When Volkswagen Motorsport announced its decision to withdraw from the World Rally Championship in November, an understandable scramble began to sign up reigning king Seb Ogier.
The Frenchman had dominated the championship winning 22 rallies out of 54 over the course of four years – a remarkable return of 40% of every event at which he turned up despite the combative, attritional nature of many of the events.
And with that litany of wins came a quartet of world titles until the Volkswagen announcement, which resulted in a switch to M-Sport Ford for the upcoming season.
With what the 33-year-old has already achieved on his career CV, despite the clock ticking against him with little preparation time for the new season on 20 January in Monte Carlo, he is not feeling any undue pressure and said, “I have achieved a lot these last years but feel I am in a position that I have nothing to lose. I have nothing to prove anymore.”
Only Sebastien Loeb boasts more championship and event wins – nine and 78 respectively to Ogier’s tally of four and 38. But with a rich honours list already, Ogier is not about to rest on his laurels for the upcoming season, and there is a hope he can, to some degree, reawaken a sleeping giant in the Malcolm Wilson-headed M-Sport.
“I will try my best and it is definitely a good challenge to try to bring this team back to success after many years of struggle,” said Ogier even though time behind the cockpit before his home event has been understandably limited.
“I had two days already this week in Sweden for the first test. I will have another test in January before the rally which is normally two days so it will not be much time in this car so hopefully the feeling comes very quickly.