Big cold snap on this 93rd Monte-Carlo rally. Or at least, an air conditioning on Sébastien Ogier’s supporters. Irresistible during the first two specials this Thursday evening, between Digne-les-Bains and Chaudon-Norante (19.01 km) then between Faucon-du-Caire and Bréziers (21.18 km), where he signed each time the best time, the Gapençais could have lost everything on the first day during the last piece that awaited the drivers.
Indeed, during the SS3 between Avançon and Notre-Dame-du-Laus (13.97 km), the eight-time world champion made a mistake at the start of the special, leaving the road, but he arrived to miraculously remain on a part of asphalt to leave again. “We hit the stakes and we’re lucky to get away with it“, noted the latter. In the end, a big scare and above all seconds lost against Thierry Neuville, who now occupies the lead in the general standings, and Elfyn Evans, who is in second position. This Thursday evening, the Haut-Alpin is 3rd, a little less than thirteen seconds behind the reigning world champion (12″7). The other Frenchman, Adrien Fourmaux, also lost time in this last act, almost twenty seconds. He is now 5th, 30 seconds behind the leader.
Friday is a very busy day that awaits the drivers with six special stages: three in the morning (9:31 a.m. – SS4: Saint-Maurice – Aubessagne 1, 18.68 km; 10:34 a.m. – SS5: Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes – La Bâtie-Neuve 1, 16.68 km; 11:42 a.m. – SS6: La Bréole – Lorsnet 1, 18.31 km)and three in the afternoon (3:23 p.m. – SS7: Saint-Maurice – Aubessagne 2, 18.68 km; 4:26 p.m. – SS8: Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes – La Bâtie-Neuve 2, 16.68 km; 5:34 p.m. – SS9: La Bréole – Lorsnet 2, 18.31 km).
WRC ranking after three stages
1. T. Neuville/M. Wydaeghe (BEL, Hyundai) in 32’58″8, 2. E. Evans/S. Martin (GBR, Toyota) à 2″, 3. S. OGIER/V. LANDAIS (Toyota) à 12″8, 4. O. Tänak/M. Järveoja (EST, Hyundai) à 27″, 5. A. FOURMAUX/A. CORIA (Hyundai) à 30″, 6. K. Rovanperä/J. Halttunen (FIN, Toyota) à 41″9, 7. G. Munster (Luxembourg)/L. Louka (LUX/BEL) at 48″8, 8. T. Katsuta/Johnston (JAP/IRL, Toyota) at 53″3, 9. S. Pajari/M. Salminen (FIN, Toyota) at 1’24″4,.. 11. J. McErlean/E. Treacy (IRL, Ford M-Sport) at 2’53″9….
