Sébastien Ogier was crowned world rally champion for the 8th time since 2013, on Sunday, by winning the last round of the season at Monza. Second in Italy, Briton Elfyn Evans (Toyota) is vice-world champion for the second consecutive year.
Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) won his 8th World Rally Championship (WRC) title since 2013, and probably his last, by also winning the last round of the season, the Monza Rally, on Sunday. Second in Italy at 7 sec 3/10, the Briton Elfyn Evans (Toyota) is vice-world champion for the second consecutive year. The two teammates and rivals exchanged the first positions six times between the start of the race on Friday morning and Saturday evening.
On Sunday, the classification froze with Ogier in the lead. The Frenchman played it safe by slowing down on the penultimate stage but he was still able to increase his lead, Evans having stalled twice. Spaniard Dani Sordo (Hyundai) completes the rally podium 21 sec 3/10 behind Ogier.
Toyota also wins constructors’ title
Toyota also won the constructors’ title ahead of Hyundai. Ogier, who will be 38 on December 17, will only compete in a few rounds next year with Toyota, to devote himself to his family and his dream of racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (in which his current team participates).
It will be without his historic co-driver Julien Ingrassia, who is retiring at almost 42 years old (November 26). French hopeful Adrien Fourmaux (M-Sport Ford) finished far in the general classification after going off the road on Friday. The 2022 season begins in two months at Rallye Monte-Carlo, from January 20 to 23, with a new generation of cars in the running, equipped for the first time with hybrid engines.