Frenchman Sébastien Ogier will participate with Toyota in the last three rallies of the world championship season (WRC), in New Zealand (September 29-October 2), then in Spain and Japan, he announced on Monday.
“As you know, I’m really looking forward to going to New Zealand, but the news is that I will also be racing in Spain and Japan, for the last three events of the championship,” Ogier explained in a video posted on the Twitter account of his Toyota team.
Eight-time world rally champion, including a last title in 2021, Ogier had only planned to run a few events this season. He has not driven in the WRC since the Safari Rally in Kenya, where he took 4th place at the end of June.
“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge,” continued the 38-year-old driver, who will therefore also be lined up in Spain (October 20-23) and Japan (November 10-13).
Three rounds from the end, it is the 21-year-old Finnish Kalle Rovanpera who largely dominates the season. The man who replaced Ogier as leader at Toyota is on his way to becoming the youngest world champion in WRC history.
Withdrawn from the WRC, Ogier tried his hand at endurance this year, taking part in three events with Richard Mille Racing: the 1000 Miles of Sebring, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP2 category. .