Sébastien Ogier is poised to claim an unprecedented 10th Rallye Monte-Carlo victory after a masterclass in precision and consistency on Saturday. The French driver, piloting a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, further extended his lead, setting the stage for a commanding finish in Sunday’s final leg.
A Flawless Performance in Challenging Conditions
Saturday’s six demanding stages in the French Alps tested drivers with muddy and loose surfaces, especially for Ogier, who faced degraded conditions starting 10th. Despite these challenges, the eight-time world champion utilized his wealth of experience, maintaining a calculated pace to grow his lead from 12.6 seconds on Friday to 20.3 seconds by day’s end.
“We are still in the lead. It’s not increasing much, but it’s still going the right way,” Ogier remarked. “It was a positive day, but I am happy to have it behind me.”
Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais showcased impeccable teamwork, keeping rivals at bay despite intense battles for podium positions behind them.
A Fierce Battle for Second Place
Elfyn Evans and Adrien Fourmaux engaged in a gripping duel for second place, trading positions throughout the day. Fourmaux, making an impressive Hyundai WRC debut, surged ahead in the morning, claiming second on SS11. However, Evans fought back in the afternoon, regaining his position by a narrow 4.3-second margin.
Meanwhile, Ott Tänak emerged as a formidable contender after Hyundai’s setup adjustments unleashed more speed from his i20 N. The Estonian driver overtook Kalle Rovanperä on SS13 and delivered a stunning stage win on SS14, closing to within 2.5 seconds of Fourmaux by the end of the day.
Challenges for Other Competitors
Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanperä struggled on the day’s tighter, technical roads, finishing 27.9 seconds behind Tänak in fifth. Toyota teammates Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari maintained steady performances, occupying sixth and seventh positions, respectively.
Thierry Neuville, however, endured a frustrating day, grappling with a power delivery issue on SS10 that cost him 50 seconds and left him eighth overall.
For M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver Grégoire Munster, the day was bittersweet. He celebrated his first WRC stage win on Saturday’s opener but remained out of contention for overall positions after Friday’s technical retirement. Fellow Puma debutant Josh McErlean showed steady improvement, climbing to ninth overall.
Sunday’s Final Challenge
The rally concludes with three more stages as competitors head south from Gap to Monaco. Ogier holds a strong position, but the battle for the remaining podium spots promises an exhilarating finale.
Current Standings After Saturday (SS15/18):
- S Ogier / V Landais (FRA) Toyota GR Yaris – 2h 42m 48.2s
- E Evans / S Martin (GBR) Toyota GR Yaris – +20.3s
- A Fourmaux / A Coria (FRA) Hyundai i20 N – +24.6s
- O Tänak / M Järveoja (EST) Hyundai i20 N – +27.1s
- K Rovanperä / J Halttunen (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris – +55.0s
- T Katsuta / A Johnston (JPN) Toyota GR Yaris – +1m 43.7s
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. For further details, contact the event organizers or respective teams.
Source: WRC
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
