Monte-Carlo Rally 2022
21h
21h
The 2022 Monte-Carlo Rally began this Thursday, January 20 in the dark with the poster that all rally fans were waiting for: a duel between the Sébastiens.
Sébastien Ogier struck first. The Gapençais, at the wheel of the hybrid Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, was the first to set off between Lucéram and Lantosque. The eight-time world champion, co-driven by Benjamin Veillas, left everyone behind, except… his compatriot Sébastien Loeb (Ford).
The Alsatian, associated for the first time with Isabelle Galmiche, kindly pulled her straps up once she had passed the timing cell. “Damn, you get lost and then you go through the notes too quickly. I don't know where you are anymore. »
Well no ! The 47-year-old veteran set the second fastest time, only 5 seconds behind his pursuer in the list of the most successful drivers in the WRC. “We had a good start, but we had a difficult section, I was a little too careful in an icy zone. The Ford has a lot of power, the feeling is great. We don't waste a lot of time, it's not that bad. »
Behind, the Hyundai i20s took the lead. Ott Tänak did not even stop at the stop point to communicate his impressions (9th). Thierry Neuville chose to mix his tires between super soft and soft, but the Belgian is only 7th.
Finally, the good surprise of this SS1 is to the credit of Gus Greensmith (Ford). The Briton, known more for his free figures than for his steering, was ahead of his colleague Craig Breen and finished just behind Elfyn Evans (Toyota). Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) suffered a spin.
In WRC2, Éric Camilli (Citroën) leads the way. The French driver is ahead of Nikolay Gryazin (Skoda) and the defending champion, Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda). His compatriots Stéphane Lefebvre (Citroën) and Yohan Rossel (Citroën) are 4th and 6th.
Ranking to come
21h
Éric Camilli shows his fangs! The Citroën driver leads the WRC2 by a good handful of seconds over his rivals. “The brake pedal was very hard. the car was very responsive, but I'm pleasantly surprised by my time. »
21h
The Alsatian debriefed the special with his new co-driver Isabelle Galmiche: “Fuck, you get lost and then you're going too fast. Before adding: damn, we're definitely parked. »
20h
You were all waiting for it! Sébastien Loeb is coming! The nine-time world champion completed a clean special, and recorded the 2nd time just 5″4 behind Sébastien Ogier!
20h
Oliver Solberg (Hyundai) finishes. The Swede, son of 2003 world champion Petter Solberg, finished just ahead of Ott Tänak by a tenth. and lost more than 20″ on Ogier. “I couldn’t hear you,” he says to his co-pilot.
20h
Another purple and blue Ford Puma approaches the finish, it's that of Adrien Fourmaux. The Frenchman is 5th, 13″7 behind his compatriot Ogier. “We left a lot with the frost, it wasn't easy to see the difference (with the dry sections of road). »
20h
Noted for his free figures since he joined the WRC rather than for his performances, Gus Greensmith (Ford) performed a very good special. The Briton finished ahead of his teammate Craig Breen, 3rd, 12″3 behind Ogier!
20h
Breen: “I didn't expect to be this good. The car is great, thanks to the team! »
20h
Craig Breen finished with the 3rd provisional time, 13″2 behind Sébastien Ogier.
20h
24″8 is the delay of Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) on his teammate Sébastien Ogier at the finish. “We had problems, I don’t know what exactly. »
20h
The first Ford Puma hybrid to attack the Monte-Carl' is that of Craig Breen. The Irishman clings to Sébastien Ogier, he only loses 2″ in the first third of the SS.
20h
The 2019 world champion, Ott Tänak (Hyundai), finished the special with also a worrying outlay, 22″4! The Estonian did not want to speak at the stop point…
20h
Rovanperä: “It's quite difficult at the start of the special, I spun. Then I was probably a little too careful. How do I use the hybrid system? I don't know, I'm just driving. »
20h
It's a disaster for Rovanperä. With identical equipment, the Finn gave up almost half a minute (26″) from the start on Sébastien Ogier!
20h
Neuville: “It was difficult. I lost the brakes very early in the SS and the tires too. We had to find a compromise on the tires, I hope it will pay off over the course of the weekend. »
20h
Thierry Neuville is the first Hyundai driver to reach the finish. The Belgian concedes a hell of a lot of seconds, 15″9 exactly!
20h
Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) also suffers. The young Finn lost 10″ halfway in this SS.
20h
Evans: “I didn't have a good feeling at all. »
20h
Elfyn Evans continues to lose ground. The Welshman finished 9″3 behind his teammate! A very bad start to the rally for the Toyota driver…
