Monte-Carlo Rally: Indisputable victory for Thierry Neuville, Yohan Rossel wins in WRC2

Final ranking Rally Monte Carlo 2024:

• The 92nd edition of Monte-Carlo fell into the hands of Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai). The Belgian driver, already victorious in 2020, overcame the record holder of the event, Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) this Sunday, January 28.
• One time in the lead on Saturday, Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais slowed down at the end of the course. The eight-time world champion WRC surrendered in the first special on Sunday and admitted defeat. Fair play!
• “It remains a solid result. We hoped to aim for victory, but we weren't able to. Thierry deserves his victory, he was very strong. »
• First leader of the Monte-Carlo Rally between Thursday evening and Saturday morning, Elfyn Evans (Toyota) was unable to keep up with the pace of the duelists. The Welshman, in his defense, was let down by the hybrid system of his Yaris Rally1. He finished 3rd.
• Returning to Hyundai after a one-year lease with M-Sport, Ott Tänak had little impact on the progress of the test. Falling into a ditch on Friday morning, he finished just off the podium, but made up for it by scoring big points in the Power Stage and in the Sunday standings.
• Promoted again by Malcolm Wilson to the WRC team, Adrien fourmaux (M-Sport Ford) did the job by scoring the points for 5th place. The Frenchman remained discreet but made no mistake. He equals his best result in the WRC.
• For his return to the premier category after two crowns in WRC2, Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai) lacked confidence. The Norwegian is satisfied with 6th place, ahead of Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota). The Japanese had lost five minutes in a ditch on the first day.
• Setting off again the day after going off the road, Belgian Grégoire Munster (M-Sport Ford) finished 21st for his debut with the English team as starting driver.

Yohan Rossel at the finish in WRC2

• Le WRC2 booked the best show possible. From the 1st to the 17th special, it was impossible to identify a favorite! The category controls have changed hands several times between Nikolay Gryazin (Citroën), Pepe Lopez (Skoda) and Yohan Rossel (Citroën). At the cost of an exceptional attack on the three Sunday specials, the Frenchman erased a delay of around fifteen seconds to snatch victory from Lopez on the slopes of the legendary Col de Turini!
• “It’s unthinkable, declared an emotional Yohan Rossel. Yesterday I realized that if we weren't going to attack as hard as possible, we weren't going to win. It's crazy to win here. It feels good ! »
• The next round is scheduled in Sweden, from February 16 to 18.
• Find the analysis of the Monte-Carlo Rally by our special correspondent in the next issue of AUTOhebdo, on sale Monday evening digitally and Wednesday on newsstands.

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