Ogier Turns to Old Friend as Rally Finland Raises the Stakes
When the World Rally Championship arrives in Finland, every driver knows what’s waiting.
Flat-out jumps. Blind crests. Forest-lined roads where confidence matters just as much as outright speed.
This year, however, Secto Rally Finland delivers more than another championship showdown. It brings back one of rallying’s most successful partnerships.
Champions Reunited
Eight-time world champion co-driver Julien Ingrassia will climb back into the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 alongside Sébastien Ogier for a one-off appearance after Vincent Landais withdrew from the event for personal reasons.
It marks the first competitive outing for the French duo since the 2021 season finale at Rally Monza, where they secured their eighth World Rally Championship together.
Over more than a decade, Ogier and Ingrassia rewrote the history books, collecting 54 WRC victories across four different manufacturers while becoming one of the sport’s greatest driver and co-driver pairings.
Now, with the championship entering its decisive phase, experience could prove priceless.
“We still want to push for the best result possible for us and for the team, so I’m pleased that my friend Julien accepted the call to sit next to me one more time,”.
said Ogier
Trust Matters on the Fastest Roads
Rally Finland isn’t simply another stop on the calendar.
Known for its high-speed gravel stages, enormous jumps and flowing forest roads, the event demands absolute trust between driver and co-driver.
Pacenotes are delivered at incredible speed, often just moments before cars launch over blind crests or sweep through sixth-gear corners.
For Ogier, returning to a familiar voice inside the cockpit removes uncertainty at a crucial stage of the championship.
Although the pair have been away from competition together for several seasons, their years of shared experience could quickly outweigh any rust.
Toyota Chasing History
Toyota Gazoo Racing heads into its home rally in formidable shape.
The Japanese manufacturer currently occupies the top five places in the drivers’ standings, with every Rally1 driver having celebrated victory during the 2026 campaign.
Finnish star Sami Pajari arrives home full of confidence after a dominant breakthrough win in Estonia, where he claimed victory on 12 of the rally’s 18 stages.
A home triumph would also deliver the 200th World Rally Championship victory for a Finnish driver, adding another historic milestone to an already iconic event.
Toyota has also won seven of the last eight editions of Rally Finland since returning to the championship in 2017, making it the team everyone else must beat.
Championship Pressure Builds
Despite sitting fourth in the standings, Ogier remains firmly in the championship fight.
He trails Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans by just 38 points with five rallies remaining, meaning every stage this weekend carries championship significance.
Evans knows the challenge ahead.
Starting first on Friday means sweeping loose gravel from the racing line, often costing valuable seconds during the opening stages.
Even so, the Welshman remains optimistic.
“Rally Finland is one of my favourite events on the calendar. In terms of pure driving thrills, nothing else beats it during the season,”.
Evans said
Hyundai and M-Sport Ready to Strike
Toyota may be the favourite, but Hyundai arrives with renewed confidence after Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville secured podium-contending performances in Estonia.
Both drivers have previously stood on the Finland podium, while Esapekka Lappi returns to the venue where he claimed his maiden WRC victory in 2017.
M-Sport Ford will also look to upset the established order with Jon Armstrong, Josh McErlean and Mārtiņš Sesks continuing their development throughout the season.
Everything to Play For
The 75th edition of Secto Rally Finland features 20 special stages covering 316.04 competitive kilometres, with more than half the route revised from last year.
New stages such as Sydänmaa and Hoho promise fresh challenges, while Sunday’s double run over the demanding 30.02km Himos-Jämsä stage is expected to decide the rally.
For fans, the headlines may centre around championship points and manufacturer battles.
But for rally enthusiasts, seeing Ogier and Ingrassia reunited one more time is a reminder that motorsport’s greatest partnerships are built on more than trophies—they’re built on years of trust, instinct and unwavering belief at over 200 km/h.
