The French driver Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris) won the Rally de Catalunya this Sunday, the 12th and penultimate race of the World Championship, which allowed the Japanese brand to win the constructors’ title. Ogier completed the 19 stages of the Catalan race with a time of 2.44.43.9 hours, leaving Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20) in second place, with 16.4 seconds, and Finnish Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris), in third place, with 34 ,5.
In this way, Toyota won the second consecutive constructors’ title, having a 93-point lead over Hyundai.
Already Ogier, reached 55 victories, the first this season and in the hybrid era and also the first with the new navigator, Frenchman Benjamin Veillas, who replaced Julien Ingrassia.
The French driver, current champion, has only participated in five rallies this year, after having decided to slow down his career a bit and also dedicate himself to endurance, having participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“It’s Benji’s first win so I’m really happy for him. It’s fantastic to win, because it was an important weekend for the team. It is not always easy to achieve these results”, stressed the French rider.
Kalle Rovanperä’s third place enabled Toyota to secure the title at the end of the championship.
“It wasn’t the result I wanted on this rally, but I think it’s not too bad either,” stressed Rovanperä, who has already mathematically secured the drivers’ title since the previous round in Japan.
The championship ends in Japan, from November 11 to 13, where Toyota will be able to celebrate the conquest of both championships in front of its public.
Source: Observadora
