WRC
15 years ago: Sébastien Ogier’s first victory at the Monte-Carlo Rally
© DPPI
The end of the 2000s coincides with the strange eviction of Rally Monte-Carlo within the World Rally Championship calendar (WRC). The International Automobile Federation (FIA) wishing to reduce the number of rounds while including new trips, it chose to oust Monte-Carlo from its 2009 schedule. The Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC, ancestor of theERC) collects the jackpot by making it its season opener.
The IRC specifications allow the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM) to return to an old-school event format, with a first special staged on Wednesday morning, and a finish in the middle of the “Turini night” with two passages on Saturday at midnight.
Was the 77th edition of the Monte-Carlo Rally going to decline in terms of quality? Not at all! The stars of the IRC are present, as well as Skoda which is making its return to rallying with a Fabia S2000 for Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecky. Two former WRC presenters are freelancing, Didier Auriol and Toni Gardemeister. The future pilot Toyota in WRC Kris Meeke was also there (but retired after going off the road, already a habit).
The curiosity of this test is the operation set up by BFGoodrich. Named BFGoodrich Drivers Team, it offers the opportunity for a local crew to show its potential on the international scene, through a Peugeot incubated by the Kronos team.
In Monaco, it is Sébastien Ogier, freshly crowned with his Junior WRC title, who takes the wheel after the vote of journalists. “I have the chance to drive this Peugeot. I took a chance on driving this car and was elected. I’m very happy about it.”, he confides before departure.
For a baptism of fire, the Gapençais will be served. The special stages alternate between dry asphalt, unexpected snowfall, icy and wet-greasy. It is therefore difficult to choose the right tire and the differences are vast between the inspired drivers and the others. Juho Hänninen is a minute and a half ahead on Thursday afternoon! The Finn will give up the lead on Thursday evening due to a puncture. Two minutes fly by and it's Sébastien Ogier who is there to benefit, even though the Frenchman was also the victim of a puncture in SS3.
Friday morning, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia are 32″4 ahead of Belgians Freddy Loix and Isidor Smeets (Peugeot). This is not enough to tackle the double climb of Turini with confidence. “Conditions keep changing, it’s not over,” says Freddy Loix. The future six-time WRC champion showed astonishing wisdom before the final sprint. “The tires are the key to the Monte-Carlo result. We were very well advised by the BFGoodrich team, I think we are never wrong about the tires. »
© DPPI
At the top of Turini, the walls of snow are imposing, but at the start and finish of the special, the road is dry. At only 25 years old, the French nugget doesn't get confused and stays on course. He passes the stop point with a margin of 1'43 over Freddy Loix and 2'21 over Stéphane Sarrazin, two drivers who are much more experienced! “It’s an incredible feeling. The last four stages were very difficult, I drove with a lot of reserve. There was a very nice line-up here, we were the wisest and most consistent crew. That's what pays. » This success allowed the general public to get to know Sébastien Ogier, a few weeks before completing (only) his second WRC event in Ireland.
ALSO READ > Monte-Carlo Rally 2024 – Who can prevent Sébastien Ogier from winning a 10th victory?
Medhi Casaurang
Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!
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