Autosport readers choose the greatest WRC drivers in history

Over the last 50 seasons, the World Rally Championship has helped cultivate an array of talent that have produced feats of brilliance, left onlookers stunned and become household names in the process.

And while recent years have been the domain of drivers named Sebastien, the title has been determined by just a single point on five occasions, with nine different nations represented on the list of champions.

After collating answers from our reader poll, we’ve whittled down the results to reveal the top six greatest drivers as voted by Autosport readers. Among those to miss out were four-time champion Juha Kankkunen (1.5% of the vote), plus two-time champion Marcus Gronholm (3%) and England's only world champion Richard Burns (2.3%).

In all, 30 drivers received votes, including early-2000s Ford ace Markko Martin, flamboyant Italian privateer Gianluigi Galli, Northern Ireland's Kris Meeke and current world championship leader Kalle Rovanpera.

Ogier bowed out as a WRC full-timer after securing his eighth title last year, but remains as a part-time entrant

Photo by: Toyota Racing

WRC titles: 8 (2013-2018, 2020-2021)

WRC wins: 54

Vote share: 3.8%

Sebastien Ogier is regarded by some as the WRC’s greatest of all time courtesy of his eight world titles achieved with three different manufacturers; Volkswagen, Ford and Toyota.

Ogier took up the baton left by rival and compatriot Sebastien Loeb following the nine-time world champion’s full-time WRC retirement in 2012, and has dominated the WRC since.

Racking up 54 WRC wins to date, his first coming after a duel with Loeb at Portugal in 2010, Ogier developed into a complete driver with an ability to win despite opening the road, and an undeterred determination to win.

PLUS: How WRC