Auto – and Motorsport Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (Citroen C3 WRC), the rally of Monte Carlo won the opening match of the world cup 2019. A historic victory for Ogier, who for the seventh time in this match, won both as an employer and Citroën a 100th world cup victory offered. Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) drove a creditable race and fought until the last meters for victory. The Belgians eventually finished 2.2 seconds of the winners. Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja (Toyota Yaris WRC) finished in third place.
Neuville started this morning with the knife between the teeth and was three rides in a row faster than Ogier, who for the start of the final stage, just four tenths of a second left him on the Belgian. In an all-or-nietsscenario gave both riders in the final stage the best of themselves. Finally won Ogier the rally.
“This is the rally that I most of all win. That is why I am so happy now,” said an emotional Ogier. “We had a small problem and I was really on the limit. I am very happy. This is my sixth win in a row in Monte Carlo with three different cars.” With the victory of 2009 it is the seventh title in Monte Carlo for Ogier. Ogier equals the record of Sébastien Loeb, the rally seven times and managed to win. Loeb ended Sunday as the fourth.
Ogier took Friday afternoon, the leadership of Neuville. In the second passage Roussieux – Laborel cut Neuville something to a quick turn, and he chose safety for an escape route. The maneuver cost him over 15 seconds. In the subsequent trial took Ogier in the lead, to not more.
Ogier is the first leader in the world CHAMPIONSHIP standings. The Frenchman has eight points ahead of Neuville and 12 points for Tänak. At the manufacturers take Hyundai’s lead. With 30 points, they have five points more than Citroën and Toyota.
Guillaume de Mevius (Citroen C3 WRC) brought the end of the Monte Carlo. In the second-to-last ride he went into error and he had to give up. The Mevius reed is currently on the 10th place and was second in WRC2. Yesterday had to Grégoire Munster (Skoda Fabia R5) also specify when a shock absorber broke after a contact with a tree stump. Renaud Jamoul, the Belgian corijder of Adrien Fourmaux (Ford Fiesta R5), finished 10th and 2nd in the WRC2 category.
