There are only two drivers left in the bid for the World Championship title at the penultimate round of the 2021 season, the Rally España – Catalonia. These are the two Toyota teammates, Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans. 

As things stand everything points to the Frenchman claiming his eighth WRC title next Sunday in Salou. With only two rounds remaining in the calendar, there is a maximum of 60 points still up for grabs (25 per race and five more in each of the two ‘Power Stage’ specials). 

Sebastien Ogier, with his firm hold of the standings, leads teammate Elfyn Evans by 24 points. In simple terms, he would only need to take seven more points than the Welshman in order to revalidate his crown. Thierry Neuville remains in third place of the classification but is already out of the fight for the crown. 

The title will, of course, go to the driver with the most points at the end of the season but if Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans happen to finish in a tie, the glory will go to the contestant with the most second places.

If they were also matched in number of second places, their results would be compared successively for third, fourth and so on positions, until finding a winner. 

In this sense, Sebastien Ogier has an important advantage. He has claimed four rounds (Montecarlo, Croatia, Sardegna & Kenya) during 2021, while Evans has taken only two (Portugal and Finland).

If the Welshman takes Spain and later Italy; he would equal Ogier in number of wins. If that happens, the ace from Gap would need to finish second at both appointments or the title would be for his British partner. 

Here is a summary of every other scenario that would give Sebastien Ogier his coveted eighth title: 

• He wins the Rally de España and the Power Stage or finishes second at the Power Stage as long as Evans does not win it. 
• Wins the Rally without getting any points on the Power Stage and Evans finishes below third in both the race and the Power Stage. 
• He wins Rally de España and Evans finishes second as long as neither of them scores on the Power Stage. 
• He finishes second in the Rally and Evans takes fifth or lower in both the Rally and the Power Stage.
• He finishes second in the Rally and takes the Power Stage while Evans finished below third in the Rally and below fifth in the Power Stage.  
• He comes third at the Rally and Evans finishes in sixth place or below without scoring on the Power Stage. 
• Finishes third in the Rally and wins the Power Stage, with Evans finishing fourth or below in the Rally and no better than fifth in the Power Stage. 
• Takes fourth in the Rally and wins the Power Stage while Evans finishes fifth or below and doesn’t score any points in the Power Stage. 
• Finishes fourth at the Rally and second or below on the Power Stage and Evans takes sixth place or worse at the Rally and fifth or below at the Power Stage. 
• Both retire or fail to qualify in the top ten at the Rally, regardless of their results on the Power Stage. 

Images of Sebastien Ogier: Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT.