Ogier ready to fight for victories on WRC return

Here is the thing about champions: they never truly stay down for long. Sebastien Ogier is ready to jump straight back into the cockpit at Rally del Paraguay next week, just weeks after a terrifying, high-speed crash while leading Secto Rally Finland earlier this month.

That Finland shunt in his GR Yaris Rally1 looked like a disaster waiting to happen. The machine rolled several times, leaving Ogier and stand-in co-driver Julien Ingrassia to escape unaided before heading to the hospital for precautionary checks and a swift release the following day. Thankfully, everyone walked away.

Now, the reigning world champion is refocusing. In the aftermath of that crash, Ogier actually expanded his part-time schedule to cover all remaining rounds of the championship. Granted, his hopes of securing a record-breaking 10th world title are, in his own words, “more or less over” now that he sits 62 points behind championship leader and Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans. But motorsport is never just about one trophy.

For Paraguay, Ogier reunites with his regular co-driver Vincent Landais. And there is unfinished business on these roads, considering Ogier claimed victory on the inaugural WRC Rally Paraguay last year. Unsurprisingly, he is eager to help Toyota clinch a record-equalling 10th WRC manufacturers’ crown.

“Rally Finland didn’t turn out the way we hoped after what had been a very good rally until the point that it ended for us, but the most important thing is that Julien and I were both OK,” Ogier reflected. “Now we’ve had some time to rest and recover and I’m ready to compete in Paraguay together with Vincent.”

“Even if our championship hopes are more or less over, we still want to aim for the top step in each of the remaining rallies this year, and help the team secure the manufacturers’ title,” he added, looking back fondly on last year's event. “We experienced a great first rally in Paraguay last year, with an amazing atmosphere as well as challenging stages and conditions, and we will try our best to repeat our victory there.”