Sébastien Ogier (42) has personally spoken out after his serious accident at Rally Finland. The rally star and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia (46) are staying in the hospital for observation, but according to their own statements, they did not suffer serious injuries. "Julien and I both came to the hospital for some tests, and after the heavy impact we are staying there overnight as a precaution", Ogier wrote on Instagram. "But we are both fine, and that is what matters most."
The accident happened on the 17th stage, at a time when Ogier was leading the field. His Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 went off the track at high speed, rolled over multiple times and slid toward the trees. A rescue helicopter then flew the Frenchman to the hospital. What triggered the crash is still unclear.
A strong car and an attentive co-driver
Ogier made no secret of his disappointment about the sporting setback: "This is obviously not what we had hoped for this weekend, especially after things were going so well." However, something else was more important to him. "The main thing is that we stayed safe. So a big thank you to the team that built such a strong car."
He dedicated a separate paragraph to his co-driver. Ingrassia had taken care of him immediately after the impact and also reassured his family, Ogier wrote. He also thanked everyone for the many get-well wishes and gave his teammates his support: "Bring it home, boys!"
Andrea Kaiser waiting at home
Among the family that Ingrassia had to reassure is Andrea Kaiser (44), who has been part of it since 2014. The German TV host has been married to the nine-time world champion since then, and together they have a son. For Kaiser, the crash in Finland must have been a frightening moment, the kind that relatives of motorsport athletes fear most.
The 44-year-old has been one of the country's most well-known sports hosts for years. She appears on camera for Sat.1 for the "ran" broadcasts, and is also regularly in action on ProSieben.
"Back to strength soon"
Ogier left open how long the forced break will last. "We will rest a bit now and make sure we are back to strength soon", he announced. A date for the comeback has not yet been set.
