SÉBASTIEN OGIER
Determined, ruthless and tactically shrewd, Ogier has won eight world titles, including six in a row from 2013 to 2018, with three different manufacturers. He took his final crown in 2021 before stepping down from a full-time programme in the WRC. One of the sport's all-time greats.
| Nationality | FRA |
| Date of Birth | 17.12.1983 |
| Birthplace | Gap, Hautes-Alpes |
| First Rally | 2008, Mexico |
| Co-Driver | Vincent Landais |
| WRC titles | 8 (2013-2018, 2020-2021) |
| WRC wins | 57 |
| WRC podiums | 96 |
| WRC stage wins | 681 |
| Website | https://www.sebastien-ogier.com/fr/ |
The story so far
A versatile sportsman, Ogier was a ski instructor and professional boules player before he embarked on a rallying career at the age of 22.
His path to success mirrored that of nine-time champion Sébastien Loeb: both made their mark in two-wheel-drive, 1600cc Citroëns before stepping up to the big league with the French manufacturer.
Ogier stormed to the FIA Junior World Rally Championship crown in 2008 and a six-round WRC programme with the Citroën Junior Team followed a year later. Despite a succession of accidents, Citroën chiefs stuck by their man and Ogier took victories in Portugal and Japan in 2010.
A place in the main Citroën team was Ogier’s reward for 2011, and he took the fight to team-mate Loeb by winning three rounds early on. However, the season turned sour in Germany where he was instructed not to challenge Loeb for the lead.
Unwilling to accept a supporting role in the team, he signed to Volkswagen’s fledgling WRC squad in 2012, driving an S2000-spec Škoda in preparation for a World Rally Car programme the following year.
It was a move that paid off. Ogier was crowned world champion for the first time in 2013 after taking nine wins. The success story continued with further titles in 2014 and 2015, the Frenchman claiming eight wins in each campaign.
He clinched title number four at Rally GB in 2016, but celebrations were short-lived when, two days later, Volkswagen announced it would end its WRC programme.
Suddenly, when the 2017 driver market had seemed settled, the reigning world champion was available – and in demand. He tested Toyota’s Yaris and the Ford Fiesta before deciding to join M-Sport Ford.
It proved a great decision and further titles followed in 2017 and 2018, before a switch to Citroën Racing for 2019. His winning run came to an end at the French squad, but Ogier joined Toyota Gazoo Racing and snatched a seventh world crown at the 2020 season finale.
He delayed his previously-announced retirement for one final campaign with Toyota in 2021 - a move which paid off as he wrapped-up world title number eight before leaving his full-time seat.
The Frenchman still remains a key - and quick - member of the Toyota squad, albeit on a part-time basis. He undertakes selected drives in the team’s third car alongside young co-driver Vincent Landais, with whom he debuted at RallyRACC – Rally de España in 2022.
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