Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia swept to a remarkable eighth FIA World Rally Championship title in nine seasons in Italy on Sunday afternoon.
The Frenchmen ended their careers together in style with victory at FORUM8 ACI Rally Monza after a thrilling showdown with Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans.
The lead changed hands six times across three days of challenging speed tests in the foothills of the Italian Alps and at Monza’s iconic Temple of Speed circuit.
The outcome was decided when Evans spun in the penultimate speed test, allowing Ogier to win by 7.3 sec in a Yaris World Rally Car. Ogier will step back from full-time driving next year, while this marked Ingrassia’s final rally.
“I just feel kind of empty right now because it’s always an exhausting season,” said a jubilant Ogier, whose win marked the 200th world rally success for France.
“We give so much into it. I really need to go to every single team member and give them my big thanks, because without them we are nothing. They are world champions today as well, we are manufacturer, driver and co-driver champions.”
Ogier survived a massive final morning fright when he clipped a concrete barrier at Monza. The impact took a chunk out of his front right tyre, but the Pirelli rubber remained inflated.
His championship winning margin was 23 points from Evans. Their 1-2 finish ensured a clean sweep of the major titles as Toyota also secured the manufacturers’ honours for the first time since 2018 after winning nine of the 12 rounds.
Dani Sordo completed the podium in a Hyundai i20, 14.0 sec behind Evans. Spaniard Sordo demoted teammate Thierry Neuville on Saturday afternoon when the Belgian spun into a barrier. Neuville ended 10.7 sec behind.
Oliver Solberg scored a career-best fifth place, despite stalling his i20’s engine twice in the final stage. Teemu Suninen climbed to sixth in a similar car when Takamoto Katsuta spun into a barrier and broke his Yaris’ front left suspension in the penultimate stage.
The event marked the end of the World Rally Car era after 25 seasons. Next year will bring the introduction of exciting new hybrid-powered Rally1 cars to the championship.
Final result
1. S Ogier / J Ingrassia FRA Toyota Yaris 2 hr 39 min 08.6 sec
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota Yaris +7.3 sec
3. D Sordo / C Carrera ESP Hyundai i20 +21.3 sec
4. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 +32.0 sec
5. O Solberg / E Edmondson SWE Hyundai i20 +1 min 32.0 sec
6. T Suninen / M Markkula FIN Hyundai i20 +2 min 22.6 sec
2021 FIA World Rally Championship (final driver positions)
1. S Ogier 230 pts
2. E Evans 207 pts
3. T Neuville 176 pts
Credits : Photos and content courtesy of Red Bull Media House GmbH
