Eight-time world champion's admission came as no surprise to the other drivers vying for glory
Photography by Red Bull
Words by Mark Paulson & Colin Clark
Was it a surprise when Sébastien Ogier confessed in Finland that he would indeed be gunning for a record-equaling ninth world title this year?
Perhaps. Ogier has, after all, been vocal in his desire to devote more time to family life rather than the relentless full-time schedule of the World Rally Championship.
He committed to completing the 2024 campaign part-way through the season only because he saw Toyota was in need; it looked in serious danger of winning neither world title last year, while Kalle Rovanperä was taking a break from full-time competition.
But that was a one-off set of circumstances. Ogier reverted once again to a part-time campaign this year, skipping three of the first eight rounds. And he has repeatedly told the world that numbers, statistics and records are not his motivation for going rallying.
Something’s changed. Ogier wasn’t expecting to be within 13 points of the world championship summit having contested only two thirds of the schedule. That ninth world crown is tantalizingly close and Ogier has accepted the challenge.
So should we be surprised?
Well, his world title rivals weren’t, that’s for sure.
Speaking in Finland last weekend, Ogier’s Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans – who regained the points lead with his fourth-place finish – told DirtFish: “I think that’s been pretty clear for a while.”
Fellow Toyota driver Kalle Rovanperä, who reignited his own championship challenge with a commanding victory, appeared to be relishing the prospect. He said: “He’s going to be bullying us the rest of the season, I’m sure! So it’s going to be a good fight.”
Rovanperä and Ogier have answered the clamor for the pair to engage in a title fight
Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville’s hopes of retaining his title were already looking slim as punctures dented his Hyundai’s challenge in Finland. Adding another contender into the equation can only further reduce his outside chance. But the news did not surprise Neuville.
“It sounds logical, no?” he said. “He’s third in the championship, so probably… at his place I would do it. He did it last year as well and he’s in an even better position now.”
Perhaps the man with most to lose from Ogier’s decision is Ott Tänak. Not only was he usurped at the top of the points in Finland, he now faces a three-pronged Toyota assault from Ogier, a revitalized Rovanperä and season-long contender Evans.
“We know he’s [Ogier] going to Paraguay and Chile and all the rest of the rallies,” admitted Hyundai’s world title hopeful. Echoing Rovanperä’s sentiment, Tänak is looking forward to the challenge of going head to head with his former mentor.
“I think it will be a quite interesting fight until the end,” he said.
Five rallies remain. Thirteen points cover the championship’s top four. WRC 2025 just got a whole lot more exciting – even if its protagonists had already recognized it.
Words:Mark Paulson
Tags: Rally Finland 2025, Sébastien Ogier, WRC, WRC 2025
Publish Date August 5, 2025 DirtFish
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