Julien Ingrassia retires, Sébastien Ogier pays tribute to him

It's a duo that we could already send to the Pantheon of the greatest sportsmen that France has known! Already world rally champion seven times, soon perhaps for an eighth time, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia have decided to retire from the world of motorsport at the end of the season. While the French driver will take part in a few rounds next year, his historic co-driver has decided to hang up his gloves for good, after almost sixteen years of good, great and loyal service.

  “What a journey it’s been since then”

“In January 2006, I met Seb and we decided to combine our skills and our will to accomplish our mission in the best possible way, explains Julien Ingrassia in a post relayed on his Facebook account. What a journey it’s been since then…! Hard work every second, indescribable joys and emotions, so many people met all over the world…”

“I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together with Seb, of all this energy and this determination spent in all these teams we have been part of, of all these challenges we have had to overcome! After these thousands of pages of pacenotes, it is now time for me to write other lines of my life, and that is why I decided to end my career after the last rally of this season. »

Associated since 2006, Ogier (37 years old) and Ingrassia (41 years old) began their careers together during the Rallye Terre de l'Auxerrois, one of the rounds of the Volant Peugeot . It was only in 2008 that the two French people joined the ranks of Citroën Racing in WRC, before taking part in nearly 166 rallies, for 53 victories and 90 podiums, to date.

« I respect his decision 100%, at a time when I too am going to reduce the pace, wrote Sébastien Ogier on Twitter. We often highlight the qualities of WRC drivers, but the co-driver is essential and Julien has been a key part of our success. »

“Julien, in my eyes it is unequivocal, you are the best co-pilot. Who knows what my career would have been like without you? A very big thank you for everything because I know what I owe you and you will be impossible to replace. I wish you the best. »

They now only have two rounds left to add a new line to their already well-stocked list of achievements: these are the Rally of Spain (from October 14 to 17) and the Monza Rally, the last round of the year. (November 19 to 21). As a reminder, Ogier and Ingrassia have a comfortable lead in the championship, with nearly 24 points ahead of Elfyn Evans and her co-driver.