10 years ago… Ogier’s thunderous arrival in the WRC with Citroën

This is undoubtedly the major transfer ahead of the 2019 World Rally Championship season (WRC). Sébastien Ogier will return to Citroën training, more than seven years after the end of their first association with loss and uproar. However, from 2008, the Chevron brand seemed to make it the successor to Sébastien Loeb...

A new adventure and a new exciting challenge await us in 2019 with @CitroenRacing. Until then, count on us to give everything in the last three rounds of 2018 in order to end our story in the most beautiful way with @MSportLtd ! https://t.co/44iwpPmAwk

— Sébastien Ogier (@SebOgier) September 28, 2018

The relationship between Citroën and Sébastien Ogier began in the winter of 2008. The winner of the operation Rally Young people set up by the French Motor Sport Federation (FFSA) in 2005 access their first international competition through the FFSA and Citroën, who together finance a Junior WRC campaign (JWRC). His weapon: a C2 S1600 (like its displacement), with a power of 225 horsepower. His goal: to win the championship.

Things ideally start in Mexico, where the 24-year-old driver dominates the category and even collects his first point in the general classification, just behind the powerful WRCs. This is the first time that a driver has scored a point (8th) in his first participation at world level.

In Jordan, new class success despite a mechanical problem. After being four minutes behind leader Patrick Sandell (Renault), the Gapençais takes three minutes and pushes the Swede to make a mistake on Sunday morningnot. Two victories! Sardinia hardly smiled on him, in particular because of a broken steering link after a puncture. Setting off again the next day, Sébastien Ogier finished fifth and scored valuable points.

The Citroën C2 S1600 of Ogier-Ingrassia in Jordan in 2008. © WRI2

Also comfortable on asphalt as is the tradition of French drivers, he won the German rally after a duel with Martin Prokop. “It’s a good experience because I realized that it wasn’t easy. You have to stay very focused and therefore ride at a good pace », he explained in CARhebdo n ° 1662.

While the title is reaching out to him in Catalonia (Spain), Sébastien Ogier gives up after going off the road. His words then show a very mature state of mind. « Looking back, I realize that I didn't choose the best option.

While trying to continue, even at idle, the engine started to overheat. It would have been better to stay there and leave the next day in the Super Rally with a ten-minute penalty and the hope of picking up one or two points., he analyzed in n°1669 ofCARweekly.

It’s the job that comes in. Sébastien Ogier resumes his march forward at the Tour de Course. Of a foresighted character (it has an additional spare wheel and a large toolbox, which is 50 kg more!), the Frenchman remains on his guard throughout the winding special stages. “We can’t say we’re having a blast! Sure we could have had a more fun end to the season, but I only have myself to blame. » (Ah n°1670)

Titled with intelligence, Sébastien Ogier is rewarded with a full-scale apprenticeship in the C4 WRC in Wales. Still wearing the FFSA suit, the JWRC champion got off to a flying start, winning the very first special! François Duval (Ford) is rejected by more than five seconds; Sébastien Loeb at 10.

“I was favored by my position on the road, he noted, modestly (Ah n°1678). The grip was good. I followed in the footsteps of the cars that had passed before me. » Nevertheless, the performance catches the eye of the followers. His adventure ended abruptly with an accident in the ninth special, two miles from the finish.

Ten years later, the two parties announced their reunion in anticipation of the 2019 season. Exit the C2 and the C4, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will take their place in the C3 WRC of the official team, with the aim of winning the world crown for a third different manufacturer, after Volkswagen and M-Sport.