In Portugal, will we witness the remake of Monte-Carlo between Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier?

Facts : Four months after their encounter in Monte-Carlo, Sébastien Loeb et Sébastien Ogier arranged to meet at Rally from Portugal. Back in WRC for their second round of the season, the two world champions remain in a memorable battle in the Monegasque classic. Will they be able to reproduce such a spectacle on Portuguese gravel this weekend?

YES, by Gonzalo Forbes

Last January, I was one of the first to say that Sébastien Loeb would not be able to fight for victory in Monte-Carlo. In the space of the Turini night on Thursday evening, the nine-time world champion proved me wrong before he went looking for the 80^e success of his career at the end of a magnificent battle with his old rival Sébastien Ogier.

This weekend, the two Sébastiens meet in Portugal for their second rally of the season. The fans are already salivating at the idea of ​​seeing them again, and so are we. Their participation in the Portuguese round is anything but a coincidence. Both were waiting for a round where their position in the running order would not be too unfavorable to be able to hope to join the fight. This will be the case on site.

Since Monte Carlo, no driver apart from Kalle Rovanperä has been able to establish himself as the new WRC benchmark. Leader of the championship, the Finn will open the road all day Friday which should cost him a little time overall. A small detail which should, however, have big consequences but above all allow Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier to have their chance. Taking advantage of the unfavorable position of the Nordic and the irregularity of the other drivers, the two world champions find themselves in a good position to envisage a fight at the front throughout the weekend like in the good old days.

Craig Breen, Adrien fourmaux, Elfyn Evans too cautious with hybrid cars and not yet able to be really competitive, Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier have a new opportunity to show that they still have something under the pedal. The first, who has a fairly busy sporting program, is not expected to return to the WRC for a good while. It would therefore not be surprising to see him give everything on gravel to continue writing his legend. The second is looking for a 6^e success in Lusitanian lands which could allow him to be the record holder ahead of Markku Alén. There is no doubt that the Sébastiens will offer us a large-scale show in Portugal, unless I am wrong like four months ago….

NO, by Loïc Rocci

Even if all WRC fans, with the doubtless exception of the other Ford crews, dream of a new duel, it has little chance of happening. In Portugal, Sébastien Ogier will have several arguments in his favor which should allow him to gain the upper hand over his elder brother. His 8th place on the road will be better than the 4th place occupied by Seb Loeb. The latter will probably still have a punishing sweep to complete.

One of the handicaps of the nine-time world champion will also be not having faced this meeting since 2019. The Alsatian will find many special stages that he has already covered, but his compatriot passed there barely 12 years ago. months and he masters all the times. The parameter that could prevent this duel will also come from Loeb’s “diesel” side. Today, the top crews know the events by heart. These are now real sprints during which you have to be at full throttle from the first kilometers, which is not always the strong point of the 48-year-old champion.

Among the many unknowns, hardware will play an important role. Based on what the Yaris demonstrated in Sweden with Rovanperä, but also Evans, it currently seems superior to the Puma and Seb Ogier who will be able to drive completely free should know how to exploit it. The French would like to find themselves isolated together at the top of the ranking, but both have ruled out this scenario. This happened in Monte Carlo because they had the special approach and experience needed to avoid the traps there. Portugal offers a more basic configuration and appears much more indecisive. Ott Tänak should have won last year and he will be revengeful. Elfyn Evans absolutely must win or her season is over. Although 2nd on the road, Thierry Neuville can always surprise and what feat will Kalle Rovanperä still achieve who won in Sweden and opened the road? The two Sébastiens are among the contenders for victory, but they are not the only ones.

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