In the thrill of the Rallye Monte-Carlo, the battle rages between the drivers, where every turn can change the game. While Solberg seems to dominate, Ogier is not sitting idly by and is determined to make a comeback. Who will emerge victorious from this fierce struggle?
Solberg Takes the Lead
Solberg started the afternoon loop with over a minute lead on Evans and 1’39 on Ogier. A rally start that could intimidate any competitor. The drivers only took two studded tires for this loop, anticipating little snow. However, the leaders made a bold choice by opting for snow tires without the famous studs during the first special of the afternoon, Laborel/Chauvac-Laux-Montaux 2.
The roads were more passable than in the morning, but the pouring rain caused issues, making some sections particularly muddy. The gaps tightened compared to the previous specials: Solberg set the best time, ahead of Ogier by 1″9 and Evans by 2″8. Overall, Solberg extended his lead over the Welshman to 1’07″0. It’s starting to feel like trouble for the pursuers!
The struggles continued for several drivers. Adrien Fourmaux, for example, encountered a handbrake issue due to an electronic failure, forcing him to use reverse to navigate the hairpins. “I feel like I’m driving a truck today,” he confided to Canal+ at the end of the special. Takamoto Katsuta was not spared either, facing power steering issues, while Jon Armstrong had a flat tire on the rear right.
In this race of misfortunes, Armstrong proved to be the luckiest: despite his troubles, he managed to close the gap with Fourmaux, who occupies fifth place, to just two tenths. Meanwhile, Hayden Paddon took eighth place, pushing Katsuta further back.
Ogier Goes on the Attack
The racing conditions remained similar, but the light began to fade in ES8, St-Nazaire-le-Désert/La Motte-Chalancon 2. The headlights lit up on many cars, although the majority were still fitted with four snow tires. It was in this twilight atmosphere that Ogier stood out, achieving the best time despite a Yaris without a headlight bar, with an impressive 17″2 lead over Evans, who slightly lost time by hitting a bank at low speed, and 17″6 over Solberg.
Fourmaux, still plagued by technical issues, was penalized 30 seconds for arriving late before the special. Nevertheless, he thanked Armstrong, his direct competitor in the overall standings, who helped him during the liaison. Unfortunately, the Irishman had a tough special, stopping to change the front-right wheel after a flat tire and losing 1’56″6 in the process. Thanks to these misadventures, Fourmaux was able to solidify his fifth place overall, leaving his rival two minutes behind.
Katsuta, for his part, continued to struggle with his Toyota without power steering. As during the Rally of Japan the previous year, his co-driver, Aaron Johnston, passed him the gears so he could keep his hands on the wheel. A situation that highlights the incredible challenges these drivers must overcome.
A Treacherous Final Special
The last special of the day, La-Bâtie-des-Fonts/Aspremont 2, promised to be more treacherous with nightfall, mud on the road, and melted snow in some sections. The leaders then decided to add two studded tires to their setup. Josh McErlean, first on the road, got stuck and wedged his Ford into a bank. The crew was able to signal to the approaching drivers to slow down, allowing the special to be maintained.
Neuville also experienced a mishap: he slid into a ditch and had to struggle to get out, losing three precious minutes in the maneuver. A scenario that even a seasoned driver like him would have preferred to avoid.
Ogier, in “survival mode,” according to his own words, continued to put on a show and won the special, gaining 9″3 on Solberg. The latter will start Saturday with a still solid lead of 1’08″4 over Evans. But beware! The Welshman must be wary of Ogier’s comeback, who is now only 6″5 behind this Friday.
Despite ongoing issues, Fourmaux managed to take fourth place in the overall standings thanks to Neuville’s mistake. Armstrong occupies sixth position, ahead of Hayden Paddon, who has remained distanced since the start of the rally, as well as the leaders in WRC2.
Rallye Monte-Carlo – Standings After ES9
Only four specials are scheduled for Saturday, but they include two runs in a stage of nearly 30 km. Additionally, a super special will take place on the Monaco circuit in the late afternoon, promising a day full of twists and turns.
