Sports Writing (EFE).- The Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Toyota GR Yaris), eight times world champion, was crowned again in the most iconic event of the World Rally Championship and with his ninth title he distances himself from his compatriot Sébastien Loeb at the helm of the test champions.
Ogier, leader from the first stage of the race, had the thorn in his side from last year when a puncture in the penultimate special deprived him of a victory that he was already cherishing and made it easier for Loeb to win, who equaled him with eight victories.
In the four stages on Sunday, Ogier wanted to make things clear from the beginning, scoring two separate ‘scratches’ 8 in 15 and 17), to reach the last one with a 23.5-second advantage over the Finnish Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota) who finished second and the Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), who was third.
This atypical edition of the Monte Carlo Rally, with the roads practically dry and in which the management of soft tires was essential, Ogier finally led Rovanpera by 18.8 seconds and Neuville by 44.6.
The Spanish Dani Sordo (Hyundai) finished in seventh position, 3:47.5 behind the winner.
Rovanpera minimized Ogier’s victory by signing up for the last stage (Power Stage) and being only 3 points behind the Frenchman in the first classification, 26-23, while Neuville has 17.
The second round of the championship will be the Rally Sweden, which will take place from February 9 to 12.