Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier has confirmed his intent to fight for a ninth title this season after finishing third at Rally Finland.
The Frenchman, competing in a partial 2025 WRC campaign, delivered another strong performance to secure his sixth podium from as many starts, including three victories.
Ogier’s third place in Finland came behind rally winner Kalle Rovanperä and Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta.
The young Gor Mahia star has reflected on his costly decision in the Angola clash, emphasising a desire to improve in Harambee Stars clash against Morocco.
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Despite missing three rounds — Sweden, Kenya, and Estonia — he now sits just 13 points behind championship leader and team-mate Elfyn Evans, setting up a tantalising four-way fight for the title.
“It [the points gap] is definitely not much regarding the fact we have missed three rallies,” said Ogier told WRC Portal.
“Six podiums out of six rallies. This is our worst result, but we can’t complain about it, and we must be very happy with the outcome. This fight was worth it, collecting 22 points.”
Ogier confirmed he will contest Rally del Paraguay next, an event that was already on his original schedule.
Discover how ten-man Harambee Stars battled Angola to a 1-1 draw, with Odhiambo starring and Nabwire seeing red.
However, his recent form and the narrow points gap have sparked speculation that he may add more rounds to his calendar. Toyota has yet to confirm exactly how many of the remaining four events Ogier will contest beyond Paraguay.
The statistics behind Ogier’s season underline his title credentials. He has won more rallies than any of his rivals and boasts a 65% Super Sunday points conversion rate. On average, he has scored an impressive 27.2 points per round — a figure unmatched by full-season contenders.
Sebastien Ogier: Numbers that Tell the Story
Interestingly, Hyundai’s Ott Tänak has been the outright fastest driver this year, collecting 44 stage wins — eight more than nearest challenger Rovanperä. However, the 2019 champion has underperformed on Super Sunday, losing valuable points to his main rivals.
“People asked me already this week and I was not hiding anything on the fact I will be starting the next rally in Paraguay, it was planned already before this week. Now it is exciting to be part of this four-way fight for the title. The plan is to go for it now,” Ogier stated.
Benni McCarthy is urging Harambee Stars to overcome their early-match nerves and live up to their potential ahead of the crucial CHAN 2024 clash against Morocco.
Sebastien Ogier: Consistency vs. Speed in the Title Race
While Rovanperä has faced challenges adapting to the new Hankook tyres, he remains the “King of Super Sunday,” amassing 59 of a possible 90 points for a 66% conversion rate.
Championship leader Evans, meanwhile, has built his campaign on consistency, finishing every round inside the top six — the best average points-per-round tally among drivers who have contested all nine events.
Reigning champion Thierry Neuville, however, conceded in Finland that his hopes of defending the title are slim. The Hyundai driver remains mathematically in contention, but a series of setbacks have left him on the back foot in the points race.
With just four rounds remaining — Paraguay, Greece, Chile, and Japan — the 2025 WRC title fight is finely balanced. Ogier’s partial schedule has not stopped him from emerging as a genuine threat, and with his focus now shifting toward a championship push, the final stretch of the season promises high drama.
Picking a favourite at this stage is nearly impossible, but if Ogier can maintain his podium streak and keep pressure on Evans, Rovanperä, and Tänak, the Frenchman could yet turn his “partial” campaign into a record-extending ninth world title.