Sebastien Ogier is poised to etch his name deeper into rallying history as he closes in on an unprecedented 10th Monte Carlo Rally victory, following a masterclass in the French Alps on Saturday. Driving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Ogier delivered another flawless display, extending his lead to 20.3 seconds over teammate Elfyn Evans heading into Sunday’s decisive final leg.
Ogier’s experience shines through tough conditions
Despite facing treacherous conditions, including mud and loose gravel left by earlier cars, Ogier utilized his vast Monte Carlo experience to navigate the demanding stages with precision. Partnered with co-driver Vincent Landais, the part-time WRC competitor demonstrated why he remains a force in the championship, even when not competing full-time.
“It’s always better to have this advantage, but there are still some tricky stages to go,” Ogier remarked, acknowledging the unpredictability of the rally’s final stages.
The battle for the podium intensifies
Behind Ogier, the fight for second place is heating up. Toyota’s Elfyn Evans reclaimed the runner-up spot from Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux after a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Fourmaux, making an impressive debut for Hyundai, had briefly overtaken Evans in the morning, only for the Welshman to strike back during the afternoon loop. The two are separated by just 4.3 seconds, promising a nail-biting finish on Sunday.
Adding to the excitement, Ott Tänak surged into contention for a podium position after a remarkable afternoon. Setup adjustments to his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 unlocked more pace, allowing the Estonian to set blistering stage times and close to within 2.5 seconds of Fourmaux.
Rovanperä struggles as rivals capitalize
Kalle Rovanperä, returning to full-time competition after a part-time 2024 season, has yet to find his rhythm. The two-time world champion sits in fifth, 27.9 seconds behind Tänak. Rovanperä admitted his natural preference for faster, flowing roads left him struggling on Saturday’s tighter, more technical stages.
Further back, Toyota drivers Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari avoided major drama to secure sixth and seventh, respectively. However, reigning WRC champion Thierry Neuville endured another frustrating day. A power delivery issue on the first stage cost him nearly a minute, leaving him languishing in eighth, over five minutes behind Ogier.
WRC2 delivers drama as Rossel brothers shine
In the WRC2 class, Yohan Rossel continues to dominate, maintaining his perfect record of stage wins among points-scoring drivers. The Citroen C3 pilot now holds a nearly three-minute lead heading into Sunday. His younger brother, Leo Rossel, also impressed, climbing to second in class after a stunning final-stage performance edged him past Eric Camilli by just half a second.
What lies ahead on Sunday
The final day of the Monte Carlo Rally features three stages totaling 31.63 miles, culminating with the iconic Wolf Power Stage at La Bollène-Vésubie. With snow potentially on the horizon, conditions could shake up the leaderboard, offering a final challenge for Ogier and his rivals.
For Ogier, a record-breaking 10th Monte Carlo win is within reach. For the chasing pack, every second counts as they battle for podium positions and valuable championship points.
WRC Monte Carlo Rally: Positions after Saturday/Leg Two (SS15)
- Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 2h42m48.2s
- Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +20.3s
- Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +24.6s
- Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +27.1s
- Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +55.0s
- Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +1m43.7s
- Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +4m09.9s
- Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +5m17.5s
- Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) – +8m25.4s
- Nikolay Gryazin/Konstantin Aleksandrov (Skoda Fabia RS – WRC2 non-points) – +8m33.0s
With the rally set for a thrilling conclusion, fans eagerly await to see if Ogier can make history or if late drama will rewrite the script.