A déjà vu for Hänninen at Monte-Carlo

In 2009, Juho Hänninen largely dominated the start of the Monte-Carlo Rally before going off the road and handing victory to Sébastien Ogier. In 2011, the Skoda driver was still well ahead at the end of the first stage. But he has a lot more experience.

Published on 19/01/2011 à 17:22

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IRC title holder, Juho Hänninen was the most consistent in this first stage of the Centenary edition of Rally Automobile Monte-Carlo. Author of the scratch in Burzet then in the first passage in Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, the Finn and his Skoda Fabia Super 2000 lost less than a second in Antraigues and St-Bonnet 2.

A total of these four special stages, no other driver has been able to rise to his level. And if Stéphane Sarrazin (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) achieved a top performance in SS1, the three-time Le Mans pole-sitter quickly fell into line.

Freddy Loix, with a better time to end the day, increased his pace all day to return to Valencia in second position? at already 44??5.

Expectedly, Petter Solberg took a few kilometers to find the right rhythm with a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 that he discovered. Sixth, second, third and third of the four special stages, the Norwegian progressed in the general classification to finish the day in third place, 55??3 behind the leader.

First leader, Stéphane Sarrazin follows his teammate for a weekend at 55??5 from Juho Hänninen.

With more than a minute left, Guy Wilks (Peugeot), Jan Kopecky (Skoda) and Bryan Bouffier (Peugeot) lacked pace on desperately dry roads today.

François Delecour (Peugeot) continues to defend himself admirably. The former winner is in eighth place, in the wake of reigning French Champion Bryan Bouffier.

Other French entrants, Jean-Sébastien Vigion (Peugeot) and Julien Maurin (Ford) complete the top 10, more than three minutes behind.

The list of abandonments is already impressive. Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda), Henning Solberg (Ford), PG Andersson (Proton), Thierry Neuville (Peugeot) and Chris Atkinson (Proton) left the rally in the morning.

In 2009, Juho Hänninen was 1 ahead of Sébastien Ogier after SS8 (St-Bonnet). He was out before the end of the second stage between Lamastre and Alboussière.