Sebastien Ogier has never been one to hold back criticism. Sixty-nine wins and nine world titles give him the right to speak his mind, and midway through his 212th WRC start, the defending champion is not pulling any punches. Friday morning at Rally Paraguay was supposed to be the perfect start to his title defense, but it turned into a nightmare.
A left-rear puncture and a time 1.7 seconds per mile slower than his teammate Oliver Solberg was not what he wanted. Add an electrical issue, and Ogier was already fuming by the time he reached service. But then things got worse. Too fast over a crest, he ran wide and hit a bank, fatally wounding the front-left suspension of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. A makeshift repair with a spanner failed seven miles into SS3, ending his day.
Ogier's Sharp Criticism for Hankook
Ogier's frustration did not end there. In an exclusive interview with DirtFish, he launched a scathing attack on Hankook, the WRC's sole tire supplier. "When you're the only supplier in a championship, you need to focus on reliability, not performance," he said. "The performance is nowhere anyway, but I don't care about that. We all have the same. The first step is simple: these new tires we've had since Portugal are a clear step backwards. So, put the old ones back and immediately start working on a better product. That's it. It's pretty simple."
Ogier also highlighted the numerous tire issues on Friday, calling the situation "far from acceptable." He recalled that problems have been ongoing since Portugal, where he lost a hard-fought win. "Maybe I was one of the first to be vocal, as always, but now everyone shares the same opinion. Something needs to happen soon because it's unacceptable," he added.
This isn't the first time Ogier has complained about WRC tires. He was equally critical of Pirelli during their tenure. Now, with other drivers chiming in, pressure on Hankook is mounting. Hankook's Steven Cho responded by saying that balancing reliability and performance is a complex challenge. "Threading that needle is where all the experience and technology goes," he said, defending the product.
For Ogier, this is not just a technical issue; it's about the credibility of the championship. With so many drivers suffering tire problems, he believes the WRC has failed to provide fair and safe conditions. "It's a pure joke," he said of Friday's incidents. That might sound harsh, but for a champion used to winning, seeing races ruined by avoidable issues is hard to accept. Fans will surely hope Hankook acts quickly, before talents like Ogier grow even more frustrated.
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