• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODCASTS
  • PHOTOS
  • CALENDAR
  • RESULTS & STANDINGS
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • SRO GT
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • BIKES
  • WIN A TRIP TO THE INDY 500
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODCASTS
  • PHOTOS
  • CALENDAR
  • RESULTS & STANDINGS
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • SRO GT
  • Karting
  • Rally
  • Bikes
  • WIN A TRIP TO THE INDY 500
Home Rally WRC

Ogier concedes early Monte Carlo lead after ‘lucky’ escape

The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship is underway in earnest – and it’s Thierry Neuville who has a slender lead for Hyundai in Rally Monte-Carlo.

Simon Chapman by Simon Chapman
24 January 2025

Toyota drivers were fastest across the first three stages of the four-day rally. Sebastien Ogier took out SS1 and SS2 before Elfyn Evans topped SS3.

After SS2, Ogier held a 5.3-second lead over Neuville but that swung back in the Belgian’s favour after the Frenchman made a mistake.

Neuville turned his deficit into a two-second advantage over Evans while Ogier slipped back to third, 12.8 seconds off the lead.

Featured Videos

“It could have been almost a perfect start for us tonight,” said Ogier.

“The first two stages were great but unfortunately this mistake in the last one cost us some time.

“There was a lot of gravel on the road and I got surprised, and we were lucky to get away with it.

“But we are still in the race and not too far from the lead, so for sure we will keep trying tomorrow.

“The conditions will probably not be easy in the morning with a cold night coming and probably some frost and ice on the road.”

Evans echoed that sentiment, noting the tricky conditions to start the rally.

“It was a typical Rallye Monte-Carlo start tonight,” said the Welshman.

“It’s not been easy out there but it’s been the same for everyone really.

“We were just starting to see some frost on the road in places in that last stage, and it’s been a few hours since the route note crews drove through.

“They’ve done a great job but we’re still finding out things when we get there and it’s not easy like that.

“Naturally it’s been challenging but I’m happy to be at the end of it. It’s getting colder tonight and we have to see what we face in the morning.”

Sebastien Ogier of Toyota Gazoo WRT performing during the World Rally Championship Monte-Carlo.

Sebastien Ogier of Toyota Gazoo WRT performing during the World Rally Championship Monte-Carlo. Image: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

Like his rivals, Neuville noted the tough start to the rally, particularly the gravel in SS3.

“It was a good start, definitely, but a challenging one,” said the 2024 champion.

“Discovering the tyres in drier conditions on the first stage meant that I didn’t know how hard I could push them or where the limit was.

“It wasn’t easy, but as we progressed I increased the rhythm, felt more comfortable and made some setup changes, so step-by-step we went in the right direction.

“I couldn’t see a lot on stage two, it had the worst visibility for me. The atmosphere here is amazing, but it makes driving very challenging.

“The beginning of the last stage was very muddy, ice was also beginning to form, and then towards the end there was so much gravel with no lines at all – it felt like I was cleaning on a gravel rally.

“It was a disaster, we lost about five seconds in two kilometres. Tomorrow is another day, a much longer day, and we still have a long way to go.”

Neuville’s teammates Ott Tanak and Adrien Fourmaux were fourth and fifth at the end of day one, 27 and 30 seconds in arrears respectively.

Kalle Rovanpera made a relatively slow start for Toyota, ending the day sixth and 43.9 seconds behind the lead.

“It’s been a pretty difficult start for us tonight,” said the Finnish star.

“We did not have the pace that we were hoping for and we need to investigate a bit.

“I didn’t really have these clearer conditions without snow and ice in my testing on the new tyres, and it seems that maybe my natural style is not working so well.

“So we need to try and find something to use the car and tyres together better. We have managed to do that on this rally before and hopefully we can do so again.”

Rally Monte-Carlo continues on Friday with SS4 at 7:30pm (AEDT).

Latest from Torquecafe

Here comes Ram’s Hurricane

21 March 2025

Porsche new Macan proves the hater wrong

21 March 2025

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: Ford’s Dark Horse play + New Supercars dyno explained

21 March 2025

PODCAST: Australian GP review, Supercars racing rules & screenshot drama

18 March 2025

Related Articles

Adrien Fourmaux during Rally Sweden.

FIA dishes WRC driver $50,000 fine for F-word on live TV

WRC
1 month ago
WRC
0 COMMENTS
Sebastien Ogier celebrates winning Rally Monte-Carlo for the 10th time.

Ogier takes 10th Rally Monte-Carlo win

WRC
2 months ago
WRC
0 COMMENTS

Platinum Partners

Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates XPEL FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner

Official Partners

AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables bathurst sportsnetholidays

Latest News

Christian Horner and Zak Brown have thrown their support behind F1 returning to V10 power in future. Image: XPB Images.

F1 teams call for V10 engine return

F1
22 March 2025
F1
0 COMMENTS
The wounded Toyota GR Yaris of Harry Bates on SS2 of the Rally of Canberra.

Bates loses wheel in horror start to Canberra rally

Rally
22 March 2025
Rally
0 COMMENTS
Jack Doohan was left frustrated to have been an early elimination from Sprint Qualifying. Image: XPB Images.

Doohan frustrated by Sprint Qualifying near miss

F1
22 March 2025
F1
0 COMMENTS
Lewis Bates flies through the air during a rally stage.

LIVE STREAM: Australian Rally Championship Rally of Canberra

Rally
22 March 2025
Rally
0 COMMENTS
Provisional grid for the Sprint for the Formula 1 Chinese GP. Image: XPB Images.

Chinese GP: Sprint Grid

F1
22 March 2025
F1
0 COMMENTS
Load More

Your Daily Racing Fix

Try our daily email, The best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Copyright © 2024 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team    /  Advertise with us  /  Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • SHOP
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • SHOP
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.