World Rally Championship star Sebastien Ogier has dominated out collaborating within the Dakar Rally sooner or later, saying he has “by no means been actually attracted” by the prospect of competing within the cross-country occasion.
Ogier stepped down from WRC as a full-timer on the finish of the 2021 season however continues to compete in various rallies yearly, driving the extra third/fourth automotive entered by Toyota.
The Frenchman has been capable of present spectacular pace even on the age of 40, and has completed both first or second within the 4 rallies he has competed up to now in 2024.
Ogier’s future is a topic that has cropped up various occasions prior to now, however he has at all times maintained that he’s not inquisitive about returning for a full season.
One risk that has been recommended is an entry into Dakar, which has turn into a typical vacation spot for former WRC drivers after they retire from the sequence. Toyota additionally has a manufacturing unit presence within the Saudi Arabia-based rally raid, making it a logical selection for Ogier.
Nonetheless, the eight-time WRC champion has made it clear that he has no plans to enter Dakar within the coming years, saying he would favor to change to circuit racing as a substitute.
“It hasn’t been on my checklist but,” he mentioned. “I believe testing the automotive, I’ll at all times be for it. It is at all times a enjoyable expertise.
Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool
“However in the mean time, I do not know, I’ve by no means been actually attracted that a lot by this race.
“It ought to have been really the conventional transition for rally drivers. Fairly often prior to now, they went to cross nation rally as a result of it was simpler to adapt and I’d have extra likelihood to carry out there than I’d be right here in Le Mans.
“However I appreciated extra the problem of happening monitor and pushing myself, studying one thing new. So I believe sooner or later if it isn’t rallying, I’ll focus once more extra on monitor racing and endurance than Dakar.”
Since decreasing his commitments within the WRC greater than three years in the past, Ogier has dabbled in sportscar racing, collaborating in three rounds of the World Endurance Championship – together with the Le Mans 24 Hours – in 2022 on the wheel of a Richard Mille-run ORECA 07 LMP2 automotive.
Ogier even examined the Toyota GR010 HYBRID on two events and was being thought-about for a possible Hypercar debut at Le Mans in a 3rd automotive, however an extra entry from the Japanese producer by no means materialised.
Ogier made it clear {that a} return to sportscar racing just isn’t on the playing cards in the mean time as he continues to concentrate on a part-time rally programme but in addition admitted {that a} journey to Le Mans final weekend for the 24-hour enduro “gave me the want to come again” sooner or later.
“I imply, by no means say by no means. There may be not such a plan which is mentioned in the mean time,” he mentioned.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photograph by: McKlein / Motorsport Pictures
“However yeah, it is true that I believe rally drivers additionally like monitor racing and I believe it is at all times attention-grabbing to be taught one thing new and to have some expertise on monitor.
“Even when it is like actually, you’ll be able to discuss completely different disciplines. There may be at all times some little factor you’ll be able to be taught on monitor that may enable you to to be an excellent higher rally driver.
“Kalle [Rovanpera] has additionally proved that he’s a particularly quick rally driver. It is going to be attention-grabbing to observe now what he discovered on monitor.
“On the similar time, I believe it will likely be a bit tough and difficult to place rally drivers collectively in a automotive throughout 24h of Le Mans. Possibly it will likely be higher to combine us with some skilled monitor drivers personally the expertise of three years in the past.
“I made a decision to focus once more a bit bit extra on rally as my partial programme in rally fits me very nicely in the mean time. I favor to remain there. However being there at present, clearly watching that gave me the want much more to return again in some unspecified time in the future.”
Two-time and defending WRC champion Rovanpera, who has successfully succeeded Ogier in Toyota’s line-up, has additionally proven an inclination in the direction of circuit racing after scaling again from his rallying commitments this yr forward of a full comeback in 2025.
The Finnish driver said a need to race at Le Mans 24 Hours after a powerful run in a pair of Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux races at Zandvoort earlier this month.