The Monte Carlo Rally delivered high-stakes drama on Friday as Elfyn Evans surged to the lead in a tumultuous morning riddled with misfortune for rivals Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak. What started as a tricky icy stage turned into a day of survival as road conditions wreaked havoc on the field.
Evans capitalizes on rivals’ missteps
Despite not setting the fastest times early in the day, Elfyn Evans claimed the rally lead after a steady performance on SS4 and avoiding the chaos that followed. The Welshman managed the rapidly changing conditions on the icy asphalt, pulling 2.8 seconds clear of Neuville to take the top spot.
“You have to drive a little bit with your eyes,” Evans said, highlighting the challenge of inconsistent grip levels. “It’s difficult to trust them when it’s in and out of the shade.” His cautious but clean approach proved decisive.
Disaster for Neuville and Tänak
Thierry Neuville’s Friday unraveled on SS6. The reigning world champion’s Hyundai i20 N slid off at a downhill hairpin, dropping into a ditch and ripping off the left-rear wheel. Limping to the finish nearly two minutes down, Neuville acknowledged the challenge of the changing grip:
“It felt like the tire was stable, and suddenly I just lost brake efficiency.” Temporary roadside repairs got him back to service, but his bid for victory took a massive hit, dropping him to ninth overall.
Meanwhile, Ott Tänak also found trouble. The Estonian ran wide on a left-hander, swiping a telegraph pole and ripping off most of his Hyundai’s rear bodywork. Miraculously, the car remained mechanically sound, allowing Tänak to stay in contention in fifth overall.
“There is a lot missing,” he joked, referring to the shredded rear bodywork, “but I’m happy to be here.”
Ogier in striking distance
Sébastien Ogier, aiming for another Monte Carlo triumph, kept the pressure on. The Frenchman clipped a bank on SS6 but escaped unscathed, finishing 2.5 seconds faster than Evans to trail by just 1.5 seconds overall.
“There’s still some big grip changes in there,” Ogier reported, underlining the unpredictable conditions.
Fourmaux and Munster shine in chaotic morning
Adrien Fourmaux delivered the performance of the morning, setting the fastest time on SS6 to climb into third overall. His calm and clean driving earned praise, with Fourmaux saying, “I had some good fun, took it clean, and made no mistakes.”
Grégoire Munster emerged as the surprise star, taking bold risks with an unconventional tire strategy. While most competitors stuck with studded tires, Munster mixed and eventually ditched them entirely, a gamble that paid off with two near-stage wins.
“It was crazy,” Munster said, visibly shaken but elated. “I pushed like hell, but it was really on the limit.” He now sits fourth overall, just 0.5 seconds ahead of Tänak.
Rovanperä plays it safe
Defending champion Kalle Rovanperä used his advantageous road position to claim the fastest time on SS4, but a conservative approach on SS6 saw him slip to sixth overall, just 0.1 seconds behind Tänak.
“It was a safe run,” Rovanperä admitted, saving his efforts for the long game.
The top 10 battle intensifies
Behind Rovanperä, Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari sit seventh and eighth, respectively. Pajari narrowly avoided disaster at the same spot where Ogier clipped a bank. Meanwhile, Neuville’s damaged Hyundai left him ninth, while Nikolay Gryazin in the leading Rally2 car rounds out the top 10.
What’s next?
With Friday afternoon stages still to come, the Monte Carlo Rally remains wide open. Evans holds a slim 1.5-second lead over Ogier, while Fourmaux and Munster are close enough to pounce. The unpredictable conditions and high stakes promise more drama as drivers battle the elements—and each other—for rally supremacy.