Ford: Second WRC title with Ogier 🎥
FAREWELL FROM THE WORLD CHAMPION Sébastien Ogier's fifth place in Australia was enough to win the title again. It is the sixth of his career and the second with the Ford team, which the Frenchman will leave. The manufacturers' title goes to Toyota. Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia did not have to win again at the Rally Australia. Their task was rather [...]
Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia no longer had to win at the Rally Australia. Their task was rather not to lose too much time to their pursuers in the WRC standings and to finish at least sixth.
Brand title to Toyota
His two title rivals failed in their attempts to attack and retired on the final day due to accidents. However, Ott Tänak in the Toyota Yaris WRC, who had been leading the race until then, would not have benefited from a first-place finish either, as Ogier was too well placed. With the retirement, the Latvian paved the way for his teammate Jari-Matti Latvala to take his first win of the season. This also meant that Toyota was the new one-make world champion.
Thierry Neuville fell a good 50 seconds behind Ogier on the first stage after sustaining repairable suspension damage off the racing line. Three stages before the end of the rally, the Belgian tore off a wheel on his Hyundai i20 WRC.
An incredible season
This decided the 2018 World Rally Championship in favor of Ogier/Ingrassia on Ford Fiesta WRC. After two seasons with the British M-Sport Ford team, the Frenchman will switch to Citroën in 2019. Neuville is again runner-up in the world championship, Tänak third in the WRC.
Sébastien Ogier: "It's been an incredible season with a uniquely close battle for the WRC crown. Just a few weeks ago, we thought it would be very difficult to defend the title. But we still didn't give up and gave everything we had - together with a fantastic team around us. I'm so proud of each and every one of them, and of course I'd also like to thank Malcolm Wilson again for a great job. What we have achieved together over the past two years is really special."
