Four-time WRC champion Sebastien Ogier has been announced as the lead driver for the M-Sport team for the 2017 World Rally Championship.
After Volkswagen’s shock exit from the sport, the Frenchman was left without a seat for next year but has struck a deal with M-Sport to partner with co-driver Julien Ingrassia and drive the recently-revealed 2017 Ford Fiesta WRC. The team says Ogier made the decision to join the squad after testing the new-and-improved Ford in Wales last month.
Ogier and Ingrassia have been the most successful duo in the sport since joining WRC in 2008. In that time, they have claimed four world championships, 38 victories, 56 podiums and an incredible 475 stage wins.
Discussing his signing, Ogier said “There will be a lot of new things this season, but I am definitely looking forward to it. We have a new generation of world rally cars, and a new team – it’s certainly an exciting time.
“There’s not long before we line-up at the start of Rallye Monte-Carlo and we’ve not had a lot of seat time with the Ford Fiesta WRC, but we’ll give it our best to be ready. We’re aware of the challenges, and I can see how hungry Malcolm and his team are for success.”
M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson shared in Ogier’s excitement saying “I’ve made no secret of how much we wanted to work with Sebastien and Julien, and it is fantastic to welcome them to the team. We have worked extremely hard to secure them, and they believe that the Ford Fiesta WRC is the car with which they can best defend their championship.”
Alongside Ogier and Ingrassia will be Ott Tänak and co-driver Martin Järveoja piloting the second M-Sport Fiesta.
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