Revved-up Ogier wants 10th Monte-Carlo win

This week the eight-time World Rally Champion has been testing in the French Alps as he prepares to go in pursuit of a record-breaking 10th victory on one of the world’s most famous motorsport events.

Sitting at nine victories in Monaco, he has three times more wins than Carlos Sainz and more than double that of Tommi Mäkinen and Walter Röhrl.

That standing among these fellow legends isn’t lost on Ogier.

“When I started in this sport,” said Ogier, “how could I have imagined to try to win the Monte? And now my target is to win my tenth Monte Carlo Rally! I could never have imagined this.

“The event still has the same magic that it always did for me. OK, you don’t forget the first time you win a rally like this one, but, honestly, the feeling is the same when I can see all of the fans coming and the atmosphere is the same.”

Ogier’s first win came in 2009, but his real run of victories began in 2014. Since then he has only been beaten twice – and only lost a potential 2022 win when he suffered a puncture while leading on the penultimate test.