End of evening spoiled for Ogier, Neuville leader of Monte-Carlo 2025

A mistake by Sébastien Ogier in the final special of the evening handed the lead of the Monte-Carlo 2025 to Thierry Neuville, who wasn't asking for so much.

Published 23/01/2025 à 21:57

Gonzalo Forbes

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End of evening spoiled for Ogier, Neuville leader of Monte-Carlo 2025

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After a perfect start marked by two consecutive scratch times in this Monte-Carlo 2025, Sébastien Ogier almost lost everything. In the running to sign a perfect evening, the pilot Toyota made a mistake during the third and final special stage this Thursday evening to the point of nearly causing a disaster.

The Gapençais indeed made a mistake after the first sector of SS3 and almost finished his race in the ravine. His experience undoubtedly allowed him to catch up with his Yaris and limit the damage. Difficult of course, regretted the nine-time winner of the event. There is a lot of mud on the road, we hit a pole on the side. It is always a chance to get out of it » Inevitably, his misadventures played into the hands of his rivals in front of him, particularly Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans.

By dropping about fifteen seconds in the affair, Sébastien Ogier lost the lead of this Monte-Carlo 2025. He thus returned to the service park in third place overall, 12 seconds behind the almost surprised Thierry Neuville. Elfyn Evans, who set the scratch of SS8 to allow Toyota to continue its faultless run, is sandwiched between the two champions. The Welshman is only two seconds behind Neuville.

To Adrien fourmaux, there were two faces this Thursday evening. One cautious and another offensive. After starting gently, the Northerner attacked during SS2 to return to just two tenths of the provisional podium of this Monte-Carlo 2025. Unfortunately, the final outing of the evening was more delicate and the driver Hyundai let a lot of time slip away to the point of falling to 5th place just behind Ott Tänak, yet very discreet this Thursday evening. I didn't have good feelings, explained the Tricolore at the end of the loop, nevertheless appearing calm for the rest of the weekend. I was afraid of being trapped (...) This is just the beginning, the rally is very long »

General classification of Monte-Carlo 2025 after the first three special stages

In WRC2, Nikolay Gryazin completed SS2 in the lead of the category, ahead of Yohan Rossel by 6 seconds, while his younger brother Leo Rossel was in 3th place, 4 seconds behind.

However, the class ranking remains provisional because SS3 was neutralized after Yohan Rossel's passage. Only he, Nikolay Gryazin and Oliver Solberg had reached the finish line. Gryazin appeared first with a 7" margin on the Frenchman before the red flag appeared.

The resumption of the 2025 Monte-Carlo Rally is scheduled for 9:31 a.m. this Friday and will be followed once again on AUTOhebdo.

The complete ranking

ALSO READ > Our favorites for Monte-Carlo 2025

Gonzalo Forbes

In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.

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1 Comment (s)

G

Gibelon

23/01/2025 at 10:47 a.m.

Sébastien will be in front tomorrow, I saw the mini outing, I don't understand why he doesn't leave straight away at the end of the slide!

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