World Rally Championship: Toyota Secures Sebastien Ogier for Acropolis Rally Greece
In a significant move for the World Rally Championship (WRC), Toyota has confirmed that eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier will be part of its lineup for the upcoming Acropolis Rally Greece, scheduled from 5-8 September.
Ogier, who has been tipped to start the rough gravel rally, will be joining Toyota’s full-time drivers Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta, as the Japanese manufacturer fields three GR Yaris Rally1 cars for the event.
The Frenchman had contested the Acropolis Rally as part of his partial season last year, where he finished 10th after leading the event before a double rear puncture and left rear suspension failure forced him to retire on Saturday.
Ogier’s plans beyond Greece are yet to be confirmed, although he admitted in Finland that he is facing increasing pressure to contest the remaining four events of the season, as he currently sits second in the championship standings, trailing Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville by 27 points.
“I think we’re going to have more and more pressure to do that [the rest of the year and going for the title] anyway, inside me, I don’t really have it yet, this wish, this feeling because I don’t value those things [titles] as much as people think maybe.”
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala, however, has indicated that he has asked Ogier to drive more events and is awaiting a decision from the driver. Latvala emphasized the importance of keeping the championship fight alive, stating:
“It’s a very difficult situation, but at least we need to keep trying. Without trying, we cannot win anything.”
With Toyota sitting 20 points behind rivals Hyundai in the manufacturers’ championship, the team will be hoping that Ogier’s participation in the Acropolis Rally Greece can provide a much-needed boost in their push to retain the title.
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