The two most beautiful winners of the world rally are French and are called Sébastien.

From 2004 to 2012, Loeb l'Alsacien then, in 2013, Ogier le Haut-Alpin crushed the discipline.

The same domination or almost, the coronation having escaped the second in 2019.

Awards of Sébastien Ogier Paul DEFOSSEUX AFP

With the latter's early retirement, which will only compete in a few rallies in 2022 with Toyota, it is the end of an era.

But one question remains: which one is stronger?

If we keep only the numbers, Loeb is N.1 with nine titles against eight.

The Alsatian also keeps the palm with 79 successes for 180 starts (43.9% of victories), 119 podiums (66.1%) and 921 specials won.

Ogier is 54 wins for 168 starts (32.1%), 91 podiums (54.2%) and 632 specials won.

The French driver Sébastien Loeb (d) and his co-driver Daniel Elena, perched on their Citroën, celebrate their victory in the Rally of Catalonia, November 11, 2012 in Salou JOSEP LAGO AFP / Archives

"Loeb has more titles but Ogier was able to win with different manufacturers," tempers their former rival Jari-Matti Latvala, now boss of the Toyota team and therefore of the second Seb.

The former won only in Citroëns, although he was on the podium for Hyundai.

The second was titled with three manufacturers: Volkswagen (2013-2016), Ford in the private M-Sport team (2017-2018) - a feat - and Toyota (2020-2021).

French driver Sébastien Ogier, driving his Ford, during Rally Australia, November 17, 2018 near Coffs Harbor WILLIAM WEST AFP / Archives

"The toughest fights in the WRC"

"Ogier's fights were (also) the toughest in WRC history," said Richard Millener, M-Sport Team Principal.

French driver Sébastien Ogier, driving his Toyota Yaris, during the 19th special of Rally Finland, October 3, 2021 Jussi Nukari Lehtikuva / AFP / Archives

"The intensity of the championship has tended to increase over time", abounds the person concerned.

"Nowadays there are only three manufacturers but there are so many years when there were fewer ... And it's been two years since five crews stand out and are able to win every rally."

Ogier will be 38, Loeb is 47. The differences in their career can be explained by the decade between them.

When the youngest, trained by Citroën, arrives in the premier category within the French brand, the clash is inevitable.

After the 2011 season, Ogier left the fold.

Photo montage of the two French rally drivers, Sébastien Ogier (l) and Sébastien Loeb, on September 30, 2010 in Strasbourg and October 24, 2010 in Spain PATRICK HERTZOG AFP / Archives

"I knew we were letting a real diamond go. It was painful to lose such a driver, who had grown up with us, but we had other projects with Loeb", remembers Xavier Mestelan Pinon, former manager of Citroën Racing .

Seven-time world rally champion, Frenchman Sébastien Loeb (d) and his Citroën teammate Sébastien Ogier sign autographs before the start of Rally Australia on September 8, 2011 at Coffs Harbor TORSTEN BLACKWOOD AFP / Archives

Ogier had to work hard in 2012 at Skoda, in WRC2, before the consecration in 2013 with Volkswagen.

Forced to change, he made it a force.

Except - irony - with Citroën, the only brand with which it has not been titled, despite its return in 2019.

The eight-time world champion remains the heir of Loeb, the "model" thanks to which he and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia put themselves "as much pressure to try to reach their level", said Ogier himself.

"He came to us very young and trained with him," recalls Mestelan Pinon.

"He had the talent and the potential, and he also had the chance to learn from the best. At the beginning, he applied himself to + copy + Sébastien on a lot of parameters, notes, car settings or the way to fly. "

"They brought the style"

“They changed the rally. They brought their style by being very precise, very direct, adds Latvala. Before, the drivers were much more aggressive on gravel. Loeb arrived by starting to be much straighter with the car, without slipping. . Ogier continued. "

The French driver Sébastien Loeb, at the wheel of his Citroën, during the 5th special of the Rallye d'Alsace, October 5, 2012 in Gueberschwihr FREDERICK FLORIN AFP / Archives

There remain two different personalities, according to the three-time vice-world champion: "Loeb is quieter, while Ogier is more brawler. When the situation is tense, he gets involved more, he attacks more. Loeb, for me, is more calculator ".

"Loeb passes more for the perfect son-in-law and Ogier for someone a little harsh or withdrawn. Perhaps a less sympathetic image in the eyes of the general public", considers Mestelan Pinon.

"But, in the work, they come together: they want to win more than anything and will leave only crumbs to their opponents".

The eight-time world rally champion, Frenchman Sébastien Loeb, signs autographs on January 17, 2012 in Valence, on the eve of the start of the 80th edition of the Monte-Carlo Rally PHILIPPE MERLE AFP / Archives

Loyalty to their co-pilots (for Loeb, Daniel Elena and, for Ogier, Ingrassia, who is retiring) also unites them.

Like the desire for something else.

The eldest, second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006, continued his career in touring cars, rallycross and even the Dakar.

The youngest does not hide his desire to drive at Le Mans.

But, in 2022, it is in the WRC that the two Seb could be face to face again for a few freelance periods, Loeb discussing with M-Sport.

The story continues.

© 2021 AFP