And eight for Sébastien Ogier!
Winner of the ultimate Rally of the 2020 season - that of Monza - the Frenchman has started the new campaign on bumpy roads in the most beautiful way.
At the wheel of his Toyota Yaris, he won the legendary Monte-Carlo rally this Sunday.
A Monegasque round behind closed doors and shortened to 257 km due to the health crisis and deprived of its monument - the Col de Turini, after the storm Alex which had killed several people in October - but which was able to celebrate the 110th anniversary of his creation.
At 37, Ogier won his 50th WRC victory and once again inscribed his name in the legend of this rally, which he won for the 8th time.
A record!
He now overtakes Sébastien Loeb's record (7 wins).
8th victory in a rally so dear to my heart!
🙏🏻 #RallyeMonteCarlo https://t.co/5qBBPywoET
- Sébastien Ogier (@SebOgier) January 24, 2021
For his very likely last full season in the WRC, Ogier sent a strong signal to the competition by winning eight special stages out of 14. He relegated his teammate to Toyota, but still main rival, Elfyn Evans at 32.6 seconds and the Belgian. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), 3rd, more than a minute away, notably removing the last “Power Stage” special and his additional points in the championship.
A real triumph for the seven-time world champion.
“I'm super happy, the car was great, it was really fun.
I almost have tears in my eyes, I think it was a good decision to do another year!
», He declared before the Marseillaise on the podium alongside his co-driver Julien Ingrassia.
The Gapençais should not have been there, however, since he had announced, a year ago, that 2020 would be his last season.
But the pandemic has changed his plans and he is advancing, at high speed, towards an eighth world crown.
Twelve races are on the program this year due to the pandemic.
The next meeting is scheduled for February 26-28 with the Arctic Rally in northern Finland for a 100% snow-covered event on the edge of the Arctic Circle.