Hirvonen in the lead, Ogier returns

Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta Super 2000) is, for the moment, in a chair. If the roads of Rally Monte-Carlo can turn out to be full of traps, the Finn has, at the end of SS10, almost fifty seconds ahead of Juho Hänninen (Skoda Fabia S2000). The fight is, however, tighter for third place since Sébastien Ogier (Peugeot 207 S2000) and Nicolas Vouilloz (Skoda Fabia S2000) exchanged positions several times during the day.

Fourth at the end of SS8, Ogier was very fast in the following special, regaining 25?? to his direct rival for the podium. The latter, fifth fastest in SS9, recognized that the driving conditions were not easy, even if some of the snow had melted. “ It was really complicated, it was difficult, he conceded at the end of his timed course. There is a lot of debris thrown up by previous cars, it was difficult to stay on the road. »

SS10, contested at night, then reinforced the comeback of Sébastien Ogier, best time for the fifth time, but not completely satisfied. “ It didn't go too well, there's a lot of mud on the road, it's slippery a lot », he commented upon his arrival.

He beat his rival for third place, Nicolas Vouilloz, by 5??5. “ It's not too bad, declared the winner of the IRC 2008. We almost went off the road so it was harder to get back on. We chose a mix of slick and snow tires but, on the mud, it slips a lot. »

Mikko Hirvonen, fourth fastest in this SS10, admitted that he could not do more. “ Tomorrow will be a long day because the drivers are really good. I lost time on the others even though I was driving hard. »

This Friday, the last day of competition, five special stages are on the program, one in the morning and especially four in the evening, with the Turini loop, which will ultimately determine the hierarchy between the drivers. Until the finish, everything is still possible.