WRC 2027: Ogier set for just two or three rallies with Toyota

Sébastien Ogier is set to be a rare sight in the WRC in 2027. Toyota expects the Frenchman to contest no more than three rallies, according to comments from team principal Jari-Matti Latvala reported on 5 November 2026. Nothing is settled, however: the exact number of events has not been decided.

A maximum of three, probably two

Asked about Ogier's programme, Latvala said the maximum would be three rallies, but that it would probably be two. That would be fewer events than in any other season of the driver's career. It is therefore a signal from Toyota's management, not an official announcement.

Ogier missed the team's 2027 presentation in Finland, held on a Tuesday. Last month in Sardinia, at the season finale, he could not clarify his future, but he did confirm he would skip January's Monte-Carlo Rally, which has not happened since 2011. He added that people probably would not see him often, without ruling out the occasional return.

A seat frees up

Toyota unveiled a six-car structure for 2027, split across two teams and two models:

• Toyota Racing, with the GR Celica Rally1: Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari;
• Gazoo Racing Toyota, with the GR Yaris Rally1: Ott Tänak, Kalle Rovanperä and Takamoto Katsuta.

Kalle Rovanperä will compete in only a partial season, on a calendar of 15 rounds. That frees a car on some rallies. Toyota says it could go to young talents or to Ogier for selected events.

The next generation under watch

Toyota's WRC Challenge programme includes Yuki Yamamoto, who has taken WRC2 podiums, as well as Jaspar Vaher and Takumi Matsushita. The latter two are expected to run some WRC2 rallies next year. Toyota also says it is looking at Yaris Rally2 drivers outside its development programme as possible Rally1 stand-ins when Rovanperä or Ogier are absent.

For Toyota, the arrangement offers flexibility: with a partial schedule for two of its drivers, the team can adapt the line-up rally by rally, and use the opportunity to give young drivers from its programme experience at the top level.

Key takeaways

• Ogier: no more than three rallies, probably two, in 2027; programme not finalised.
• Monte-Carlo: without him, for the first time since 2011.
• Toyota: six cars, two teams, one seat filled rally by rally.

The editorial team will publish the programme once Toyota confirms it.