Toyota gets go-ahead for Rovanperä to replace Ogier in Poland
By Print Reporter, June 27, 2024Toyota GAZOO Racing has been granted permission for Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen to stand in for Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais at this week’s ORLEN 80th Rally Poland.
Ogier and Landais were forced to withdraw from the seventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship after being involved in a road traffic collision during reconnaissance on Tuesday morning. While Landais was discharged from the hospital earlier today, Ogier will remain under observation overnight.
Last evening, event stewards agreed to Toyota’s request to draft in two-time WRC champions Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen as replacements.
Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais will not start ORLEN 80th Rally Poland after the pair were involved in a road traffic collision during reconnaissance on Tuesday morning.
The incident took place while Ogier and Landais, who compete for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT in the WRC, were preparing their pace notes for the Goldap special stage, which forms SS10 and SS14 of the rally this Saturday. Ogier and Landais were driving a road car as is the standard practice for rally reconnaissance.
Ogier, Landais and the driver and passenger of the other vehicle involved, two members of the public, were taken to hospital for medical checks.
A statement from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing said: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT crew Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais were taken to hospital for checks following a road traffic collision during reconnaissance for Rally Poland on Tuesday morning. Two occupants of the other vehicle involved, members of the public, were also taken to hospital for medical checks.
The incident took place while Ogier and Landais were preparing for the Goldap special stage, which forms SS10 and SS14 of the rally this Saturday. Ogier and Landais were driving a road car as is the standard practice for rally reconnaissance. All recce cars have GPS tracking, which shows the speeds were within the limits set.
All involved have undergone scans which showed no serious injuries. While Landais has been discharged, Ogier will remain under medical observation overnight and will not be able to participate in the event.
The safety and wellbeing of all involved remains the utmost priority of the team. Alongside this, the team is considering its options regarding any replacement and will provide an update in due course.