Ogier to contest full 2012 WRC season

24th November 2011

By Anthony Peacock

Far from putting his feet up next year, Sebastien Ogier has confirmed that he will be driving in all the rounds of the World Rally Championship with a Skoda Fabia S2000 as well as taking part in around 20 tests with the new Volkswagen Polo WRC. He also suggested that the Polo's competition debut could come as early as next year.

"Taking part in the 2012 WRC will enable me to stay match fit and familiarise myself with those events that I don't know so well," said Ogier. "The test work will help me follow the Polo's development from A to Z. That's a very exciting challenge. I'm not ruling out the possibility of competing in the Polo towards the end of the year if the team believes we are sufficiently ready."

The five-time rally winner in 2011 said that Volkswagen's long-term stability in the WRC tipped the balance for him when deciding between the German giant and Ford.

"We looked at both opportunities," said Ogier. "However, Ford's future in the sport wasn't as certain as that of VW. When I added together all the plusses and minuses, Volkswagen emerged as the best choice."

Ogier's first official appearance as a Volkswagen factory driver will be at the Race of Champions in Dusseldorf from 3-4 December.