Latest news with #SébastienOgier
Al Bawaba
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Secures Podium Finish at Acropolis Rally Greece
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) has braved turbulent roads, twisting mountain trails, and searing ambient temperatures to claim a hard-fought podium finish at Acropolis Rally Greece. Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais secured second place in their No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1, their performance helping the team maintain its drivers' championship lead and Toyota its 65-point manufacturers' championship rough, rocky terrain and temperatures exceeding 40°C posed a significant challenge for TGR-WRT and the GR YARIS Rally1. The early stages west of Athens were especially demanding, with loose stones and step-like bedrock testing the car's durability, while the narrow, twisting mountain roads in the final legs left no room for error. Ogier maintained a leading pace despite running second on the road during the first day, helping clear a racing line while still delivering competitive on that performance, he and co-driver Landais began the final leg 43.6 seconds behind the leader and mounted a determined push, clocking the fastest times in both the penultimate test and the rally-ending Power Stage. The result saw them top the final-day classification and earn 10 bonus points, in addition to 17 for securing second place the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyota's participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing Toyota's belief that 'the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,' TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota's commitment to making 'ever-better' cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to 8 of the 2025 FIA WRC is Rally Estonia (July 17–20), which returns to the calendar after a one-year absence. The event features high-speed gravel stages around Tartu, Estonia's second-largest city and the rally's central hub, combining wide and narrow sections with a predominantly soft, sandy Notes:• No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais)• Position: 2nd • Time: 4 hours, 12 minutes, and 52.9 seconds
Al Bawaba
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Clinches Double-Podium Win at Rally Italia Sardegna
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) has maintained its 100 percent winning record in the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season with a first- and third-place finish at Rally Italia Sardegna. Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais battled through to the final stage to claim victory in the No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. With his fifth victory at the event, Sébastien Ogier becomes its most successful driver since the FIA World Rally Championship began visiting Sardinia in 2004. This also marks his third win from four starts this Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen once again secured a double podium finish by placing third in the No. 69 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. TGR-WRT continues to dominate the top three positions in the drivers' championship, while Toyota has extended its lead in the manufacturers' standings to 69 Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: 'For us, TGR-WRT, Sardinia is truly a tough event. This year, we had a close call in the Power Stage, and Seb redeemed himself! It's a wonderful fifth victory for him in Sardinia. I am very thankful to Seb and Vincent. The team experienced several issues, but I'm also happy that all five cars completed the rally without any retirements and made it back to the finish. Being challenged on such a tough road helps us become stronger. And TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will continue to make ever-better cars as we overcome obstacles one by one through rally stages.'This year's edition of the Italian island event lived up to its reputation, with ambient temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and rough, rocky roads pushing drivers, vehicles, and tires to their limits. Despite this, Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais delivered a strong performance to seize a narrow lead in the final stage of the opening battle for victory intensified during the penultimate day, with Ogier engaging in a close contest. He carried an 11.1-second lead into the final day, which featured a pair of new stages run twice. Ogier extended his advantage in the morning after setting the fastest time in the opening stage. A brief scare came in the Power Stage when a half-spin towards a tree forced him to reverse in deep ruts, but he recovered to seal victory by 7.9 Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen completed a double podium for the team with a third-place finish. After running second on the road during the opening day, they maintained consistent pace and avoided issues, saving their best for the rally-ending Power Stage, which they won by 8.1 seconds to also top the Super Sunday the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyota's participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing Toyota's belief that 'the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,' TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota's commitment to making 'ever-better' cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to 7 of the 2025 FIA WRC is the Acropolis Rally in Greece (June 26–29), which completes a trio of demanding gravel events in southern Europe. This legendary event has a reputation for its rocky mountain roads and high Notes:• No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais)• Position: 1st• Time: 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 24.5 seconds● No. 69 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen)• Position: 3rd • Time: 3 hours, 35 minutes, and 15 seconds
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Sebastien Ogier leads WRC Rally Sardinia after Thierry Neuville crashes out
Sébastien Ogier admits he is surprised to be leading Rally Italia Sardinia after an eventful Friday that caught out several of his World Rally Championship rivals. The eight-time world champion faced the effects of road cleaning in the morning, starting third, but completed Friday's six gravel stages with a 2.1s lead over Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux. Advertisement Ogier defied his road position to grab the lead after the opening stage but dropped to third behind Hyundai duo Fourmaux, who took a 2.9s lead over Thierry Neuville into the midday service. However, the ultra fast and narrow Telti - Calangianus - Berchidda stage, that ruined M-Sport-Ford trio Josh McErelean, Gregoire Munster and Mārtiņš Sesks' days, once again wreaked havoc in the afternoon. Neuville clipped the left rear of his i20 N on a rock that forced the world champion to retire from the lead, having snatched the advantage away from Fourmaux by 0.2s. Fourmaux was unable to hang on to the lead he regained as a set up tweak made to his Hyundai i20 N in between stages didn't pay off for the Frenchman. Ogier pounced on the moment, winning the stage while taking 6.7s from Fourmaux to end the day in a surprise lead - a feat made even more impressive by his Toyota team opting not to test before the rally, unlike their rivals. Advertisement 'I'm very happy for sure. I would have definitely signed and not really bet on that especially considering the competition we are facing at the moment,' said Ogier. 'I have to be satisfied with what we did today and to pick up the best starting position for the rest of the weekend is ideal, but the gaps are still super small. One part of the job is done but a big part of the job remains.' Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Fourmaux was left to rue his set up tweak before the day's final stage but was buoyed to be in the fight for what could be a maiden WRC victory. Advertisement 'It is really close which is a positive point, and be two seconds behind Seb, but to be fair it has been a great day. I wish I could be leading and I should have been better on the last stage and unfortunately I made a mistake with set up and I lost time,' said Fourmaux. 'After what happened in Portugal [where we retired from the victory fight with a technical issue] I can be happy.' Hyundai's Ott Tanak ended Friday in third, 7.3s adrift of the pace after a broken front damper cost him valuable time in stage six. The 2019 world champion, who had been struggling with the handling of his i20 N in the morning, had closed to within 1.2s of then leader Fourmaux before the issue struck. 'For one stage things went better [with the car] but we had some trouble with the suspension and then in the last one we had to lose as little as possible. I don't know why it happened. We tried our best but we couldn't do anymore,' said Tanak. Advertisement Sami Pajari produced arguably his best showing of the season to date to complete a tricky day in fourth overall, 16.8s behind leader Ogier. The Finn headed two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä, who ended the day encouraged by the pace he found after struggling with his GR Yaris in the morning, starting second on the road. 'This afternoon I would say I was pretty happy from a Sardinia level as I'm never super comfortable here but it seems we have found some pace,' said Rovanpera, who will start Saturday 22.8s behind Ogier. 'The biggest thing is I feel I need to push too much in the way of tyre wear. The times are coming if you push a lot but then also we have big tyre wear. This is what we need to work on tomorrow.' Championship leader Elfyn Evans faced the worst of the road conditions which was reflected in his times. The Welshman felt that it wasn't only the fact he had to open the road that left him 1m09.8s off the pace in sixth. Advertisement Evans fared better than team-mate Takamoto Katsuta, who clipped a rock at tight, slow speed right hander that tipped his GR Yaris onto its side. Spectators helped put the car back on its wheels allowing the Japanese to nurse a wounded GR Yaris home in seventh [+2m27,9s]. Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Neuville wasn't so lucky in the stage as his brush with the rocks at high speed ripped the left wheel from his i20 N forcing the world champion into a first retirement of the year. 'I lost the front and had to correct the line and at that point the rear went wide and I hit a stone and it was over,' said Neuville. Advertisement 'It could have been a massive crash but in the end we just went a little bit wide and it took off the rear. The smallest mistakes in rallying pays cash and sometimes nothing happens, but it is unfortunate for us as we were leading at the time.' The rally continues on Saturday with six stages scheduled, covering 121 competitive kilometres. Photos Rally Italy - Day 1 Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Sarah Rumeau, Julie Amblard, Sarrazin Motorsport - Iron Lynx Citroen C3 Rally2 Sarah Rumeau, Julie Amblard, Sarrazin Motorsport - Iron Lynx Citroen C3 Rally2 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Printsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Printsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 McKlein / Motorsport Images McKlein / Motorsport Images Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 McKlein / Motorsport Images McKlein / Motorsport Images Jourdan Serderidis, Frédéric Miclotte, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1 Jourdan Serderidis, Frédéric Miclotte, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1 M-Sport M-Sport Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1 Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1 M-Sport M-Sport Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Martins Sesks, Renars Francis, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1 Martins Sesks, Renars Francis, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1 M-Sport M-Sport Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai World Rally Team Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai World Rally Team Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Content Pool Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team Austral / Hyundai Motorsport Austral / Hyundai Motorsport Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport Sami Pajari, Marko Salminen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Sami Pajari, Marko Salminen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Sami Pajari, Marko Salminen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Sami Pajari, Marko Salminen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Elfyn Evans, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Elfyn Evans, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota Racing Toyota Racing Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport Vincent Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport Ott Tänak, Hyundai World Rally Team Ott Tänak, Hyundai World Rally Team Austral / Hyundai Motorsport Austral / Hyundai Motorsport Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport To read more articles visit our website.
Al Bawaba
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Ascend the Podium Once More at Rally de Portugal
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) is celebrating its sixth successive Rally de Portugal victory since 2019 and an unbroken streak of five wins in the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season. Sébastien Ogier, alongside co-driver Vincent Landais, conquered 24 punishing gravel stages across northern and central Portugal in the No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 to take first place. This victory also marks Ogier's record-breaking seventh win in the country. Teammates Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen added to the team's dominance with a strong third-place finish in the No. 69 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. TGR-WRT now holds the top three positions in the drivers' championship, while Toyota has extended its lead in the manufacturers' standings to 55 points. Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: 'Congratulations to Seb and Vincent for winning Rally Portugal for the second year in a row! It was a rally where we were all impressed once again by Seb's adaptability. This was Seb's first gravel rally in a long while, and his first event with the Hankook gravel tyres. Moreover, he had only one day of testing in the rain prior to the rally.' Toyoda added: 'I'm also very grateful to all the engineers and mechanics who immediately responded to Seb's feedback. His feedback gave new insights to everyone, and the whole team became even stronger. There are six more gravel rounds coming including Rally Finland, which is an important home event for us. We hope to make use of what we learned here in Portugal and drive our new silver-coloured GR YARIS Rally1 through the summer gravel rallies that await us from here on!' Rally de Portugal was the first of three consecutive hot and rugged gravel events in southern Europe that put vehicles, tires, and drivers to the test. The first full day of the rally was one of the longest of the season so far, featuring 10 stages interrupted only by two brief remote service halts. Ogier and co-driver Landais ended the day in second place, just seven seconds off the lead. Ogier engaged in a close battle the following day with the leader and took control after his rival was slowed by an issue during the rough afternoon stages. Ogier then carefully managed his advantage through a relatively long final day to ultimately seal victory by 8.7 seconds. Rovanperä and Halttunen completed a double podium for the team with a third-place finish. They also claimed second place in the Super Sunday classification and third in the Power Stage, earning valuable additional points toward the championship. Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyota's participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing Toyota's belief that 'the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,' TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota's commitment to making 'ever-better' cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone. Round 6 of the 2025 FIA WRC calendar takes the championship to Rally Italia Sardegna (June 5-8). Known for its fast yet narrow gravel stages lined with exposed rocks and roadside trees, the rally presents constant challenges for drivers. High temperatures and the event's abrasive surfaces place significant stress on both vehicles and tyres. Race Notes:No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais)Position: 1st Time: 3 hours, 48 minutes, and 35.9 seconds
