won a record-breaking ninth Monte Carlo last weekend, stretching clear of Loeb who drew level with Ogier on eight Monte wins last year.
The two Sébastiens were embroiled in an epic tussle 12 months ago, upstaging the World Rally Championship’s full-time stars as the new Rally1 era began.
Ogier looked to have shaded Loeb only for a penultimate stage puncture to drop him back behind Loeb who clung on for a famous win on his M-Sport Ford debut.
But while Ogier was back to fight for – and ultimately claim – a Monte win this year, Loeb was absent as the Dakar Rally ran even later than the year before and he couldn’t strike a deal with M-Sport for the event.
Loeb however was quick to congratulate his adversary on social media after Ogier’s record-breaking win, posting an Instagram story that read: “Bravo, when will we have our re-match?”
Ogier shared that story and added: “Next year I hope!”
The Toyota driver was later asked during the FIA press conference if he would have a re-match with Loeb next year given their social media exchange.
“I hope so!” Ogier said. “It’s no secret that I enjoy competition and when he’s there, it’s often nice competition and the crazier we are, the better the show is.
“I think it will be great to have him showing up next year and the guys we have on our side can make it a cool race.”
Ogier will appear on further rounds of this year’s WRC for Toyota, with his next outing confirmed to be Rally México.
Loeb is understood to be talking to M-Sport over some kind of 2023 WRC program, but no deal is believed to be in place.
