Seven-time World Rally champion Sébastien Ogier will test Toyota’s Le Mans-winning Hypercar at the Bahrain Rookie Test next month.
The Frenchman will drive the GR010 Hybrid at the traditional post-season test at the Bahrain International Rookie Test. He will complete the test alongside Le Mans class winner Charles Milesi, who was selected by WEC for the official rookie test.
Ogier has already visited Toyota’s WEC headquarters in Cologne for a seat fitting and two-day simulator test to prepare for his maiden WEC outing.
He has limited previous sportscar experience from a few experience in a number of series. Most notably, he raced in DTM as part of a guest appearance at the Red Bull Ring in 2018.
He has also raced the French GT Championship, made two appearances in the Porsche Supercup in 2013 and 2014 and took part in the ADAC GT Masters for a one-off round in 2014.
“I’m happy to be driving the GR010 HYBRID Hypercar on track for the first time in the official WEC rookie test in Bahrain,” said Ogier. “The simulator session went well; it was nice to work with the team and discover the GR010 HYBRID for the first time.
“I could already feel that the Hypercar is very different to the TS050 HYBRID which I drove on the simulator last year.”
“As everyone knows, it’s a dream of mine to compete in endurance racing in the future and the test in Bahrain is important to learn more about the car and about my own level. It’s a big challenge for me and I’m working hard to be ready for Bahrain, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
The 37-year-old is one of the most successful rally drivers of all time. Between 2013 and 2018, he won the World Rally championship six consecutive times, first with Volkswagen and later with Ford.
After a disappointing year with Citröen in 2019, Ogier signed on with Toyota Gazoo Racing’s rally operation and won a seventh world title last year.
He remains one of the sport’s most successful drivers. Only compatriot Sébastien Loeb has won more titles (nine). Like Ogier, Loeb also ventured into sportscar racing during his career and competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice.
