Ogier Wins Fifth Rally Sardinia, Tightens Title Race

Sebastien Ogier won the WRC Rally Italia Sardegna for a record fifth time, narrowly defeating Ott Tanak by 7.9 seconds after overcoming late drama on the final stage. Ogier's victory, his third of the season, cuts his championship deficit to 19 points behind leader Elfyn Evans. The rally was marked by high attrition, with Hyundai's Thierry Neuville retiring after an accident and several other top drivers dropping out due to crashes or mechanical issues. Ogier's consistent performance continues his strong form following his Rally Portugal win, despite competing on a part-time schedule. Toyota has now won all six rallies this season, underlining their dominance. The close points race is setting up a tight championship battle for the remainder of the season.