WRC
Ingrassia answers last-minute call up from Ogier
Five years after stepping away as a world champion, Julien Ingrassia will return the FIA World Rally Championship this week following the late withdrawal of Vincent Landais for personal reasons.
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team announced this morning (Monday, 27 July) in a statement that: “due to personal reasons, Vincent Landais will not take part in the upcoming Rally Finland. Eight-time world champion Julien Ingrassia will make a one-off return to sit alongside Sébastien Ogier for this event.”
Ingrassia celebrated his eighth world title in 2021
© At World
Ingrassia, who had already been scheduled to be on Secto Rally Finland as a pundit for Rally.TV, sees his role change dramatically.
“It is a great honour to get back in the car for this one rally to help Séb, Vincent and the team,” explained the eight-time world champion. “It will be a big challenge but I’m looking forward to it.”
The last time the Frenchman sat in the co-driver’s seat was FORUM8 ACI Rally Monza in 2021, navigating Ogier to victory to secure an eighth world title for the pair.
More recently Ingrassia has been working in TV punditry
© At World
Ogier has gone on to win one more world title, doing so with Landais calling the notes in 2025.
“I’m sorry that Vincent cannot be with us for Rally Finland due to personal reasons,” expressed Ogier. “Of course, we still want to push for the best result possible for us and for the team, so I’m pleased that my friend Julien accepted the call to sit next to me one more time.”
The pair are expected to test together today before lining up for Shakedown on Thursday morning (30 July) at 09:01 local time.
