OGIER AND TOYOTA RACK UP THE NUMBERS

Sebastien Ogier didn’t feel he had a point to prove by beating new world champion Kalle Rovanpera to secure a first win since Rally Monza last year.

Asked if he felt he had made a point by beating the dominant world champion Rovanpera in a fair fight, he said: “No, there is nothing to prove. Kalle is a deserving champion this year and there is nothing to say about that.

“Of course it is still nice to come here and show the speed we can still have, so I am proud of that. I enjoy this kind of competition against Kalle, Thierry [Neuville] or Ott [Tanak]. It was intense and we had to push to get the win so it tastes better when you get it that way.”

Ogier’s 55th career victory extended the Frenchman’s record of scoring at least one WRC win every season across a 10-year period, stretching back to 2013.

The feat has only been achieved by three other drivers in WRC history, including Ogier’s Toyota boss Jari-matti Latvala, nine-time world champion Sebastien Loeb and 1995 world champion Colin Mcrae.

“Statistics are always nice to read, obviously I am not driving for that, but more importantly for me I still enjoy what I do and I have the opportunity to still be competitive with a great team for some rallies,” said Ogier. “I take the maximum pleasure from that.”

Toyota boss Latvala hailed his team’s collective desire for success after witnessing the marque claim its sixth WRC manufacturers’ title. Toyota is now the third most successful marque in WRC history behind Lancia and Citroen, with this year’s success adding to titles recorded in 1993, 1994, 1999, 2018 and 2021 to move one ahead of Peugeot.

“I’m really proud of the team and I think this comes when you have the combination of the team working hard and a shared passion and desire for success,” said Latvala. “The most important thing is for everybody to work together. If you have great individuals it doesn’t help, you have to get everybody working together.”