WRC
Ogier strikes back as Solberg’s Monte-Carlo lead trimmed on snowy SS10
Sébastien Ogier hit back on Saturday morning at Rallye Monte-Carlo, winning the longest stage of the rally to apply renewed pressure in the battle behind leader Oliver Solberg.
La Bréole / Bellaffaire 1 delivered classic Monte-Carlo conditions, with the entire 29.93km test coated in snow and ice.
Ogier mastered the treacherous conditions to claim the stage win, halving his deficit to Elfyn Evans and closing to just 3.0sec of the Welshman in the fight for second overall. Evans limited the damage with the second-fastest time, conceding just 3.5sec to his Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate.
Solberg opted for a measured approach on the icy test, posting the fourth-fastest time as his overall lead was trimmed. The Swede nevertheless emerged from the rally’s longest stage still 51.4sec clear at the top of the standings, continuing to manage his first Monte-Carlo as a full-season Rally1 driver with maturity beyond his experience.
“It’s proper Monte now, full snow and ice,” said Sami Pajari, summing up the conditions faced across the field.
Behind the leading trio, Takamoto Katsuta recovered from a stall at the start line to go third-fastest on the stage after his power steering issues were resolved overnight, while Thierry Neuville described the near half-hour test as “pure stress and surviving” after wrestling his Hyundai through.
Adrien Fourmaux delivered a solid run to remain fourth overall, while further back Jon Armstrong lost time with a front-right puncture on his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1.
