Lhe eternal rivals are not done fighting. Like Sébastien Loeb, the other multiple world champion and now semi-retired Sébastien Ogier will be back for Rally Portugal from 19-22 May. “Welcome back to the world champion in the Toyota Yaris for the Rally of Portugal”, announced on Monday the team of the title holder in the world championship (WRC).
Eight-time versus nine-time world champion
winner of his 8and world title last year, Ogier has decided to do only a few rallies this season, concentrating on his retraining as an endurance driver and his participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 11 and 12. A few weeks before tackling this mythical race for the first time, Ogier will therefore return to his first love of Rally Portugal, the land of his very first victory in the world elite in 2010 and an event he has won five times.
The elders are resisting
Last week, it was Loeb, the most successful rally driver with nine titles, who confirmed his presence in Portugal with M-Sport Ford. In January, the two Frenchmen had fought a spectacular battle in the French South-East for the Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the season. Victim of a puncture on the last day, Ogier finally lost to Loeb, for the 80and victory for the 48-year-old veteran, the oldest winner of a world rally. Portugal will be the 4and round of a season dominated by the young (21) Finnish Kalle Rovanperä, winner in Sweden and Croatia. With his victory for his only disputed rally, Loeb is currently 4and in the general classification, 49 points behind the leader. Ogier is 8and.
