This season, Ogier is set to contest around half of the WRC calendar. So far, the Frenchman has entered three rallies, claiming two wins and one second-place finish.
Last year, Ogier had a similar plan for a partial season, but after the summer, he ended up competing in every remaining round. It became clear during the summer that Ogier was Toyota’s strongest contender for the drivers’ world championship.
However, his hopes of securing a ninth title ultimately faded due to mistakes late in the season, and he finished fourth in the final standings.
This year, Ogier is off to another superb start. Despite having competed in two fewer rallies than his main rivals, he currently sits third in the championship standings — just 32 points behind teammate and championship leader Elfyn Evans.
Check the full WRC standings here!
Ogier’s situation could improve even further in the next round of the championship, the Rally Sardinia, held in two weeks’ time. If he manages to score big points again, he could suddenly find himself within striking distance of the title lead.
So is Ogier tempted to expand his schedule this season? Rallyjournal.com asked the man himself.
“Well, as you know, I’m doing the next one. And at the moment, it’s still a half-season plan on my list. So it shouldn’t change,” Ogier replied.
While Ogier is sticking to his plan – for now – he didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of a change. So we asked rally legend and current team boss Juha Kankkunen whether he thinks Ogier might expand his programme.
“Last year he added a few more rallies to his calendar. Let’s see what happens. It’s his decision in the end. Things could still change,” Kankkunen commented.
The next round of the World Rally Championship takes place on the island of Sardinia from 5–8 June.
