The World Rally Championship (WRC) season has concluded, but the future of one of the sport's greatest drivers, Sebastien Ogier, hangs in the balance. The French driver finished outside the championship top three this year in fourth place after contesting only a partial campaign in what proved to be a physically and mentally demanding calendar.
Despite being almost flawless in nearly every rally he entered, the season also brought uncharacteristic retirements for the multiple-time world champion. In Finland, he crashed heavily out of the lead, while in Paraguay, his rally came to a premature end on the second special stage when his suspension failed.
Reflecting on the turbulent campaign, the experienced Frenchman admitted that luck was simply not on his side this time around, contrasting this year's setbacks with the numerous golden seasons he has enjoyed throughout his illustrious career in international motorsport.
"This was not the best year. But I cannot complain. I have had an incredible career and many extremely good seasons, during which I have often had the champion’s luck and things have gone my way. This year, we can clearly say that was not the case," Sebastien Ogier said in an interview with Autohebdo.
Amidst the competitive drama throughout the year, the veteran driver's pace remained evident, yet his primary grievances were directed squarely at the technical supplier side of the championship. As reported by RallyJournal, he did not hold back in expressing his ongoing discontent with tyre manufacturer Hankook, whose products he believes have had an excessively disruptive influence on rally outcomes.
"The only thing we can regret from this season is, of course, the tyres, which played far too big a part in many rallies. I think this has to be said once again: it is not acceptable. Far too much has been left to chance in too many rallies," he stated.
This mounting frustration inevitably raises serious questions regarding Sebastien Ogier's continuation in the sport. Having spent more than a decade at the absolute pinnacle of rallying, the constant unpredictability caused by external technical factors appears to have taken a heavy toll on his drive to compete at the highest level.
Confirming the uncertainty surrounding his immediate schedule, the Toyota star revealed that he will skip the iconic season opener and admitted that his long-term future in the World Rally Championship remains entirely blank as things currently stand.
"Let’s just hope that things are a little more predictable with the tyres in the future. As for whether I will be involved or not, as you know, I will not be competing in Monte Carlo. At the moment, I do not even know whether I will contest a single rally in 2027. Nothing has been planned yet. We will see," he explained.
"But these are exactly the things that are currently taking away my desire to return. That is certain as long as nothing changes," he concluded emphatically.
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