Ogier is done. The first times are still not known.

Neuville was able to get back on the road. The Hyundai driver nevertheless lost valuable time in the incident.

Breen has just set off in his C3 WRC in the first special of the Monte-Carlo Rally. It is now Tänak who crosses the icy sector at reduced speed.

Ogier found his pace after passing the icy sector which could still surprise several crews.

Ogier has just spun at the exit of a hairpin. The conditions seem particularly difficult for the first cars.

Tänak and Latvala joined Ogier and Neuville. The five-time champion is in a difficult section where the road is covered in ice. The Frenchman is on a very slow pace.

Neuville joined Ogier in the special. This famous course is run for the first time at night in the opposite direction. The crews will have to be wary of a few blocks of ice mid-course, but the road is not snow-covered at the start.

Michelin has revealed the tire choices per driver for these first stages:

Ogier/Evans/Neuville opted for 3 softs + 2 super softs, Bouffier/Tänak has 4 softs + 2 super softs, Mikkelsen/Sordo/Latvala start with 3 softs and 3 super softs, Meeke/Breen have 6 super softs, i.e. one more than Lappi.

Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport Ford) as reigning world champion, will open the road and precede the Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), author of the best time yesterday at shakedown.

Ott Tänak and Jari-Matti Latvala will follow at the wheel of their Toyota Yaris, ahead of Elfyn Evans (M-Sport Ford), Dani Sordo (Hyundai), Kris Meeke and Craig Breen (Citroën), Esapekka Lappi (Toyota), Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai ) and Bryan Bouffier (M-Sport Ford) for the drivers entered in the WRC.

The Ford Fiesta R5 – M-Sport of Eric Camilli and Teemu Suninen will lead the way in WRC-2.

The Citroën clan will be the “smallest” in Monte-Carlo with only two C3 WRCs entered for Kris Meeke and Craig Breen. The French brand, which will want to erase a lackluster 2017 season, will be able to count on the reinforcement of Sébastien Loeb later in the season and must also face the departure of its director Yves Matton, who left for the FIA.

Pierre Budar will replace the Belgian at the head of Citroën Racing.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will begin its second season since the brand's return to the WRC last year, with three Yaris for Jari-Matti Latvala, Ott Tänak and Esapekka Lappi. Tommi Mäkinen's structure aligns a trio which could play its card for the Manufacturers' title throughout the championship. It's up to the three drivers to show themselves at the level for the Drivers' crown.

Hyundai Motorsport intends to aim for the two world crowns this season, with Thierry Neuville in particular. The Belgian, leader of the Monte-Carlo Rally last year, lost everything in a collision and left Sébastien Ogier to ideally launch his season with M-Sport.

Hyundai will place its trust in this event in Andreas Mikkelsen, entered full-time, and Dani Sordo, who will share the third i20 Coupe in 2018 with Hayden Paddon.

Sébastien Ogier puts his title back on the line this evening at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta WRC still developed by M-Sport. The British structure is receiving support from the Ford brand this year, and will also field Elfyn Evans full-time in 2018. Bryan Bouffier will be fielding at Monte-Carlo but also in Corsica in the third Fiesta.