Monte-Carlo Rally 2017
16h
The 2nd stage will conclude with the SS8 from St-Léger-les-Mélèzes – La-Bâtie-Neuve, 16,83km long. Neuville was the fastest there this morning with a time of 11'22″2. Ogier is expected to open the road at 16:14 p.m.
15h
Sébastien Ogier (Ford) scored his first scratch at the 2017 Monte-Carlo Rally by completing the 38,94km of Asprès-Les-Corps in 24'17''8. His teammate Ott Tänak was the closest with 15 seconds behind, just ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) who followed the Estonian by a second.
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) marked time on this course by dropping almost 20 seconds to the Frenchman. Craig Breen (DS 3) set the 5th provisional time, gaining 5 seconds from Dani Sordo (Hyundai).
Thierry Neuville retains the lead of the Monte-Carlo Rally but he only has a 33s lead over Ott Tänak, while Sébastien Ogier has closed to 19 seconds of the Estonian. Jari-Matti Latvala remains firmly in 4th position, but Craig Breen took 5th place from Dani Sordo for a little over 7 seconds ahead.
In WRC 2, Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda) still dominates the category with more than 2 minutes ahead of Jan Kopecky (Skoda) who took 2nd place from Bryan Bouffier (Ford). Éric Camilli (Ford) finally retained his 4th position after losing more than 4 minutes following his exit from the road. Quentin Gilbert (Ford) completes the top five.
15h
Lefebvre set the 6th fastest time, 48 seconds behind Ogier, finishing 5 seconds behind his teammate Breen and ahead of Sordo by 6 seconds.
15h
The path of the cross continues for Evans who finishes 1'34 behind the reference time. “We continue to learn. It's difficult with so little grip. »
15h
Tänak complained of gearbox problems at the finish of SS7. The Estonian will try to identify the problem on the link.
15h
Breen signs the 5th time in 43s of Ogier's provisional scratch, taking 11s from Sordo. The Citroën driver climbs to 5th place with a 7″4 lead over the Spaniard.
15h
Camilli went off the road on SS7. The M-Sport driver was in 4th place in WRC 2, half a minute behind Bouffier.
15h
Tänak beats Latvala by a second, finishing 15s behind Ogier. The Estonian remains 19 seconds ahead of his teammate. “I confirm, the conditions are very difficult. »
15h
Latvala is closest to Ogier with 16s behind. The Toyota driver is 47s behind the Frenchman in the general classification. “I am satisfied with this time. It's hard to concentrate on driving with all the things around us. »
15h
Sordo lost 34 seconds to his teammate Neuville and 54 seconds to Ogier. The Spaniard could lose his 5th place to Breen who seems faster. “It’s slippery everywhere, we have no grip. It's hard to be confident in the car. »
15h
Neuville drops 19″6 to Ogier who is 52s behind the leader. “It went well but I didn't think the roads were going to be so dry. »
15h
Ogier finished with a time of 24'17″8, around 1'20 better than Neuville's scratch set this morning. “We do our best. »
15h
Neuville is now more than 19 seconds behind Ogier in the 3rd sector.
15h
Neuville loses ground on Ogier. The M-Sport driver leads the Belgian by more than 14 seconds in the 2nd sector. Tänak seems to be on a good pace, ahead of the Frenchman by 7 tenths in the first part.
15h
The first crews have already set off in the 38,94km from Asprès-Les-Corps – Chaillol. Neuville was the fastest there this morning with a time of 25'41″9. It was on this course that Meeke broke his suspension.
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