.jpg)
L. MathekaWRC champion set to rally in Kenya
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 09.05.21. | 11:23
The Safari Rally is making a return to the WRC after a 19-year absence.
Kenya will be home to some of the best rally drivers in the world next month as it hosts the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally,top of the list being defending champion Sébastien Ogier.
#CroatiaRally was a real rollercoaster for us and managing to win it in the very last moment and score maximum points after such an eventful and emotionally demanding weekend was something special#WRC
— Sébastien Ogier (@SebOgier) April 27, 2021
???????? https://t.co/MaqTFwwPub
???????? https://t.co/T2Msre9OY2 pic.twitter.com/R7P8AsoNS2
The French rally driver, competing for Toyota World Rally Team in the WRC alongside co-driver Julien Ingrassia has won the World Rally Drivers' Championship 7 times, in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020. He is the second most successful WRC driver, after former Citroën WRC teammate Sébastien Loeb who has nine title to his name.
"Ogier among other top drivers will be part of the Safari. They will be the main actors and are the ones to make our country shine and the Safari to regain its stature. It's not just the title Safari," offered Kenya Motorsport Federation (KMSF) chairperson Phineas Kimathi while making the announcement.
@OfficialWRC champions @SebOgier @OttTanak @thierryneuville are set to grace the #WRCSafariRally on June 24-27 pic.twitter.com/HLHmuF8CIo
— Safari Rally Kenya (@wrcsafarirally) May 8, 2021
Ogier's rally career began in 2005 when he won the French Federation's Rallye Jeunes and was rewarded with a place in the Peugeot 206 Cup for the following season. Teamed with navigator Ingrassia, he claimed a podium at Terre des Cardabelles and sixth place in the championship along with the Best Rookie award.
In 2007, Ogier won the Peugeot 206 with four victories (Diois, Langres, Causses, Touquet) and two second places (Alsace-Vosges, Limousin). He also won the Rallye Hivernal des Hautes-Alpes. In April 2007, he took part in his first regional rally (Rallye du Quercy) placing third overall in a Peugeot 206 XS.
In the 2008 season, Ogier moved to compete a full Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) program, driving a Super 1600-class Citroen C2, for the Equipe de France FFSA team.
An amazing finish and an amazing result! ????????#ToyotaGAZOORacing #PushingTheLimitsForBetter #YarisWRC #WRC #CroatiaRally ???????? pic.twitter.com/2ZegKmBlGX
— Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) April 25, 2021
Ogier debuted in the WRC at the 2008 Rally Mexico, winning first in the JWRC class, and becoming the first JWRC driver to take a WRC point thanks to his eighth place overall finish. He won again in Jordan, after a four-minute loss due to mechanical failure, he stormed back, eventually taking the victory when the leader went off the road.
The 37 year old has a rich history in rallying with different teams. Amid speculations and statements about his retirement from the sport, he signed for Toyota for the 2020 season, with an option for 2021, which he won. He is set to retire at the end of this season.
World Rally Championship records
- Champion with the biggest points gap: 114 points on Thierry Neuville in the 2013 WRC (290 pts for Ogier against 176 pts for Neuville)
- Champion with the biggest points gap over his teammate: 128 points on Jari-Matti Latvala in the 2013 WRC.
- Win with the slightest margin: 0.2 seconds on Jari-Matti Latvala at the Rally Jordan on 16 April 2011.
- Stage wins rate in one season: 46.25% (111 wins out of 240 stages)
- Stages as a leader in one season: 62.92% (151 SS as a leader out of 240 stages)
- Points scored in one season: 290 pts in the 2013 WRC.
- Most drivers' championship points overall: 2367
.jpg)
