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Sebastien Ogier, Benjamin Veillas, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
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Analysis

The message a WRC stalwart sent which its new king couldn’t answer

Sebastien Ogier might be the outgoing World Rally champion, but it didn’t stop him reminding everyone of the skills that made him an eight-time world champion. As victory at Rally Spain led Toyota’s charge to a titles clean sweep, it did pose a question to newly-crowned champion Kalle Rovanpera which he could not answer

The 2022 World Rally Championship has largely been the 'Kalle Rovanpera show', but in Spain last weekend Sebastien Ogier reminded everyone that the eight-time world champion has still got it. For a period, the thousands of fans that flocked to what is now likely to be the last Rally Spain for some time were treated to a fascinating contest. New world champion Rovanpera versus the outgoing world champion Ogier.

After Rovanpera comprehensively beat Ogier on New Zealand's wet gravel to become the youngest WRC champion, the changing of the baton was complete. But the smooth sinuous Spanish asphalt roads offered Ogier, back on his favoured asphalt that has yielded plenty of success over his glittering career, a chance to roll back the years.

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Previous article Ogier had "nothing to prove" with WRC Spain win
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