SEBASTIEN OGIER

Sébastien Ogier began his rallying career at the age of 22 when he entered the talent-spotting ‘rallye jeunes’ event organised by the French Federation of motorsport. Here he won his entry for the French Peugeot 206 Cup, a championship he won in 2007. Much like compatriot Sébastien Loeb he was building a career at Citroën.

Ogier was then promoted to the Junior World Rally Championship and clinched the title in his maiden season thanks to victories in Mexico, Jordan and Germany. At the end of the year he was rewarded for his championship success with a run at the WRC’s season-closing Rally GB, taking the wheel of a Citroën C4. He set the fastest time in only his second special stage and remained in the lead of the event until the end of the fifth special, when he was slowed by mechanical problems.

In 2009 he won the IRC’s Monte Carlo Rally at his first attempt and was subsequently offered a half season programme in the World Rally Championship by Citroën. He scored just five points in five rallies but his performances were enough for the French marque to extend his deal through the second half of the season. He rewarded their faith with a second place finish at Rally Greece.

The following year provided confirmation of Ogier’s abilities. He clinched his first WRC win by beating Sébastien Loeb in a straight fight at Rally Portugal, and repeated the feat at Rally Japan. His performances were so impressive that Citroën elected to promote him to their factory team for the remaining gravel rounds of the season, dropping incumbent Dani Sordo to the Junior Team. Retirement at Rally GB meant Ogier was unable to hold on to runner-up spot to Loeb in the championship as he slipped to fourth overall behind Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg. However the most important task had been completed: he was now confirmed alongside Loeb at the Citroën World Rally Team for the 2011 campaign.

In 2011 and still teamed with Sébastien Loeb, Sébastien Ogier continued his strong form, which had begun the previous year: five wins – equal to his illustrious team-mate -, seven podium scores with four disappointing results. He enjoyed co-number one status at Citroen after his impressive maiden campaign with the French constructor and battled Loeb for the title for most of the season. The sometimes salty rivalry among the two Frenchman resulted in Loeb lashing out at the powers that be within the squad in Greece, when Ogier was updated on the then seven-time world champion’s split times. For his part, Ogier went public with his anger after Citroen decided their drivers should hold position when Loeb was leading Rally Germany.

During this same Rally Germany Citroen Racing decided Loeb would be the unquestionable number one, when they extended his contract for two more seasons. This resulted in the team putting all its effort in to making sure he defeated Mikko Hirvonen in the driver’s championship. Ogier was let to finish out the year in a supporting role. This led to uninspired and mistake laden showings in Australia, Spain and Great Britain. Ogier left Citroen and joined the ambitious Volkswagen project. This year he will compete with a Skoda Fabia S-WRC, as well as carry out an extensive testing programme with the Polo R before returning to the world championship in 2013.


One world-class driver will not take part in the 2012 WRC season. His name is Sébastien Ogier. Whether it was his choice or not to depart from the strongest team in the sport, the fact remains he will not be challenging for the 2012 title. He will though compete in S-WRC. He no longer wants to play the supporting role to an eight-time world champion and doesn’t want to hang around for the next two seasons or longer for Loeb to retire. After attaining equal number one status with Citroen for the start of 2011, he just could not compete with Loeb neither on the road nor in the cut throat psychological warfare. Citroen made its choice in retaining not only the best driver in rally history but one of the very best spokesman in sport.

Ogier was out at Citroen but not without options. He was courted by Malcolm Wilson, yet Ford had not yet confirmed its continued presence, a risky bet for Ogier. And one must also wonder if Wilson became just a bit cool to the idea of signing the temperamental Frenchman after what happened in the DS3 camp this season after the splendid season put in from Jari-Matti Latvala. The Finn has been promised his chance at competing as the number one Fiesta driver this year and one could easily understand if perhaps the M-Sport boss wants to avoid unnecessary headaches and thus Ogier is off to Volkswagen for a season of testing in hope of greener pastures in 2013.