Nov 29 : Toyota's Sebastien Ogier secured a record-equalling ninth world rally title in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to equal the tally of fellow Frenchman Sebastien Loeb and become the sport's oldest champion at 41.
Loeb won his nine titles successively between 2004 and 2012 with Citroen.
Ogier won six titles consecutively from 2013-18 and added two more in 2020 and 2021. He has found success with three different manufacturers - Volkswagen, Ford and Toyota.
He had announced his intention to retire from full-time rallying at the end of 2021 but has continued part-time and won his latest title despite being absent from three of the 14 rounds, winning six.
"I never thought that this moment of a ninth title would come after I decided to make a change and spend more time with my family," said Ogier, who started the weekend three points adrift of Welsh teammate Elfyn Evans.
The Frenchman will be 42 on December 17 and is now the oldest driver to win the world championship. The previous oldest was Finland's Hannu Mikkola at 41 years and 183 days in 1983.
FIRST TITLE FOR CO-DRIVER LANDAIS
"What a season, that's for sure," Ogier said after finishing third in the Jeddah-based event over rocky roads and sandy tracks, with Evans sixth.
The rally was won by Hyundai's outgoing champion Thierry Neuville, with the Belgian finishing 54.7 seconds clear of French teammate Adrien Fourmaux.
"What a fight with Elfyn and (co-driver) Scott (Martin). They have been super strong pushing us to the limit up to the very last stage of the year," said Ogier.
The title was a first for co-driver Vincent Landais, who teamed up with Ogier in 2022.
The final standings had the Frenchman on 293 points with Evans on 289 and Kalle Rovanpera 256. In the manufacturers'
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