The announcement we have all been waiting for, has been made!
Four-time WRC champion Sebastien Ogier will team up with M-Sport Ford for the 2017 edition of the championship.
Anyone who believed that Ogier would battle to find a drive for 2017, must have been watching some other sport than rallying for the past few years.
The 32-year-old Ogier is not only four-time world champion, but in my opinion he is the best rally driver ever. This he started proving to me, when he drove an S2000 Volkswagen into top positions while waiting for the real WRC car to be developed, a few years ago.
After retiring for a season Sebastien Loeb tried to measure up a year or two ago during the Monte Carlo Rally but except for winning the first stage – when Ogier sat back to see what the previous champion had to offer – Loeb came well short and had to drive a little outside his own comfort zone to try and keep up with the German still looking for his limits.
After Volkswagen’s shock withdrawal, a lot of speculation took place. Ogier tested a Toyota and was linked to a possible drive in a Citroen and even a private team running a Volkswagen. Dubai-money and the name of Al-Attiyah were mentioned and it was known that he tested a Ford as well.
The question was – what would Ogier decide to do – all the offers were serious!
The better the equipment, the easier it would be for him to win the 2017 title – that was the crux of it!
Ford’s new generation car must have been impressive and it was time for Ogier to decide as the Monte Carlo was just around the corner.
FORD it was!
My money will without doubt be on the incredible combination now offered by the Ford team under the “hungry” guidance of Malcom Wilson and Sebastien “In a Class of his own” Ogier.
The Estonian Ott Tanak, will hopefully offer some cover against the opposition for the world champion.
Tanak impressed during 2016 driving for DMACK, but I am not so sure that he will be able to keep up to do what he is supposed to do.
Then again – Ogier is sort of used to doing his own thing, without much help from his team mates.
Ogier will continue working alongside long-time co-driver Julien Ingrassia, while Tanak will now be partnered by Martin Jarveoja, who previously worked with another Estonian Karl Kruuda in various WRC sub-categories.
M-Sport’s 2016 driver pairing – Mads Ostberg and Eric Camilli – have yet to announce their plans for next year.
Ford will enter the 2017 season with the number one on the door of the Ford Fiesta WRC and the strongest driver line-up they have had in years.
Team boss Malcom Wilson said, “To say we’re excited about next season is an understatement. We believe that we have produced an exceptional car, and we are in the best possible position ahead of this exciting new era.”
“I’ve made no secret of how much we wanted to work with Sebastien and Julien, and it is fantastic to welcome them to the team. We have worked extremely hard to secure them, and they believe that the Ford Fiesta WRC is the car with which they can best defend their championship.”
“With Ott and Martin lining up alongside them, we are in for one hell of a season. Ott has had a very impressive year with consistent speed. He’s played a major role in the development of the new car, and I’m sure that the elusive first victory isn’t too far away!”
Now for the short wait until the Monte Carlo – although that is not the ideal rally to form an opinion for the rest of the year on.
2017 is going to be a great rally year on WRC level.