Tenth victory for Ogier in Monte Carlo

Sébastien Ogier secured his tenth victory at the Monte Carlo Rally

Sébastien Ogier secured his tenth victory at the Monte Carlo Rally, setting a new benchmark in the World Rally Championship. The French driver, piloting a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, completed the season opener with an 18.5-second lead over his teammate Elfyn Evans.

Key decisions in the final stages

The rally's conclusion was shaped by Sunday’s stages, featuring changing conditions and tire strategies that directly influenced the outcome. Ogier and Evans opted for a mix of four studded tires and two supersofts, a choice that enhanced their performance on the icy roads of Avançon - Notre-Dame du Laus. However, this setup disadvantaged them on the drier section of Digne-les-Bains / Chaudon-Norante, where Adrien Fourmaux, using slick tires, clocked the fastest time.

Fourmaux, making his debut with Hyundai after transferring from M-Sport Ford, climbed to third place after this stage, temporarily surpassing the Toyota drivers. However, the icy conditions of the iconic Col de Turini during the final stage leveled the playing field, allowing Ogier to claim another stage win and Evans to hold off Fourmaux by a 4-second margin.

Incidents and retirements in the final stages

The rally was also marked by incidents affecting several participants. Toyota drivers Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta were forced out of contention after incidents in the penultimate stage. Meanwhile, Grégoire Munster of M-Sport Ford retired after a crash in stage 17, despite showing strong pace throughout the event.

Among other notable results, Kalle Rovanperä, also driving a Toyota, managed to overtake Ott Tänak of Hyundai for fourth place during the final day. Thierry Neuville, the reigning WRC champion, endured a challenging rally with mechanical issues and an early crash but finished in sixth place.

Upcoming stages of the championship

With this victory, Sébastien Ogier begins the 2025 season reaffirming his expertise at Monte Carlo. The next event on the calendar is the Rally Sweden, scheduled from February 13 to 16 on the snowy roads of Umeå.

Final results of the 2025 WRC Monte Carlo