Sebastien Ogier says a repeat of his 2025 World Rally Championship success will be difficult, but admits the motivation “to go for it” remains amid talk of a record-breaking 10th title.
Barely hours after matching Sebastien Loeb as a fellow nine-time world champion in November, Ogier was already facing questions about the possibility of fighting for a 10th title in 2026.
On the eve of the coming season, which begins in Monte Carlo this weekend on stages where Ogier has grown up and mastered, the 42-year-old is once again the overwhelming favourite to clinch an 11th Monte Carlo win.
This comes after arguably the greatest season of his career, where he won the title despite skipping three rallies as part of his wish for a partial campaign. The Frenchman claimed six wins alongside co-driver Vincent Landais and finished 10 of their 11 events on the podium to snatch the title from Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans.
Although Ogier only plans to contest 10 events this year, he is still being tipped to challenge for another world title.
“I think it was pretty much visible from the outside, but from my point of view I believe it [2025] was definitely one of my strongest seasons in my career, so I think I need to appreciate that and be happy with what we achieved last year,” Ogier told Autosport.
Hyundai Motorsport, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Ford M-Sport WRC cars
Photo by: M-Sport
“Everybody is now questioning me about 10 [titles] blah, blah, blah, but the truth is I know it won’t be easy to redo this kind of performance. Let’s see, I can only try. I still have the same good team around me and motivation in me to go for it, so let’s see.”
While the WRC will be without two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera, who is embarking on a journey in single seaters, and 2019 world champion Ott Tanak, who is taking a sabbatical from full-time competition, Ogier is expecting a challenging season.
Evans will naturally be expected to challenge Ogier and Toyota’s new signing, reigning WRC2 champion Oliver Solberg, is also tipped to be fast from the outset. It also appears Hyundai will offer a stronger challenge now the Korean marque has attempted to address the struggles it encountered with its i20 N Rally1 car.
Toyota, however, has also not stood still in the off-season and confirmed further upgrades to its all-conquering GR Yaris – in its final year of the homologation cycle – focused on suspension and a new rear wing.
When asked if he was amazed that Toyota is still able to improve the car for 2026, Ogier added: “That is the key to success everywhere. We keep working and trying to improve what was already good and strong last year. In this sport, if you don’t move forwards most of the time you are going backwards – so that is why there is never time to relax.
“I like this mentality and this has been my approach my whole career so let’s see what the competition looks like this year but for sure we don’t expect it to be easy. I think Hyundai will be motivated to try and do a better season than last year, so for sure we need to do the best to stay in front.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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