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Sébastien Ogier reacts to his record-breaking sixth Rally de Portugal victory surpassing Markku Alén and solidifying his WRC legacy.
Sebastien Ogier made history once again by securing his sixth Vodafone Rally de Portugal victory on Sunday setting him apart as the most triumphant driver in the event's 56-year tenure.
With this latest win, Ogier has surpassed the record he previously shared with Finnish rallying legend Markku Alén.
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10:20 - 11.05.2024
Kalle Rovanpera reflects on fierce Friday battle at Rally de Portugal
Kalle Rovanperä leads Rally de Portugal after a fierce Friday battle fending off teammate Sébastien Ogier amid intense competition.
Reflecting on his achievement, Ogier shared his respect and sentiment towards tying with Alén before this race.
"I had nothing against being tied with Markku Alén," Ogier remarked with a smile.
"He is a legend, but I heard for many years 'when will you beat this record?' It feels surreal to have finally done it."
The Rally de Portugal, a cornerstone event since the inaugural season of the FIA World Rally Championship in 1973 saw intense competition this year with five different leaders over its course.
The rally tested drivers on the demanding gravel roads near Porto and Matosinhos drawing in large crowds of enthusiastic fans.
Ogier's ascent to the top came after a chaotic Saturday, where his Toyota GR Yaris teammate Kalle Rovanpera exited the lead due to a roll and Takamoto Katsuta retired after damaging his car's rear suspension.
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13:30 - 13.05.2024
Kenya’s Karan Patel earns high praise from Ugandan rival after Pearl of Africa Rally win
Kenyan driver Karan Patel has been lauded by his Ugandan rival driver Jas Mangat for showing great quality as he claimed his maiden Pearl of Africa Rally win in Jinja last weekend.
Entering Sunday's finale with a lead of 11.9 seconds over Hyundai's Ott Tänak, Ogier demonstrated unwavering focus and skill, particularly on the legendary Fafe jump, which is a fan-favorite spectacle.
"It was not a great weekend for the whole team, but personally, it was a good rally for us, and I am glad we could bring some points," Ogier continued.
The two-time Safari Rally winner acknowledged the mixed results for his team but expressed satisfaction with the personal outcome and the points added to his season tally.
On the other side, Ott Tanak, Ogier's closest competitor and Hyundai Motorsport teammate, secured second place, marking his best result since returning to Hyundai earlier in the year.
Tanak's performance on Super Sunday not only fetched him additional points but also pushed him ahead of Adrien Fourmaux to third in the championship standings.
The podium was completed by Thierry Neuville, another Hyundai driver, who finished just over a minute behind Tanak.
Neuville's consistent performance throughout the weekend extended his lead in the driver's series by 24 points over Elfyn Evans who finished sixth after overcoming mechanical issues, including a coolant leak on the final day.
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