WRC

Monte-Carlo Rally: Ogier ahead of Loeb on the shakedown

Sébastien Ogier-Benjamin Veillas drove five tenths faster than Sébastien Loeb-Isabelle Galmiche on the short shakedown of the 2022 Monte-Carlo Rally.

Published on 20/01/2022 à 13:50

Medhi Casaurang

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Monte-Carlo Rally: Ogier ahead of Loeb on the shakedown

The new Toyota Yaris WRC hybrid from Ogier-Veillas leads the shakedown of the 2022 Monte-Carlo Rally. © WRC

Contested for the first time between Sainte-Agnes and Peille (2,24 km), the shakedown of Rally Monte-Carlo put the two French stars of the World Rally Championship (WRC), Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb, in the spotlight, this Thursday, January 20.

First of all, it was the Alsatian who shot first. The nine-time world champion, for his first outing with Isabelle Galmiche on his right aboard the Ford Puma hybrid, set the best time during the first pass in the morning, while the recent second in the Dakar 2022 did not hear the notes from his co-pilot.

READ ALSO > The Monte-Carlo program

The Loeb hype was cooled a few hours later by his successor Sébastien Ogier. Au volant de la nouvelle Toyota Yaris hybride, le Gapençais, associé à Benjamin Veillas, répliquait en prenant la tête du classement officieux. Enfin, le vétéran tricolore de 47 ans remontait à la deuxième place, à seulement cinq dixièmes de son compatriote. Les derniers Français en Rally1, Adrien fourmaux and Alexandre Coria (Ford) are fifth.

Ce galop d’essai a par ailleurs mis en évidence moult soucis mécaniques. Du côté de M-Sport Ford, la direction assistée des Puma de Craig Breen-Paul Nagle and Gus Greensmith-Jonas Andersson acted up. While on the Toyota Gazoo Racing side, Kalle Rovanperä-Jonne Halttunen stopped a few hectometers after the start of his second pass for a reason still unknown.

Takamoto Katsuta-Aaron Johnston (Toyota) also suffered an alert. In this video, the Yaris loses fluid and finds itself forced to turn back towards the service park. The Japanese pilot was able to perform the shakedown later.

Now, the crews are returning to Monaco to fine-tune the settings in preparation for the real start of the 2022 season, scheduled for 20:18 p.m. with the special between Luceram and Lantosque (15,2 km). The rally can be followed in live text on AUTOhebdo.fr.

 

Medhi Casaurang

Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!

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