Sébastien Ogier wins the Monte-Carlo Rally for the 9th time

The undisputed king of Monte-Carlo. Sébastien Ogier is now the sole holder of the record for victories on the Rally Monte Carlo. The Frenchman has established himself as a master on the roads alpines ce week-end et a décroché sa neuvième couronne sur le mythique rallye monégasque. Le pilote Toyota a devancé son coéquipier Kalle Rovanperä, auteur de son premier podium sur le « Monte-Carl’ ». Le champion du monde en titre a également remporté les cinq points de la Power Stage et lance idéalement son championnat. Thierry Neuville sauve l’honneur pour Hyundai et complète le podium.

A RECORD-BREAKING ninth #RallyMonteCarlo victory for @SebOgier! 🇲🇨

It's a first-ever #WRC victory for @vinzzlandais 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0RtTOryayZ

- World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) January 22, 2023

Ogier never worried

On Saturday evening, the most skeptical had questioned Sébastien Ogier's ability to keep his lead over the last four specials on this Sunday's program. Some people forgot who they were dealing with. The eight-time world champion set the record straight in the first special this morning by setting the best time. A massive blow for his opponents, already knocked out since Thursday evening and the unchallenged domination of the Gapençais.

Kalle Rovanperä could have seen the hint of hope, having come back to just 16 seconds behind the Frenchman at the end of SS14 on Saturday evening. But the young Finn is still a student alongside the master Ogier, and has finally given up taking the risks necessary to play for victory. The 2022 champion has a title to defend and, as a mature driver, preferred to secure the points in the Power Stage. Sébastien Ogier then only had to bring the car home to become the only driver at the top of the Monte-Carlo prize list. A record that he previously co-held with Sébastien Loeb, absent this year. A victory in style, since the semi-retired won half of the special stages of the 2023 edition (9 scratches out of 18).

Toyota dominates, Hyundai disappoints, M-Sport fails

Toyota also scores a double, having already won 16 of the 18 special stages of the rally. A domination timidly disrupted by Hyundai which, via Thierry Neuville, only achieved two scratches and a 3rd place overall. The Belgian did not keep up with the Yaris GR and must be satisfied with a first podium. An accomplishment that Elfyn Evans cannot boast of. The Welshman failed at the foot of the podium when, on Thursday and Friday, he seemed to be the only one to rival Sébastien Ogier. But the puncture that occurred during SS5 destroyed his chances of victory, a success that has eluded him for almost two years now.

La première (et seule) M-Sport du classement final se trouve en 5e position avec Ott Tänak. The Estonian, still discovering his new mount, was unable to compete with well-established opponents. He still saved the honor of the British team with a 2nd place on the Power Stage, a small capital of additional points important for him and his team. The other Ford Puma did not have the chance to see the finish line: Pierre-Louis Loubet, plagued by numerous difficulties and mishaps since Friday, saw his Monte-Carlo Rally end prematurely. Victim of a water leak at the finish of SS16, the Corsican had to resolve to abandon.

Rovanperä off to a good start in the championship

Thanks to his victory on the Monte-Carlo Rally, Sébastien Ogier also becomes the leader of the 2023 championship with 26 points. An anecdotal position since the Frenchman will not participate in the full season. Second in the event and winner of the Power Stage, Kalle Rovanperä is the big winner from an accounting point of view with 23 points to his credit, ahead of Thierry Neuville (17 points), Elfyn Evans (15 points) and Ott Tänak (14 points). ). The four championship favorites are therefore there, with no big losers at the end of the opening round.

Among the manufacturers, it's a solid result for Toyota which scores a whopping 51 points (out of 52 possible) and which already has a good lead over Hyundai (27 points) and M-Sport (16 points). Next meeting: the Swedish Rally, from February 9 to 12.

The general classification of the Monte-Carlo Rally: 

The Power Stage ranking:

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