Sébastien Ogier, nine-time World Rally Champion: "It's great to join Daniel and Seb" 

Your goal was to win a 9th title. You've achieved it! How does it feel? 

I'm obviously super happy, but this 9e The championship has never been an obsession for me. Winning it again… I can't quite put it into words yet. I need some time. I often feel empty after such a demanding race. 

This is certainly another important moment in your history with the WRC... 

It's incredible. I'm obviously happy to be here, and even if that wasn't the real goal, it's great to join Daniel and Seb at the top of the WRC statistics. 

What a journey it's been since your beginnings in 2008! 

When I started, Loeb Elena and Elena hadn't yet achieved their nine titles, but they dominated the sport. They reached numbers that many, myself included, thought impossible to surpass. Records, however, are there to be broken. This one (the number of world titles(Editor's note) is not yet outdated… for the moment!LaughsThat's how it is in many sports. Someone else comes along and destroys what you've achieved. That's why I never focus on it too much. See you soon, 42 years old (the 17 next December(Editor's note), I always enjoy what I do. I always perform well and I was probably close to my best level this year. 

It's clear that this has been a fantastic performance with 6 wins, 9 podiums in 11 races… 

It's been an incredible season. It truly unfolded like a dream with only one small hitch. rally of Central Europe (puncture followed by a high-speed crash while he was leading the race(Editor's note). Apart from that, we couldn't have done much better. Winning this additional title certainly puts a smile on my face, but what I'll remember most is the enjoyment I felt throughout the year at every event we participated in. 

Even in Saudi Arabia? 

The conclusion this weekend wasn't the easiest. Frankly, it was a tough rally and very difficult to master, but that won't stop us from celebrating. 

What was surprising was not seeing you explode with joy on the final podium, as has sometimes been the case in other events? 

I don't know… Sometimes it takes a little time for emotions to surface. Again, I've never been fixated on that 9.e Title. Of course I'm happy and it's fantastic, but crossing the finish line, I was so drained, so exhausted, that I had trouble processing everything that was happening. It's going to take me a little while, but of course I'll be smiling with this new achievement added to my list of accomplishments. 

You were "difficult" to be around all weekend, but isn't this ability to put pressure on others also one of your strengths? 

Difficult in what sense? 

You were tense, less talkative than usual! 

I believe it's my role to do this too. I've always been straightforward. I'm convinced that these messages needed to be conveyed—messages that everyone was thinking very loudly, but that no one dared to say. It was far from ideal to be competing for a title with the best teams in the league relegated to the background. Of course, the fans who follow it closely understand why, but the general public doesn't. If you want to try to reach a wider audience, is this the right approach? It can't help our sport grow. So yes, there were some slightly heated moments this weekend, but we're going home with what we came for. 

It's surprising to remember your penultimate coronation, at Monza in 2021, where you announced that you would now race intermittently? 

At the end of that round in Italy, I was truly convinced that my story with titles was over. I was done with that and I was going to stay at eight. I didn't know what was going to happen. I wanted to do some circuit racing, a few rallies… and here we are with another title.Laughter) I can be proud of this year. It's a truly special achievement. 

What inspired you about Elfyn Evans' performance? 

It's very important to note that this 2025 championship was exciting to experience because of the fight between us. It takes two to tango for the competition to be interesting. Elfyn and Scott (Martin, his co-pilot(Editor's note) were very solid and extremely consistent throughout the year. The battle lasted until the very last stage of the season, which shows its intensity. As I told Elfyn after the podium, it's always a moment when I'm very happy and I can't tell him I'm sorry, because that's how our sport works. There can only be one winner, but they also deserved to win this year. 

This title must also be important, because you won it with Vincent Landais… 

Absolutely. I'm thrilled to welcome him to the world champions' club. He's done an incredible job alongside me and played a major role in this achievement. He's brought fresh energy, motivation, and that smile every time I tell him we're going to do a particular rally. He's living his dream of being at this level, and winning a title is the culmination of his efforts. He's worked so hard for this for so many years that now he can truly savor it. 

Vincent must have been smiling when he learned about his rally program for 2026? 

I wanted to put an end to the speculation and questions that are exhausting me about whether or not I'm coming to an event. I also wanted to silence those who say: He's only there when he thinks it's easy."So it will be simple. You will look at the German school holiday calendar (Sébastien Ogier resides in Germany. (Editor's note) to find out if I will be there or not. We're going to do 10 races and that's all. 

With four fewer rallies than your rivals, will the World Rally Championship title still be possible? 

This year has probably been one of my best seasons ever in terms of performance and consistency. I don't know the average points total for 2025 (26,6 points per race), but it's incredible. Everything came together; the stars aligned to secure this ninth title. Trying to replicate this performance won't be easy. In motorsport, there are so many variables you can't control. I'm trying; I have a lot of things under my control, but so many things can happen. I'm human too, and everyone makes mistakes. 

Finally, your son Tim, who accompanied you on the final podium of the Rally, must be very proud of his dad! 

Yes, he is. He told me: Dad, you won, that's great! "I told him that my greatest victory was him! And that's undeniable. It's certain that my second greatest victory after him is this new WRC title." 

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