There were no surprises on the last day of the Catalunya Rally. Sebastien Ogier kept calm and led, thus winning, for the fourth time, this mythical test of the world championship, the old Costa Brava.
The Frenchman took the lead in stage five, and with the experience and confidence of having eight world titles behind him, he didn’t waver throughout the weekend to take his first win with Benjamin Veillas as co-pilot, which is already the 55th of his career. Ogier ended up winning by 16 seconds ahead of Neuville’s Hyundai and 34 seconds ahead of Kalle Rovanperä, who had just been crowned World Rally Champion. Neither Tänak, fourth, nor Sordo, fifth, overshadowed a very dominant Toyota.
With the points achieved, in addition, the Japanese brand also celebrated the constructors’ world title with the last test of the championship still to come, which will be held in Japan, between September 10 and 13.
In 2023, without Rally
The Catalunya Rally is a historic event in the world championship. It has been contested since 1991, but next year it seems difficult for the great drivers who have competed on the Costa Daurada to do so again. This was the last edition of the test provided for in the contract and, for 2023, a Central European Rally takes its place. From RACC it is stated that there are negotiations and, right now, two possible scenarios would be contemplated. On the one hand, to continue as a scoring test next season, which is complicated because the organization wants to give entry to new rallies; and on the other to try to be there in 2024. Experienced pilot Dani Sordo regretted this situation: “It’s hard to think that this could be my last Catalonia. It is a shame that the rally will not be there in 2023 because it is quite a classic. They will have their reasons, I hope he comes back.”
