Ogier Tests in Czech Republic Ahead of Central European Rally: "We Want to Win"

October 6, 2024 – French rally driver Sébastien Ogier has been testing in the Czech Republic ahead of the Central European Rally (October 17-20, 2023), aiming to close the gap in the championship standings.

Ogier has already secured three victories this season in the World Rally Championship but currently sits third in the driver standings, with his Toyota team second in the manufacturers' championship. He hopes to make significant strides toward both titles at the upcoming Central European Rally. To prepare, Ogier conducted thorough testing in the Czech Republic near Čečelovice from Friday to Sunday.

"It is, of course, very difficult to prepare when you are driving in three different countries on completely different asphalt and roads. But it was a very good test. And when I add last year's experience, I am optimistic," said the eight-time world champion, reflecting on the test in the Horažďovice region.

Ogier trails championship leader Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) by 41 points. In the manufacturers' standings, Toyota is second, 17 points behind Hyundai. "Our goal is definitely to try to win the Central European Rally, to gain points so that we can celebrate the title in the Constructors standing at the end of the season. Our strategy will therefore be maximally aggressive," said Ogier, who was clearly focused on finding the optimal setup for an attack in the penultimate round of the WRC.

Ogier finished fourth in last year's inaugural Central European Rally. "The conditions were very difficult then," recalled the French driver, referring to the rain that made the roads extremely slippery and brought a lot of dirt onto the course. "We'll see what it's like this year. But the probability of changeable weather in this period is high. So we have to be prepared again for the situation when the roads will be slippery. But that's the same for everyone. It's just about the right setup," said Ogier during the test.

This year, Ogier has won in Croatia, Portugal, and Finland, and finished second in Italy and Latvia. However, the last two rallies in Greece and Chile did not go well for the French legend, who finished far down the field. Ogier hopes to bounce back at the Central European Rally on the roads of the Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria, ideally securing his 62nd WRC career victory.

"We are returning to asphalt after a very long time, which is very exciting," said Ogier, noting that the previous seven rallies were held on gravel. The last asphalt rally in the WRC was in Croatia in April. "The Central European Rally had a great atmosphere and exciting battles during its premiere last year. And each country really offers a different characteristic of roads, a different surface. It's three different rallies in one weekend," Ogier reflected, adding that in case of victory, he would treat himself to a Czech beer instead of his beloved wine.