The Monte Carlo Rally’s final day began with high drama as both Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta crashed out in treacherous conditions, leaving Toyota reeling from a double blow in quick succession. Overnight rain turned to ice in places, catching out drivers and turning the stage into a high-risk battleground.
Pajari’s bridge disaster ends his rally
Sami Pajari’s Monte Carlo campaign came to an abrupt halt when he overshot the entry to a bridge, smashing through the fencing on the left side and rolling into the ditch below. While both Pajari and his co-driver emerged unscathed, the crash marked the end of their rally, wiping out a promising sixth-place finish.
Katsuta’s hopes slide away
Just minutes before Pajari’s crash, Takamoto Katsuta’s rally came undone on a right-hander. The seventh-placed driver slid wide, clipped a wall, and ended up stranded on the side of the road. Frozen patches of the stage left Katsuta unable to extract his GR Yaris Rally1, and his co-driver, Aaron Johnston, discovered potential front-left wheel damage after input from spectators.
Katsuta’s Monte Carlo struggles continued with his seventh attempt at the iconic rally ending once again without a top-five finish.
Traction woes: risky tire choices backfire
The icy conditions were made worse by ambitious tire strategies. Sébastien Ogier, who extended his rally lead to 24.3 seconds, opted for full studded snow tires, a decision he credited for his stage-winning performance. “The tyre choices are different, we will need this gap for the next one,” Ogier said after dominating the stage.
In contrast, four crews—including Pajari, Katsuta, Adrien Fourmaux, and Kalle Rovanperä—chose a risky cross-pattern of studded snow tires and slick supersofts. The gamble proved costly for Fourmaux, who lost third place to Hyundai teammate Ott Tänak by 4.5 seconds.
Shuffling the standings
With Pajari and Katsuta out, Thierry Neuville capitalized to move into sixth place, while M-Sport’s Josh McErlean climbed to seventh. Notably, Katsuta’s crash had no bearing on manufacturer points, as he was not registered for Toyota’s tally at this event. Pajari, however, was driving for Toyota’s secondary manufacturer entrant, WRT2, amplifying the impact of his retirement.
Ogier edges closer to victory
As the rally heads toward its conclusion, Ogier remains firmly in control, managing his lead with strategic tire choices and masterful driving. While the chaotic morning reshuffled the midfield, the French rally legend looks poised to claim another Monte Carlo victory, showcasing his unrivaled experience in the most challenging of conditions.
