The eight-time world champion moved away from full-time competitors after lifting the 2021 title with Toyota and has since contested partial campaigns driving for the Japanese marque.
Ogier has insisted over the past two years that he has no want to return to full-time competitors and has been having fun with the flexibleness of a part-time marketing campaign that enables him to spend extra time along with his household. This season Ogier has received three of six WRC rallies entered.
Nonetheless, at Rally Finland, hypothesis linked the Frenchman to a doable transfer to Toyota rival Hyundai for subsequent yr. Talking on the Acropolis Rally, Ogier insisted he’s comfortable along with his present place at Toyota, describing the rumours as foolish season discuss.
Hyundai has solely one in every of its seats locked in for subsequent yr with Thierry Neuville beneath contract. It seems solutions of an Ogier transfer gathered momentum by advantage of Hyundai signing new technical director Francois Xavier Demaison, whom Ogier scored 4 of his world titles with when the pair labored collectively at Volkswagen from 2013-2016.
When requested about his plan for subsequent yr, Ogier stated: “I’ve nothing actually particular to announce. It isn’t a secret that I’m proud of what I’m doing proper now with this sort of programme.
“Additionally it is not a secret that we’re discussing to hold on in an analogous approach.”
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photograph by: Toyota Racing
In response to the Hyundai hypothesis, he added: “I imagine this sport wants a little bit of discuss throughout summer season that’s the discuss season. I imagine this was not a funded [profound] hearsay.
“I do know lots of people at Hyundai and possibly there was possibly some begin of talks as a result of I’m my very own supervisor, so it may possibly occur that I discuss to individuals as that prices nothing.
“However the actuality is I’m proud of the whole lot I’ve in the mean time, so there isn’t a actual cause for me to alter something.”
Toyota administration has beforehand indicated that it sees no cause why it will alter its driver line-up for 2024.
Though world champion Kalle Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans are but to safe offers for subsequent season, contract discussions are believed to have began with the duo.
“After all, subsequent yr’s plans and discussions are happening all the time,” stated Rovanpera, who’s tipped to stay at Toyota.
Evans, who at the moment trails Rovanpera by 33 factors within the championship standings, was coy when requested about his future, stating that it was an “open market” at this stage of the season.