In contrast to Sebastien Ogier himself, Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville can very well imagine the Toyota part-time starter playing a role in the 2024 title fight
When Sebastien Ogier decided to only take part in selected rallies for Toyota following his title win in the 2021 World Rally Championship (WRC) season, he did so in order to take it easy. The Frenchman no longer wanted to fight for another WRC title – it would be his ninth – from 2022 onwards.
In the current 2024 WRC season, however, Ogier is suddenly the Toyota driver with the most WRC points after nine of 13 rounds – even though he did not compete in three of the nine rallies. Following his third win of the season, Ogier is now just 27 points behind Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville, who leads the WRC.
While Ogier himself is not yet comfortable with the role of title contender and does not yet know whether he will contest all four remaining rounds of the 2024 WRC calendar, championship leader Neuville certainly sees the eight-time world rally champion as a rival in the battle for the 2024 title.
When Neuville was asked last Sunday immediately after Ogier’s victory at the Rally Finland who his main opponent in the title fight was, the championship leader replied: “Clearly the one who is in second place in the standings. That’s Mr. Ogier at the moment. He may not have this feeling himself, but he has always been at the front in the past rallies. He is fighting for every point. “
Neuville describes his own performance at the Rally Finland as a “rollercoaster ride”. Why? “We started the rally with high expectations, but we realized during the shakedown that things were not going as we had imagined. Even then, we knew that this weekend would be a challenge. And that’s exactly how it turned out.”
Neuville finished second not least because Toyota drivers Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans retired due to accidents. Based on the 2024 WRC points system, which was heavily criticized by both Ogier and rally legend Walter Röhrl, Neuville scored just one point less than winner Ogier in Finland.
It remains to be seen what Sebastien Ogier will decide. Will he drive all four remaining rounds of the season? That is the clear wish of Toyota team boss Jari-Matti Latvala, who wants to leave this decision to Ogier himself. While it would be the Frenchman’s ninth WRC title if he is successful, it would be Thierry Neuville’s first
