Sébastien Ogier dominates the Monte-Carlo Rally and equals the WRC record! It’s a huge moment for me, he said

The World Rally Championship (WRC) has completed its opening event of the 2023 season in Monte-Carlo, dominated by the legendary Sébastien Ogier. The French driver won here for the ninth time, equalling the WRC record! What was the full podium line-up like?

Sébastien Ogier is once again competing in the colours of Toyota Gazoo Racing this season, although, as in the previous year, he will only take part in partial events.

And one of them was the Monte-Carlo Rally. Moreover, the eight-time world champion dominated the opening event of the season, winning nine of the eighteen stages.

The French rider finished on the top step of the podium with a lead of 18.8 seconds over second-placed Kalle Rovanpera, the reigning world champion.

Ogier had built up a solid lead in the first five stages, all of which he managed to win. This was despite losing power steering on two stages after a gearbox change due to clutch problems. His only competition seemed to be his teammate Elfyn Evans.

However, the latter punctured his right rear tyre on stage five and Evans dropped down the order with his time. Ogier’s lead has increased to 36 seconds. Finn Rovanperä, however, enjoyed four stage wins on Friday and Saturday and was able to reduce that deficit by twenty seconds.

In Sunday’s stages, however, it was not enough for last year’s champion and he ended up finishing second in the final standings. Third place went to Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai, but he lost 44 seconds to the winner of the Monte-Carlo Rally.

Ogier thus claimed his record ninth Monte-Carlo victory and equalled Sébastien Loeb’s best-ever win tally. His co-driver Vincent Landais then took his first WRC victory.

Ogier’s statement

“It means a lot to me. This is a rally for me. It’s definitely special in my eyes and I think I can be proud of myself and my team because we had an amazing weekend. It’s going to take a while to sink in, but I really appreciate this moment,” said Ogier, quoted by Motorsport.

“It’s never easy. And when you see what Kalle (Rovanperä – ed.) did on Saturday, he pushed hard. It was hard nerves because I knew I could go faster, but I also didn’t want to risk anything. These tyres are easy to puncture,” he continued.

“I’ve lost a lot of good results recently. I did everything I could to stay in a safe position and I think it’s a well-deserved win,” he concluded.

Sources