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Limited Reserve Outings Slated for 2027
Toyota has revealed its strategic plans and driver lineup for the upcoming World Rally Championship season, confirming that Sébastien Ogier will face a drastically reduced calendar that puts an end to his pursuit of a tenth world title. The 42-year-old French driver, who shares the benchmark of nine world championships with fellow countryman Sébastien Loeb, will not contest another standard partial campaign. Instead, the Gap native is slated only for sporadic outings when other part-time drivers within the manufacturer's roster take a break, cannot defend their chances, or are left off the entry list for a specific rally.
Conceding the Pursuit of a Tenth Crown
The revised arrangement follows a competitive 2026 season in which Ogier chose to contest a partial schedule at his own request, just as he had done the prior year. Despite not lining up at every starting line, the Frenchman remained firmly in contention for the drivers' crown across much of the championship before ultimately seeing his title hopes fade as Elfyn Evans claimed the championship triumph. While Ogier long retained hope of securing a milestone tenth crown—an accomplishment that would have made him the first competitor in history to reach double digits—the incoming season leaves him unable to pursue that target.
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Dual-Team Structure and Driver Lineup
Under Toyota's announced plans for the upcoming year, the manufacturer will feature five full-time crews campaigning under the sport's new technical regulations across two separate outfits, alongside a dedicated part-time entry. The Toyota Racing squad will field Celica Rally1 machinery for Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, Oliver Solberg and Eliott Edmondson, and Sami Pajari alongside Marko Sulminen. Under the Gazoo Racing Toyota banner, Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston will join Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja in GR Yaris Rally1 machinery. A sixth entry will feature Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen on a partial programme identical to Ogier's previous campaigns, with Toyota confirming that Ogier will only take the wheel when Rovanperä is absent.
Monte-Carlo Absence and Personal Priorities
As part of this scaled-back involvement, Ogier will be absent from January's Monte-Carlo Rally, an event where he stands as the record holder with nine victories. Speaking to French regional newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré, Ogier explained that personal priorities dictated the decision, noting that his wife has an important professional engagement during the final two weeks of January. Emphasising the need to reciprocate and support his spouse, Ogier stated he will stay home, while acknowledging that his frontline career is approaching its end. With the 42-year-old expecting a swift retirement, he conceded that the goal is very probably to do less and spend most of 2027 at home apart from a handful of rallies.
