Rally: Sébastien Ogier crowned world champion for the 8th time – BFMTV.COM

The French driver Sébastien Ogier won the 8th WRC world champion title of his career, after the Rallye de Monza, this Sunday in Italy.

The calculations were pretty straightforward. To triumph at the 2021 WRC World Championship, Sébastien Ogier needed to score at least 13 points or finish ahead of his Welsh rival Elfyn Evans this weekend in Rally Monza. In the lead on Saturday before the last three specials on Sunday, the Toyota driver did not shake in the home stretch. And the French even won in Italy. Second in Italy, Elfyn Evans is vice-world champion. Spaniard Dani Sordo (Hyundai) completes the rally podium. Toyota takes the constructors’ title.

His last title?

With this victory, the 4th of the season, the French driver won an 8th world champion title. He was crowned in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and therefore 2021. He remains a record title held by Sébastien Loeb, nine times crowned WRC world champion between 2004 and 2012. A record that l ‘Alsacien should keep for a long time.

Because this 8th triumph for Sébastien Ogier should be the last of his career. The native of Gap, who will turn 38 on December 17, will no longer play a full season from next year, but only a few selected rounds, and without his historic co-driver Julien Ingrassia, who will retire. In tears at the arrival of the last special, the Frenchman, surprised to have won, wanted to pay tribute to him: “It is he who takes the main place, said Ogier at the microphone of Canal +, showing his teammate. , standing on the car. I will miss him. It will be difficult without him. ” Overwhelmed by emotion, Sébastien Ogier could not say more in the heat.

He decided to devote himself to his family, to endurance events and to his dream of participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 2022 world championship season kicks off in two months at Rallye Monte-Carlo, from January 20 to 23, with a new generation of cars competing, equipped for the first time with hybrid engines.