Ogier: No “feeling” yet for WRC title push as points system “devalues” championship

Sebastien Ogier doesn’t but contain the “feeling” to affirm for a ninth World Rally Championship title, while but again taking goal at the aspects machine that he feels is devaluing the title race.

The eight-time world champion, competing in share-time season, has emerged as Thierry Neuville’s nearest rival in the championship after taking victory at Rally Finland after lengthy-time chief and team-mate Kalle Rovanpera rolled on the penultimate stage.

Ogier is now 27 aspects in the back of Neuville with four events final and has already been asked by his Toyota team to function extra events given his success this year.

A race of three wins and three 2d put finishes from six events has posed the ask that Ogier may perhaps well well recede on to express a ninth world title may perhaps well well mute he lengthen his marketing campaign.

After crossing the slay line in Finland, Ogier acknowledged: “I would favor to explore [if we do a full campaign] nonetheless it completely appears to be like to be devour I contain no diverse choice. It’s not my precedence anymore.”

When asked by Motorsport.com about his plans for the final of the year, Ogier played down talk of a title wrestle and as an different took goal at the championship’s contemporary aspects machine that has helped build him in this position.

Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Crimson Bull Roar Pool

“I speak we’re going to contain extra and extra stress to function that [the rest of the year and going for the title] anyway, interior me, I originate no longer truly contain it but, this wish, this sense because I don’t mark this stuff [titles] as grand as individuals speak perchance,” he explained.

“Seriously with this aspects machine, or no longer it is merely a shaggy dog anecdote, or no longer it is devaluing grand extra this championship. There shall be a winner at the end [of the season] nonetheless will or no longer or no longer it is the one who deserves it, no person knows.”

Toyota team predominant Jari-Matti Latvala admitted his squad is never any longer “pals” of the aspects machine nonetheless expects a resolution from Ogier about his plans for the the rest of the season earlier than the end of the month. It’s miles anticipated that Ogier will scheme discontinuance part in Greece next month.

“With Seb I contain mentioned that I would devour him to force extra events. I am ready for his reply, nonetheless I speak the likelihood he is now in the championship as he is 2d, we may perhaps well well mute try to preserve the wrestle on and let him force the total events. 

“It’s a truly complicated enviornment, nonetheless a minimal of we pick on to preserve attempting. With out attempting, we are going to not discover anything,” Latvala suggested Motorsport.com.

“We’re no longer the pals with the aspects machine, nonetheless we are going to not alternate it. I speak in a couple weeks’ time we may perhaps well well mute know.”

Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Jari-Matti Latvala, Team of workers predominant Toyota Gazoo Racing

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Reflecting on a 2d occupation Rally Finland discover in what proved to be one amongst essentially the most tense editions of the tournament, Ogier acknowledged it was complicated to search out happiness after what came about to Rovanpera.

“It was goal a cramped bit too brutal, while you happen to request me, I would in actual fact prefer being 2d goal correct now, nonetheless motorsport is devour this steadily, steadily or no longer it is unfair,” acknowledged Ogier.

“I misplaced the discover in Sardinia [this year] with injurious success, this present day I received it with success. Nonetheless I will not truly feel too grand happiness interior me, and perchance it’ll approach afterwards because mute it is a discover in Finland.

“It’s miles mute one amongst the rallies every person needs to discover essentially the most, so I’m going to presumably at some point soon be glad with it, nonetheless goal correct now I am no longer.”