Contested for the first time between Sainte-Agnes and Peille (2,24 km), the shakedown of Rally Monte-Carlo put the two French stars of the World Rally Championship (WRC), Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb, in the spotlight, this Thursday, January 20.
First of all, it was the Alsatian who shot first. The nine-time world champion, for his first outing with Isabelle Galmiche on his right aboard the Ford Puma hybrid, set the best time during the first pass in the morning, while the recent second in the Dakar 2022 did not hear the notes from his co-pilot.
READ ALSO > The Monte-Carlo program
The Loeb hype was cooled a few hours later by his successor Sébastien Ogier. Driving the news Toyota Hybrid Yaris, the Gapençais, associated with Benjamin Veillas, responded by taking the lead in the unofficial classification. Finally, the 47-year-old French veteran moved up to second place, only five tenths behind his compatriot. The last French people in Rally1, Adrien fourmaux and Alexandre Coria (Ford) are fifth.
Shakedown was the first chance to see all the new # Rally1 cars in action together! ⚡️
Check out the action and hear from our drivers 👇#ToyotaGAZOORacing #GRYaris #WRC #RallyMonteCarlo pic.twitter.com/cHC1mj99eS
- TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) January 20, 2022
This test run also highlighted many mechanical problems. On the side of M-Sport Ford, the power steering of the Puma Craig Breen-Paul Nagle and Gus Greensmith-Jonas Andersson acted up. While on the Toyota Gazoo Racing side, Kalle Rovanperä-Jonne Halttunen stopped a few hectometers after the start of his second pass for a reason still unknown.
Takamoto Katsuta-Aaron Johnston (Toyota) also suffered an alert. In this video, the Yaris loses fluid and finds itself forced to turn back towards the service park. The Japanese pilot was able to perform the shakedown later.
back to service #wrc #RallyMonteCarlo pic.twitter.com/KnSEBxfWzP
— Yoeri Varrewaere (@YVarrewaere) January 20, 2022
Now, the crews are returning to Monaco to fine-tune the settings in preparation for the real start of the 2022 season, scheduled for 20:18 p.m. with the special between Luceram and Lantosque (15,2 km). The rally can be followed in live text on AUTOhebdo.fr.
📣 RESULTS / RESULTS
➡SHAKEDOWN@SebOgier signs the best time of the morning 🥇⏱Best time Final for @SebOgier after 3 runs 🥇⏱
👉 https://t.co/IOKegIg807#RallyMonteCarlo #WRC #WRCHybrid @OfficialWRC pic.twitter.com/a3ZC49U6hT
— Automobile Club de Monaco (@ACM_Media) January 20, 2022
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