After a somewhat poor start to the defense of his World Champion crown – he ran as low as ninth overall and was 22nd on SS3 – Sébastien Ogier (VW) finally took the lead of the Rallye Monte-Carlo. Driving strong, the Gaul climbed to the second spot overall, after having won the day’s first Stage, Vitrolles/Faye, but his countryman Bryan Bouffier (Ford) replied with the best time on SS8 – Selonnet / Bréziers. However, Bouffier’s stamina was short lived, with Ogier winning two more Special Stages to finish today’s Leg with a 51.1 seconds advantage over the Ford driver, who was sixth on SS11; his worst result today.
Meanwhile, Kris Meeke (Citroën) was also forced down the order to the third spot, despite being one of the most consistent drivers, having finished twice in forth and three times in third in the Stages held this Friday. Behind him, and benefiting from Robert Kubica’s (Ford) crashing out on SS9, Mads Ostberg (Citroën) took over the fourth spot overall, although his Stage results have varied from 8th to 2nd.”
Making up for the time lost, Ogier’s teammate Jari-Mati Latvala, finished the Second Leg in fifth, although it wasn’t an easy task. After having started the day in sixth, the Finn dived to the 8th place overall, after having been 10th on SS9. Only after this did the Volkswagen driver manage to step up the pace, winning today’s last stage.
Elfyn Evans (Ford), Mikko Hirvonen (Ford), Andreas Mikkelsen (VW), Jaroslav Melichárek (Ford) and Yuriy Protasov (Ford) closed the top 10.
After a somewhat poor start to the defense of his World Champion crown – he ran as low as ninth overall and was 22nd on SS3 – Sébastien Ogier (VW) finally took the lead of the Rallye Monte-Carlo. Driving strong, the Gaul climbed to the second spot overall, after having won the day’s first Stage, Vitrolles/Faye, but his countryman Bryan Bouffier (Ford) replied with the best time on SS8 – Selonnet / Bréziers. However, Bouffier’s stamina was short lived, with Ogier winning two more Special Stages to finish today’s Leg with a 51.1 seconds advantage over the Ford driver, who was sixth on SS11; his worst result today.
Meanwhile, Kris Meeke (Citroën) was also forced down the order to the third spot, despite being one of the most consistent drivers, having finished twice in forth and three times in third in the Stages held this Friday. Behind him, and benefiting from Robert Kubica’s (Ford) crashing out on SS9, Mads Ostberg (Citroën) took over the fourth spot overall, although his Stage results have varied from 8th to 2nd.”
Making up for the time lost, Ogier’s teammate Jari-Mati Latvala, finished the Second Leg in fifth, although it wasn’t an easy task. After having started the day in sixth, the Finn dived to the 8th place overall, after having been 10th on SS9. Only after this did the Volkswagen driver manage to step up the pace, winning today’s last stage.
Elfyn Evans (Ford), Mikko Hirvonen (Ford), Andreas Mikkelsen (VW), Jaroslav Melichárek (Ford) and Yuriy Protasov (Ford) closed the top 10.