Sebastien Ogier changes co-drivers: Julien Ingrassia, with whom Ogier won eight WRC titles, returns for Rally Finland
Sébastien Ogier will once again be teaming up with his longtime co-driver Julien Ingrassia this coming weekend at the World Rally Championship (WRC) round in Finland.
As the reigning world champion announced, Ingrassia will take over the co-driver’s seat at Toyota from Vincent Landais. Landais must sit out the Rally Finland for personal reasons. He has been Ogier’s regular co-driver since the 2022 Rally Japan.
“Here we are in Finland—unfortunately without Vincent for personal reasons,” Ogier explained in a video posted on social media. “He won’t be able to participate in the rally this week. That’s why I’m delighted that my old friend Julien has agreed to take the seat again and will be my co-driver this week. I’m really looking forward to reviving this partnership.”
Ingrassia had retired from the top tier of the WRC at the end of 2021 after he and Ogier had clinched their eighth world championship title together at Toyota.
Since retiring as a co-driver, Ingrassia has remained involved with the WRC, taking on TV roles for the WRC’s own channel as well as the French broadcaster Canal+. In addition, Ingrassia played a key role last year in founding the World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA), the WRC’s counterpart to Formula 1’s Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.
Among other things, this helped the WRC drivers successfully campaign to overturn the FIA rules regarding fines for swearing during interviews at the finish of special stages.
This year’s Rally Finland will be Ingrassia’s first WRC appearance since the 2021 Rally Monza. “Being on the starting grid here in Finland will certainly be a challenge for me, but I’m really looking forward to driving with Seb again and helping Vincent and the team. See you on the stages!” said Ingrassia.
Ogier heads to Finland in fourth place in the World Championship standings. He is currently 38 points behind the overall leader, Elfyn Evans.