Video: Loeb vs. Ogier at Monte – Who was really faster?

18th February 2022

Ethan Jupp

There are so many great Sebastiens in motorsport, aren’t there? To the point that two of the very most successful rally drivers of the last 20 years share a name and have been battling it out for WRC glory recently. Ogier versus Loeb, Toyota Gazoo Racing versus M-Sport Ford.

Seeing these new Rally1 cars taken to the limits by the greatest drivers on Earth is a spectacle and a half. They really are the closest we’ve seen yet to the extremes of Group B, with jutting aero and scoops soundtracked to crackling anti lag from a red-hot glowing exhaust. Of course, storied in the WRC as he is, Sébastien Loeb isn’t actually on the M Sport books full time, joining instead for a part programme, but it was great to see him back out there in action for the 2022 Monte Carlo Rally. He’s still got it, too, given he ended up just about pipping Sébastien Ogier to overall honours by 11 seconds over three days. A spectacular battle.

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