Don’t expect me and Loeb to dominate WRC Rally Portugal

Eight-time WRC champion Ogier confirmed last week that Portugal will be the second event of his partial 2022 WRC campaign with Toyota, setting up another potential battle with nine-time champion Loeb, who will also return to the WRC with M-Sport Ford.

Ogier has elected to scale back his WRC commitments this year to allow a move into circuit racing courtesy of a LMP2 programme in the World Endurance Championship with Richard Mille Racing.

Ogier and Loeb created headlines in January when the pair were involved in a thrilling rally-long head-to-head in Monte Carlo, with Loeb coming out on top to win the rally after Ogier picked up a puncture on the penultimate stage.

Monte Carlo was a rally the pair have shared eight wins each but Rally Portugal (19-22 May) will provide an altogether different challenge on gravel. It will also mark the first time the new-for-2022 Rally1 hybrid machines will have competed on the surface.

Ogier has won in Portugal a record-equalling five times including his maiden WRC win in 2010 for the Citroen junior team while Loeb has two wins to his name in 2007 and 2009.

While Ogier is excited to be facing Loeb again, he is not expecting the pair to steal the show like they did in Monte Carlo.

“Of course I’m happy I always enjoy battling with him,” said Ogier of the chance to race against Loeb again.

“We had a couple of nice fights during our career and it is nice to see that the fans are excited about it.

“I knew there was a good chance he [Sebastien] was coming to this event so I was teasing him a bit online to try to get him to announce it.

“I really hope that we will both be able to fight at the front but I think the set-up and the parameters for this race are different so I don’t expect us to dominate like we did in Monte and battle ahead.

“I hope we will be involved in the fight for the front and that it will be a nice…