Ogier claims 2020 WRC title

Yes, Ogier now adds a win with Toyota to past wins with Volkswagen and Ford. For the 2020 win, it was down to the wire alongside team-mate Elfyn Evans, who prior to Monza was leading the championship standings with eyes on his first overall victory, to become only the third Brit in history to clinch the crown. It wasn’t to be, however, following a crash on stage 11 on Saturday, allowing Ogier to close his 14-point deficit to secure an eight-point lead and 13.9-second advantage. By Sunday’s end, Evans restarted to finish 26^th.

“It’s been a difficult weekend,” Ogier said. “We feel for Elfyn also today. He made a very strong season, very consistent, and we had really good fun to fight each other. I’m very happy and I feel very privileged.”

Ogier fought his own dose of turmoil in the closing miles of the rally when his wipers temporarily gave up the ghost. It left him temporarily blind on the Wolf Power stage on the Monza circuit, just minutes away from a potential championship victory.

“Oh, that was scary!” Ogier said. “I knew there were still a couple of narrow gates to pass and it would have been challenging without seeing anything.”

While Ogier can celebrate his seventh title with a third manufacturer, the champagne stays corked for Toyota. With Evans way back, even Ogier’s win wasn’t enough to keep Tanak and Sordo from locking out the podium for Hyundai, to secure the manufacturers’ title. It leads the standings with 241 points, just five ahead of Toyota with 236.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.