Ogier anticipates "even more complicated" Monte-Carlo challenge

Toyota’s eight-time world champion is the most successful driver ever on Rallye Monte-Carlo, but as he prepares to challenge for a 10th victory in the French Alps, he’s cautious about the challenge that lies ahead.

“Monte-Carlo never gets easier,” he said. “I always have massive respect for this event, where you face conditions you don’t expect and you have to manage the risk – this is always the same in rallying, but it’s even more with these winter conditions.

“We start this rally with a lot of changes, with the tyres and the car without the hybrid – we arrive less prepared than ever, but that’s the case for everybody at the start. Whoever has adapted the best will have the best chance to win.”

Talking about how much he can help his Toyota team-mates through what is his home event, he added: “My experience on this event has always been a good asset for the team in terms of strategy, but we’re all in our cars and we all have to do our job. Of course, I will do my best to help Toyota Gazoo Racing.”