WRC Monte Carlo: Ogier claims record-extending 10th Monte Carlo win

Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier took a record-extending 10th Monte Carlo victory after holding his nerve in a dramatic climax to the World Rally Championship season opener.

Ogier and co-driver vincent landis Kept in control on final stage to take memorable win by 18.4s from Toyota team-mate elfyn evansWith Hyundai’s new signature Adrien Fourmaux Taking the final podium spot (+25.9s).

Eight-time world champion Ogier dominated the rally, but it was not without some wild moments as the WRC entered an unknown quantity of non-hybrid Rally 1 cars and new control tires from Hankook.

Ogier would have led at the end of Thursday night had he not flirted with a gap that cost him valuable time. The Frenchman bounced back to move into the lead on stage eight on Friday. Ogier survived another wild moment on Saturday, but was able to extend his advantage to 20.3s.

A mixture of changeable weather and tire calls meant that the opening round of the season was scheduled for a final day sprint. Reports of snow on the final Col du Turini stage prompted Ogier and Evans to take four snow tires and two slicks, while Fourmaux gambled with four slicks and two snow tyres.

The gamble initially appeared in favor of Fourmaux, who placed himself third in the penultimate stage. It ultimately came down to a final stage shootout as conditions changed by the minute.

Fourmaux gave a committed run, but Evans responded by beating the Hyundai driver by 3.5s to finish second despite clipping a bank with the rear of his GR Yaris. However, the pair could not stop ‘Monte Master’ Ogier from taking victory, claiming the Power Stage in the process by 0.3s. On to Evans to grab five bonus Super Sunday points.

Kalle Rovanperä, making his full-time return to the WRC, found it a difficult adjustment to Hankook’s super soft tyres, admitting that he needed to change his driving style. This left him in fifth place, but was able to snatch fourth (+54.3s) from Hyundai Ot Tanak Thanks to a smart tire option for the final step.

Tanak was left to settle for fifth (+58.9s) after a clean sweep of Saturday’s afternoon stages.

reigning world champion Thierry Neuville He had a tough start to his title defense to finish an eventful rally in sixth (+5M44.2S).

The Hyundai driver held a two-second lead after Ogier’s error on Thursday night, but his rally began to unravel on stage six when he misjudged his braking into a tight right hairpin. An excursion into a ditch, damaging the left rear suspension on his i20 N. The Belgian managed to pull his wheel behind him through the stage and return to service briefly on a road section, which incurred a €10,000 fine.

Having lost almost two minutes after the incident, Neuville went into the same corner on the second pass while carrying a puncture, one of the first suffered by New Tire supplier Hankook.

Neuville had finished eighth in Sunday’s final three stages, but moved up to sixth behind Toyota. Takamoto Katsusa And sami priest Hit trouble on stage 16.

Katsuta had enjoyed a relatively trouble-free rally until he slid off the road in slippery conditions. Spectators attempted to push their GR Yaris back onto the road, but the car was stuck resulting in an unfortunate retirement.

Teammate Pajari made his first start in his first full-time campaign with Toyota following Katsuta’s exit. The Finn also made steady progress through the rally, although a wild moment on stage six knocked the tire off the rim.

But in icy conditions on Stage 16, Pajari made heavy contact with a bridge, knocking him out of sixth place.

M-Sport’s Josh McClaren faced a baptism of fire on his debut in a Rally 1 car on the Challenge asphalt roads of Monte Carlo. The 25-year-old Irishman grew in confidence as the rally progressed, reaching seventh place on debut.

teammates gregoire muenster Friday emerged as one of the stars of the rally after an inspired tire choice and impressive pace lifted the Luxembourger to fourth. However, his Ford Puma developed a terminal mechanical issue upon its return to service, requiring a repair that was not completed until 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

Munster rejoined the rally on Saturday, where he backed up his momentum by taking a maiden WRC stage win. A crash on Stage 17 ultimately left the Ford driver without any points, ending what appeared to be a promising weekend.

In WRC2, Citroën’s Yohan Rossel claims thrashing victory Eric Camille By 1m23.3s, Rosell remained in third place with brother Leo.