OGIER BECOMES NINE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION WITH TOYOTA GAZOO RACING

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team driver Sébastien Ogier has won a record -equaling ninth FIA World Rally Championship title after he and co-driver Vincent Landais prevailed in a dramatic final-day decider at Rally Saudi Arabia.

Just 0.1s separated Ogier and Evans in the morning’s opening stage of Day4, but the subsequent and penultimate Asfan test would prove pivotal. Ogier went 7.9s faster than Evans and then found himself promoted to third overall as other drivers hit problems, with four places now between him and Evans.

Evans gave his all in the rally-ending Power Stage, setting the fastest time by 7.2s, but Ogier managed to stay ahead in the Super Saturday classification and win that by 0.8s as well as securing his 10th podium from 11 starts this season, which has included six rally wins.

Ogier equals the record of fellow Frenchman Sébastien Loeb in winning a ninth title and does so four years after claiming his last championship and stepping away from full-time competition. This is his third title with TGR-WRT, and the first championship for Landais.

It is the sixth time in seven years that a TGR-WRT crew has been crowned world champions, and the fourth time in five years that the team has swept all three championships. In total, it is the 10th drivers’ title achieved at the wheel of a Toyota: a joint record with Lancia.

 Evans and Martin built an excellent season on unrivalled consistency, placing inside the top six on all 14 rallies, and getting two wins and six other podiums along the way.

 Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen had an outside chance of winning a third world title, needing to overturn a 24-point deficit in the final round. Their chances took a hit already on Thursday morning when they sustained tyre damage, but they recovered well to enter the final day fifth, just 0.2s in front of Ogier.

 Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen took two stage wins on Thursday and were part of a close fight for the lead until they had to stop and change a tyre on Friday afternoon, losing two minutes. They fought back on the final day, moving from seventh to fourth overall.

 Takamoto Katsuta came into the final day in third position after a largely trouble-free run. Attempting to fend off Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai), he rolled in the penultimate stage but managed to reach the finish in fifth.

The WRC’s first ever rally in Saudi Arabia was so tough that no car was left unscathed. Endless supplies stable brake parts so drivers can concentrate on controlling their machine. We are also proud to have contributed to the team winning the triple title of manufacturer, driver and co-driver. Next season, we will continue to develop and supply brake parts together with the team, aiming to win the WRC World Championship.