The French Bryan Bouffier (Ford) is the surprise of the Rallye Monte-Carlo’s Day 1, the opening round of the 2014 WRC calendar. Bouffier has almost 40 seconds advantage over the Brit Kris Meeke (Citroën). The French started the day in second, and drove as low as forth before jumping to the lead after winning SS3, held on the High Alps, and kept the first position overall until the end despite somewhat slower times during the afternoon loop.
Meanwhile, Meeke was not as consistent; he started sixth and then changed position between the third and second spots overall, but always under great pressure. First it was Dani Sordo (Hyundai), but the withdraw of the Spaniard (alternator problems on his way to SS4) gave way to the attacks from the Polish Robert Kubica (Ford), who finished the day in third, just 0,7s from the Brit.
The World Champion Sébastien Ogier (VW), driving at home in the region of Gap, wasn’t able to take an advantage and had a difficult day. After setting the third time on SS1, the Gaul felt several difficulties, especially at the end of the first loop, managing only 22nd on SS3 and dropping to ninth overall. During the afternoon Ogier started to close the gap to the front and jumped to the fourth position after winning the SS5, a pace he then repeated on the day’s last stage.
Mads Ostberg (Citroën) is fifth, with Jari-Matti Latvala (VW), Mikko Hirvonen (Ford), Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) and Olivier Burri (Ford, RC2) also in the top 10.
Meanwhile, Hyundai had a day to forget on its return to the WRC. Thierry Neuville crashed out on SS1, while the aforementioned Sordo ended the rally before SS4.
The French Bryan Bouffier (Ford) is the surprise of the Rallye Monte-Carlo’s Day 1, the opening round of the 2014 WRC calendar. Bouffier has almost 40 seconds advantage over the Brit Kris Meeke (Citroën). The French started the day in second, and drove as low as forth before jumping to the lead after winning SS3, held on the High Alps, and kept the first position overall until the end despite somewhat slower times during the afternoon loop.
Meanwhile, Meeke was not as consistent; he started sixth and then changed position between the third and second spots overall, but always under great pressure. First it was Dani Sordo (Hyundai), but the withdraw of the Spaniard (alternator problems on his way to SS4) gave way to the attacks from the Polish Robert Kubica (Ford), who finished the day in third, just 0,7s from the Brit.
The World Champion Sébastien Ogier (VW), driving at home in the region of Gap, wasn’t able to take an advantage and had a difficult day. After setting the third time on SS1, the Gaul felt several difficulties, especially at the end of the first loop, managing only 22nd on SS3 and dropping to ninth overall. During the afternoon Ogier started to close the gap to the front and jumped to the fourth position after winning the SS5, a pace he then repeated on the day’s last stage.
Mads Ostberg (Citroën) is fifth, with Jari-Matti Latvala (VW), Mikko Hirvonen (Ford), Andreas Mikkelsen (VW) and Olivier Burri (Ford, RC2) also in the top 10.
Meanwhile, Hyundai had a day to forget on its return to the WRC. Thierry Neuville crashed out on SS1, while the aforementioned Sordo ended the rally before SS4.