Sébastien Ogier

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Ogier started his rally career in France in 2005, winning the Peugeot 206 Cup in 2006. He won the Junior World Rally Championship in his first season in 2008 driving a Citroën C2. He debuted in the WRC at the 2008 Rally Mexico, scoring a point with an eighth-place finish. His first World Rally Car drive came in a Citroën C4 at the 2008 Rally GB, and he was promoted to a full-time drive with the Citroën Junior Team for 2009. He earned his first podium at the 2009 Acropolis Rally with a second-place finish. His maiden WRC win came at the 2010 Rally de Portugal. Ogier secured a full-time factory drive with Citroën for 2011, then joined Volkswagen for 2012, driving a Škoda Fabia S2000 before piloting the Volkswagen Polo R WRC in 2013, winning his first drivers' title with nine victories from 13 events. He won three more consecutive titles in 2014, 2015, and 2016, then two more driving the Ford Fiesta WRC before finishing third in his lone season back with Citroën. He moved to Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT before 2020 and won titles in 2020 and 2021 driving a Toyota Yaris WRC. Since 2022, he has competed in select rallies with Toyota.

In Their Own Story

Ogier's early career saw him win the French Federation's Rallye Jeunes in 2005, earning a spot in the Peugeot 206 Cup. Teamed with co-driver Julien Ingrassia, he claimed a podium at Terre des Cardabelles and sixth in the championship, along with the Best Rookie award. In 2007, he won the Peugeot 206 Cup with four victories (Diois, Langres, Causses, Touquet) and two second places (Alsace-Vosges, Limousin), plus the Rallye Hivernal des Hautes-Alpes. He received the Espoir Echappement de l’année award. In 2008, he won the JWRC title driving a Citroën C2, debuting at Rally Mexico with a JWRC win and an eighth-place overall. He won again in Jordan after a four-minute loss due to mechanical failure, then took further junior victories in Germany. At Rally GB, his first World Rally Car drive, he won the first stage on ice and held the lead until stage five before mechanical trouble and a crash. In 2009, he won the Monte Carlo Rally in the IRC with a Kronos Peugeot 207 S2000. At the Acropolis Rally, he drove to his first WRC podium, finishing second. In 2010, he took his debut WRC victory at Rally de Portugal, beating Sébastien Loeb by eight seconds. He also won Rally della Lanterna in Italy. Promoted to the Citroën factory team for the remaining gravel rounds, he took second in Finland and his second WRC win in Japan. In 2011, as a Citroën factory driver, he won in Portugal and Jordan (beating the record for smallest winning gap), and claimed victory at the Acropolis Rally.

Reader's Guide

Sébastien Ogier's career is defined by his record of 9 World Rally Drivers' Championships, including 6 consecutive titles from 2013 to 2018, plus 2020, 2021 and 2025. He has 69 rally victories and is one of only two drivers to win the World Championship with 3 different manufacturers. His WRC records include the most drivers' championship points overall, biggest points gap with the championship runner-up, and most stage victories and points in a single season. He debuted in the WRC at the 2008 Rally Mexico, scoring a point with an eighth-place finish. His first podium came at the 2009 Acropolis Rally (second place), and his maiden win at the 2010 Rally de Portugal. He won his first title in 2013 with the Volkswagen Polo R WRC, taking nine victories from 13 events. He won consecutive titles in 2014, 2015, and 2016, then two more with the Ford Fiesta WRC before a third-place finish back with Citroën. Moving to Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT before 2020, he won titles in 2020 and 2021 driving a Toyota Yaris WRC. Since 2022, he has competed in select rallies with Toyota. Beyond the WRC, Ogier has competed in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and Porsche Supercup, tested a Red Bull Racing RB7 Formula One car in 2017, took part in the Race of Champions in 2011, drove a Ferrari F430 Scuderia in the 2011 French GT Championship, and participated in three races in the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship including the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Richard Mille Racing Team.

Did You Know?

• Sébastien Ogier is the joint most successful WRC driver together with Sébastien Loeb, each with 9 titles.
• He is one of only two drivers (with Juha Kankkunen) to have won the World Championship with 3 different manufacturers.
• Ogier won his first WRC rally, the 2010 Rally de Portugal, by beating Sébastien Loeb by eight seconds.
• He holds the record for the smallest winning margin in WRC history, beating Jari-Matti Latvala by two-tenths of a second in the 2011 Rally Jordan.
• Ogier tested a Red Bull Racing RB7 Formula One car in 2017 and participated in the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Richard Mille Racing Team.