"We hope that there will be emotions (at the end of the last round of the season on Sunday). Very strong emotions," replied Ogier.

"As for the victory, if it happens, it will be just the icing on the cake. The objective for tomorrow, it is not really to win (...) but to finish and to win the championship."

It is the best - and certainly the only - conceivable end for the seven-time world champion, who will no longer play a full season from next year but a few selected heats, and without his historic co-driver Julien Ingrassia who will retire.

His teammate and rival Elfyn Evans, second on Saturday night and at 17 lengths in the drivers' standings, with a maximum of 30 points still in the balance, does not believe "completely" that the Frenchman is ready to draw a line on a success in the test.

The Welshman Elfyn Evans, at the wheel of his Toyota, during the 10th special of the Rally of Monza, on November 19, 2021 near the village of Pennini, not far from Bergamo Andreas SOLARO AFP

"We know where everyone is in terms of pace, throughout the season, and let's say he's not coasting to secure the title," said the Briton.

"Killer mode"

Same story with their boss Jari-Matti Latvala.

"During the last two rallies, Seb was not in + killer mode +. Here, since Thursday, I see more tension, concentration, a clear objective in his eyes", comments the Finn.

He knows what he's talking about having also faced Ogier behind the wheel in the past.

In the race for the coronation, the figures are in favor of the French.

To convert his advantage, he must finish ahead of his rival or score at least 13 points.

To overturn the table, the Welshman, on the contrary, must register 18 more than him.

"Evans has nothing to lose and everything to try to put pressure on me, that's why I've been saying from the start that I don't want to fall into the trap of this battle," Ogier developed.

He ensures that he keeps a little margin even if he is "at ease" - and therefore "very fast" - in his car.

"I'm riding at my best, the gap is evolving as it is evolving. It's funny because we have changed I don't know how many times of leader since the start of the rally on Friday (six, always between the two men, editor's note) and, from the outside, it gives the impression of a battle really at daggers drawn, but hey ... "

The French Sébastien Ogier, at the wheel of his Toyota, during the 8th special of the Rally of Monza, on November 20, 2021 near the village of Pennini, not far from Bergamo Andreas SOLARO AFP

That did not prevent him, however, from playing on his teammate's nerves a little thanks to his choice of tires in the last special of the day.

"It disturbs him a bit if I ride with that, I also knew that," admits the Frenchman with a burst of laughter.

On the circuit

Behind the leading duo, Spaniard Dani Sordo (Hyundai) took third position on Saturday, 27 sec 4/10 from Ogier, when his Belgian teammate Thierry Neuville (fourth at 46 sec 6/10) damaged his car at the beginning of the morning.

"As long as Dani does not make a mistake, it will be impossible to go looking for him," prophesies Neuville.

The constructors' title is also being played in Italy this weekend: Toyota is 47 steps ahead of Hyundai, with a maximum of 52 points to seize.

On the French side, the hope Adrien Fourmaux (M-Sport Ford), forced to retire on Friday after an accident, resumed his rally having plunged into the depths of the standings (59th).

"I keep the margin. The goal is just to ride, to regain confidence and pleasure," he explains.

The French Adrien Fourmaux, driving his Ford Fiesta, during the 2nd special of the Rally de Monza, November 19, 2021 Andreas SOLARO AFP

And in the fight for the title in WRC3, one of the lower categories, the Frenchman Yohan Rossel maintains a slight advantage over the Polish Kajetan Kajetanowicz, whom he leads by 2 sec 6/10.

This Monza Rally only has three specials on the menu on Sunday, on the legendary circuit, from 7:48 a.m.

© 2021 AFP