WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo: Ogier dominates opening day to take early lead
20th January 2023Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier topped the timing board at the end of the opening night as the Frenchman embarks on a potential ninth Rallye Monte-Carlo win.
Ogier showcased his talent amongst the French Alps to set the fastest times across the opening day, a venue he won eight times previously. This meant the Frenchman topped the timing board six-seconds faster than his Welsh teammate, Elfyn Evans after 40km.
Despite snowy conditions prior to the event, the opening stage was dry which put further emphasis on the drivers, and teams, tyre selection. As most of the drivers opted for a soft tyre run in the first run of Col de Turini, it meant the drivers were hindered by the rubber beneath them.
M-Sport Ford’s newest arrival, and returning driver, Ott Tanak rounded out the top three nearly 10 seconds off Evan’s pace – in second. The Estonian reported after his run, on SS1, that he had an electrical issue on the road section which meant he couldn’t use fifth gear.
Hyundai’s leading man, Thierry Neuville, sat in fourth place – 15.5 seconds off Ogier’s pace, one tenth behind Tanak (P3) and 1.6 seconds faster than the reigning world champion, Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera (P5).
Despite being the first driver out on the opening stage, setting the benchmark of 10 minutes 30 seconds, Rovanpera could only manage P5 by the end of the night. The young Finn was forced to manage his tyres to keep his front soft tyres from overheating.
Dani Sordo (Hyundai), Pierre-Louis Loubet (Ford), Eskapekka Lappi (Hyundai) and Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta were sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth respectively ahead of WRC 2 driver Nikolay Gryazin who rounded out the top 10.
On Friday, the event will force drivers further north with a double loop of three stages which will cover a total distance of 105.34km. The loops will consist of two separate runs through Roure/Roubion/Beuil, Pueget-Theniers/Saint-Antonin and Brianconnet/Entrevaux.
As the drivers head further north it means the cars will not be able to return for a service until they return at approximately 7pm.
That’s all for the article; WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo: Ogier dominates opening day to take early lead!
Who is your early contender for the Rallye Monte-Carlo win? Let us know in the comments!
Read more WRC here:
- WRC 2023 Monte Carlo Preview
- Toyota reveal WRC 2023 Yaris Rally1
- WRC, World RX and fans mourn death of Ken Block
- Ken Block, 55, dies in Snowmobile accident
- Pierre-Louis Loubet gets full-time WRC drive with Ford
- Ott Tanak signs with M-Sport Ford for WRC 2023
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