Sebastien Ogier has confirmed staying in FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2021 as he doesn’t wish 2020 to be his last year.
Ogier mulled retirement at the end of the 2020 WRC season but with COVID-19 affecting major chunk of the championship running, the Frenchman has decided to extend his contract with Toyota Motorsport for one more year in 2021.
Ogier with co-driver Julien Ingrassia, will continue to partner Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanpera, driving the Toyota Yaris WRC, in a bid to win his eighth title – provided he is able to win the seventh one this year in the season-finale in Monza.
He has 97 points after six WRC rounds, trailing teammate Evans by 14 and ahead of Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville by 10 and Ott Tanak by 14. There were multiple rounds to end the 2020 season but COVID-19 has forced cancellations, leaving only Monza.
The Rally Monza is scheduled for December 3-6, with the Top 4 still in contention. “I really enjoy working with the team, I enjoy driving the Yaris,” said Ogier. “The passion for motorsport of TOYOTA and Akio Toyoda himself has impressed me.
“We have had a short season with only a few rallies, but enough for me to see that I really enjoy working with the team, I enjoy driving this car. It was not my initial plan but I think this year has been very particular for everybody on this planet, and the fact that I had to spend like most people a lot of time at home this year, I didn’t do the last season that I had expected to do and to end my career with such a strange season was not great.
“So, for sure, that was one of the reasons to change my mind about my retirement. The plan is to keep pushing in 2021 and hopefully have a better, normal season and try to push for a last title,” summed up Ogier.
https://twitter.com/SebOgier/status/1329771757159518212?s=20
Here’s news on 2021 WRC calendar