How Ogier emerged out of Loeb's shadow to form his own WRC legend

Sebastien Ogier has spent much of his career living with constant comparisons to namesake and former Citroen team-mate Sebastien Loeb, statistically the World Rally Championship’s best-ever driver. Such is human nature to debate who is the all-time great in any given sport.

However, by securing an eighth world title in style, winning his final full-time WRC outing at Rally Monza, Ogier staked his claim to perhaps be remembered as the greatest ever.

The case is a strong one. While he ends his career one world title behind nine-time champion Loeb, it can be argued that winning world titles with three different marques - Volkswagen (2013-2016), a semi-factory Ford team in M-Sport (2017-2018) and Toyota (2020-2021) - across two generations of WRC car elevates Ogier above Loeb, who enjoyed all his successes in a dominant Citroen.

Such has been Ogier’s dominance that he’s only been beaten to a world title once in the last nine years by then-Toyota driver Ott Tanak in 2019, during a difficult year (ironically) at Citroen. Loeb too was beaten only once across a full season, by Subaru's Petter Solberg right at the start of his full-time career in 2003. 

It’s pertinent to point out that Ogier and Loeb did have a season competing against each other at Citroen in 2011, where the latter prevailed. But it’s unfair to use that as a barometer given it was Ogier’s first full season, while Loeb had already won eight titles.

Debates such as these can never be settled conclusively, as opinions will always differ. But after bowing out by claiming one last world championship, Ogier will be regarded by many as the greatest to have graced a WRC stage.

Speaking to Autosport ahead of Monza, Ogier admitted that comparisons to Loeb at the start of his career were flattering, but as the years passed and the titles mounted up it became an understandable but annoying comparison.

Sébastien Ogier, Julien Ingrassia, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC

Photo by: Toyota Racing

“Of course at the beginning, in the every early times of my career, it was great to be compared with such a legend who has achieved so much - it means you are definitely on the right path,” said Ogier.

“But when the first real success comes and the first title, there is sometimes where it has been a bit annoying to always be compared. It felt at the beginning, the numbers of what he achieved - it seemed unreachable. But now we are talking title number eight, at the end of the day I don’t have to be shy anymore about the numbers.

“I don’t know - it's only human to try to compare, and that is what feeds the passion from the fans [who] argue who is the best. Emotionally, you will always support one guy more than the other.”

Comparisons aside, Rally Monza again outlined what the WRC will miss as the championship moves into a largely Sebastien-free era in 2022. Ogier is set to contest perhaps only a handful of rallies for Toyota in a third Yaris entry next year, shared with Esapekka Lappi.

"We know this is the end of this fantastic journey and Julien [Ingrassia, co-driver] has been a huge part of this successful story. Like I told him across the finish line, I’m going to miss him" Sebastien Ogier

The 37-year-old emerged victorious for a 54th time in WRC competition after a titanic battle befitting any title decider, as Ogier and chief challenger Elfyn Evans went head-to-head in a fiercely-contested three-day fight across 16 stages. The pre-event odds were in the Frenchman’s favour, as he held a 17-point lead over Toyota team-mate Evans, but nothing could separate the pair when battled commenced.

In the build-up, Ogier attempted to play down the emotions of his final full-time event, choosing to use the live title battle as a distraction from that milestone moment - and the fact the event was also retiring co-driver Julien Ingrassia’s last after a 16-year partnership.

But any thoughts Ogier would cruise home to an eighth title were banished after Friday morning’s loop, on the twisty Bergamo mountain roads, as he opened up a 6.5s lead over Evans. But his rival quickly turned the deficit into 1.4s advantage ending Friday after starring on three tests using the Monza circuit, historic banking and gravel service roads.

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Five lead changes across six stages provided arguably the best battle for victory in recent years, but it was Ogier that edged Evans by half a second after more than 200kms, with three Monza circuit stages standing between him and the victory that would also give him the title.

Despite a brief scare when he clipped a concrete barrier on the Monza banking and luckily avoided damage that could have turned the title battle on its head, Ogier sealed the victory by 7.3s from Evans, who dropped time after a spin and stall on the penultimate stage.

At the final stop control, Ogier and Ingrassia became overwhelmed by the enormity of the milestone moment they had reached, sparking a rare outpouring of emotions.

“It's hard to put words on this kind of day, in terms of emotions, but the biggest one today is about Julien,” he said. “We know so much inside us that there is a lot of joy, but there is a bit of sadness - more than a little bit, actually.

“We know this is the end of this fantastic journey and Julien has been a huge part of this successful story. So for sure, like I told him across the finish line, I’m going to miss him.

“It has been an exciting weekend. I honestly focused on myself and I didn’t want to fall into this fight as it would be one of the biggest failures I could do. The truth is I had to keep a high rhythm anyway, as the Hyundais were not that far behind and we couldn’t relax. I also didn’t want to give this victory easily to Elfyn.”

For the record, Ogier claimed five victories (Monte Carlo, Croatia, Sardinia, Safari and Monza) on his way to his eighth world title, with the last among his very best considering the emotions at play and the ferocity of his battle with Evans.

Sébastien Ogier, Julien Ingrassia, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Monza truly highlighted Ogier's special talent, one that he has honed from a constant striving for perfection throughout his career, which has given him the impression of always appearing a step ahead of his rivals.

PLUS: How confronting self-doubt drove Ogier to become a WRC legend

Not only does he have supreme talent behind the wheel - a master of opening the road on gravel, preserving tyres, while driving at a blistering pace with few errors - but he was able to manage the immense pressure and the emotion of the event to deliver the fairytale finish his full-time career merits.

There is no doubt Ogier, who has won more than a third of the WRC rallies he's entered, has the ability to continue, match and even surpass Loeb’s nine titles and 79 wins. But there are elements of life that are more important than records.

"It is always super tough for a sportsman to find a way to end a career. There is no best way" Sebastien Ogier

“Every good thing has an end in life and I’m not sad at any point about this decision [to step back] that I have taken,” he said. “It feels completely right for to do this right now. I need a break and time with my family."

While many would be keen to step away from competition completely, that’s not Ogier’s style. There is plenty of fire left in his belly and he’s keen to start circuit racing. Funnily enough, he will be back to work this week testing Toyota’s 2022 Rally1 car for the first time ahead of the WRC’s new hybrid future.

While the expectation is for him to be on the start ramp at Monte Carlo in January, an event he’s won a record eight times, there are no guarantees. But one thing that is for certain is the eight-time world champion, and perhaps the greatest rally driver ever, would like a break.

“It is always super tough for a sportsman to find a way to end a career, there is no best way,” he said. “The way I do it today, by stopping but not completely and remain with the team and do a few rallies maybe next year, feels the right way at the moment.

Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Photo by: Toyota Racing

“Right now I feel I would prefer to have a full break and stop to really enjoy the end of the year before jumping into preparation for next year. I don’t really feel for it right now, but I’m sure I will get a bit more fuel in the tank to go forward.

“Let’s see what the future brings to my life. I feel I need this break and time for myself and try to build some more motivation to do some more motorsport again.”

Content and at ease with the decision to step back, Ogier deserves a special place in the pantheon of WRC greats. In the eyes of many, that place is the top step of the podium. Ogier and Ingrassia will surely be remembered as perhaps the finest duo in WRC history.

Winners and Champions Sébastien Ogier, Julien Ingrassia, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Yaris WRC

Photo by: Toyota Racing