The latest Ogier record amid Portuguese drama for the WRC title fighters

Sebastien Ogier’s part-time World Rally Championship campaign picked up another record with his sixth Rally Portugal victory, but it was Thierry Neuville who made the biggest move in the title chase

Fourteen years ago, a fresh-faced Sebastien Ogier announced himself on the World Rally Championship stage by becoming a WRC rally winner for the first time in Portugal. So, it was perhaps written in the stars that the nation played host to the Frenchman’s 60th triumph.

Back in 2010, Ogier had to see off the WRC’s most successful driver and then Citroen team-mate in Sebastien Loeb to join the winner’s circle. Last weekend the now eight-time world champion, competing part-time, defeated Ott Tanak, the only driver other than Loeb to lift a world title during his glittering full-time career. It was a win delivered in a manner that according to Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala showcased the attributes that have made Ogier multiple world champion.

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Author Tom Howard

Tom Howard is a News Editor working across both Autosport.com and Motorsport.com websites. Starting out as a sports reporter in local newspapers, Tom focussed on motorsport covering several national championships in the UK, including the BTCC.

After a period working as a freelance journalist, Tom moved to Australia in 2013 landing a job at leading Australian motorsport news outlet speedcafe.com, covering international motorsport events including F1, WRC and Supercars. Progressing to Editor in 2017, Tom was named Motorsport Australia Journalist of the Year for his work. He is also a two-time winner of Supercars Journalist of The Year (2017,2019) and a Supercars Championship Media Award winner in 2019.

Tom moved back to his native UK in 2020, firstly working in BTCC, before joining Autosport and motorsport.com in 2021.