WRC – Loeb offside for Monte-Carlo victory

Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) will not achieve an 8th victory in the Rally Monte Carlo This year. After making a bad bet by choosing not to use studded tires unlike Sébastien Ogier (Volkswagen), the Alsatian made a mistake in an icy portion of St-Julien-en-Champsaur (SS18).

The nine-time world champion WRC hit a stone and tore off a rear wheel and was only able to reach the finish six minutes late. The Franco-Monegasque crew tries to repair the DS3 WRC to reach the assistance of Gap (Hautes-Alpes) and maintain his tenth place without going through the Rally2 box.

The end of the day was a way of the cross for Citroën Racing since Kris Meeke dismounted on the same course, after also tearing off a wheel, while he was in fourth position. However, the Northern Irishman is not entered to score points in the Manufacturers' Championship in this event.

These disappointments mainly benefit Volkswagen who ends up with its three Polo R WRCs lead the Monte-Carlo Rally. Sébastien Ogier has almost two minutes ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala who can hope to reach a podium for the first time in the Principality. Andreas Mikkelsen follows the Finn almost a minute after gaining the advantage on Ott Tänak which places the first Ford around ten seconds behind the Norwegian.

Mads Ostberg saves the furniture at Citroën by occupying fifth place ahead of Elfyn Evans (Ford) and Thierry Neuville (Hyundai). Dani Sordo (Hyundai) is in eighth place but is half a minute behind his teammate. Martin Prokop (Ford) finds himself 9th with one minute ahead of Sébastien Loeb.

Stéphane Lefebvre (DS3 R5) maintains the advantage over Martin Koci (Fiesta R5) in WRC2 for less than seven seconds in advance. Armin Kremer (Skoda Fabia S2000) now completes the provisional podium ahead of Julien Maurin (Fiesta S2000). Quentin Giordano (DS3 R5) lost several minutes following a puncture and broken suspension. Quentin Gilbert remains a solid leader in WRC3.

The crews will compete in the third stage of the Monte-Carlo Rally from 9:16 a.m. The videos of the event can be consulted here.