NEUVILLE AND HYUNDAI TRIUMPH IN MONTE CARLO SEASON OPENER
Source: Red Bull Content Pool
January 28th, 2024
Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe have won their second Monte Carlo Rally in spectacular fashion as the Belgian pair outclassed the Monte Master of Sebastien Ogier on a perfect Sunday. The Hyundai duo sweep the weekend’s points after leading entering Sunday morning and winning all four stages on the final day, including the Wolf Power Stage.
Neuville was in another league on the final Sunday, the 2020 Monte Carlo winner became the first driver under the new World Rally Championship points to sweep all 30 points available to become a championship favourite for the season to come.
The Monte Carlo victory marks the 20th win of the Belgian’s World Rally Championship career in a season where he’ll once again be aiming for his first championship. He’ll act as the road sweeper in the opening stages of Sweden, which will define if Neuville can stay consistent out front.
Neuville and Wydaeghe entered Sunday morning leading the rally by a slender three seconds over the Toyota of Sebastien Ogier and Vincent Landais. Three Stages faced the crews ahead of the victory in the French Alps, a second for Neuville, and a potential 10th for Ogier.
The Hyundai struck the opening blow as the Hyundai pair won the opening stage as the stage despite the icy patches throughout waiting to catch out a driver taking the risks for those extra points available.
Neuville’s phenomenal efforts increased the lead to eight seconds with only two stages left in the rally. Ogier on the other hand decided for a more careful approach, leading to his time loss in the opening stage of the day.
The Belgian didn’t hold back again in the penultimate stage of the rally gaining a further five and a half seconds on the Toyota. Ogier was visibly defeated as Neuville continued to race ahead, assuring himself of his past achievements at the event, and that risks weren’t necessary.
“No need to take silly risks … I’ve already got nine, nobody else has that,“ said a depleted Ogier at the end of Stage 15.
Ogier managed to clinch four points on the Wolf Power Stage but was grateful to finish the rally after an emotional week in losing a close friend and mentor.
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Elfyn Evans rounded out the Rally1 class podium as the Welshman changed to a more conservative approach after Neuville claimed the lead. Evans aimed for the Wolf Power Stage victory but was left with two points as teammates Ogier and Katsuta edged out the podium sitter by a mere four-tenths.
Despite struggling on his Hyundai return, Ott Tanak claimed a valuable fourth place and 15 points for the entire weekend ahead of Sweden, where the Estonian has claimed two victories in his career. Starting third on the road for the opening day will place Tanak in strong contention to add a third victory in the Snow.
Andrian Fourmoux successfully managed to finish the rally without issue and collected his equal-best WRC finish for the M-Sport team. The Frenchman will take great confidence from the weekend and aim for more consistent finishes for the year.
Andrea Mikkelsen brought his Hyundai home in sixth place on his return to the top class of the World Rally Championship. The Norwegian aims to learn more about the I20 before getting back into the car after a difficult time with the hybrid system.
“It was more difficult than I expected, It’s been four years. We made some good progress … some more seat time and we’ll be good to go,“ Mikkelson said at the end of the stage.
Takamoto Katsuta after his mistake early on Friday was on a recovery mission for the rest of the weekend and finished Monte Carlo in seventh overall. The Japanese driver was able to collect some valuable points to start the season including three points from the Wolf Power Stage. Katsuta’s efforts helped the Toyota team hold a slender one-point advantage over Hyundai ahead of the second round in the Swedish snow.
Gregoire Munster returned to the road for the final day of the event after a mistake on Saturday ruled him out of a possible points finish in the M-Sport Puma. The Belgian-born driver struggled through the power stage after running supersoft tyres that were very worn by the end of the loop but was grateful to make it to the finish despite the small mistake.
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Yohan Rossel and … won the WRC2 class after a thrilling final stage that saw a three-way battle for the victory between Nikolay Gryazin, Yohan Russel and Pepe Lopez in the final kilometres of the rally. Rossel claims his
Rossel fought back in the final two days by winning the last five stages of the event to take the lead off Pepe Lopez in the final kilometres. The Frenchman was in another league through the power stage over four seconds ahead of his competitors in his Citreon R5.
“Thanks to my family … it’s crazy, an incredible race, “ said an emotional Rossel after claiming his first Monte Carlo crown.
Yohan Russel entered Sunday as a man on a mission with the Frenchman winning the opening two stages to enter the final stage with a high chance of claiming victory. Lopez managed to claim the lead of the rally in the opening stage of the day after the Bulgarian Gryazin continued to bleed time to his two rivals around him. The Citreon driver despite leading the rally entering into the final day, was a distant third, six and half seconds off the rally lead.
Entering the final stage of the day Lopez held a slender nine-tenth lead over Yohan Russel as the Frenchman swept the opening two stages of the day, while Citreon teammate of Gryazin was a further five and a half seconds off the class lead.
Pepe Lopez was gutted after losing the lead in the final stage but was grateful for his opportunity and what is to come for the year ahead.
”Satisfied, but it is what it is, all the things we have we did our best,” said the Spaniard after claiming second place.
Entering the final stage of the day Lopez held a slender nine-tenth lead over Yohan Russel as the Frenchman swept the opening two stages of the day, while Citreon teammate of Gryazin was a further five and a half seconds off the class lead.
Gryazin was the first to set the pace in the final stage but wasn’t able to find the speed his teammate Rossel was finding in comparison through the power stage. Gryazin was forced to settle for third on the podium as Rossel and Lopez fought it out for the victory.
Gryazin was visibly disappointed by his performance on the stage but knew he has something to work on before he rolls out for the next event.
“I was trying my best, I overheated my tyres … Something to work on for the future, least we are at the finish“ said Gryazin at the end of the Wolf Power stage.
The World Rally Championship will return in two weeks for Rally Sweden. Defending Champion Kalle Rovanpera will return with the Toyota team for the first event of his new partial schedule in the 2024 season.
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