2025 Rallye Monte-Carlo – Friday report
Ogier, chasing an unprecedented tenth Rallye Monte-Carlo triumph on this season-opening spherical of the FIA World Rally Championship, started the day on the again foot after an off-road second on Thursday’s third stage price him round 20sec. By Friday night, nevertheless, the Frenchman had turned the tables, main the rally by 12.6sec due to a masterful drive on the ice-kissed phases.
Ogier’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 team-mate Elfyn Evans initially dethroned in a single day chief Thierry Neuville on the opening stage, edging forward after shading the Belgian by 2.8sec at Saint-Maurice – Aubessagne 1. Neuville’s hopes of reclaiming the lead have been dashed moments later when he limped out of La Bréole – Selonnet 1 with a broken rear-left suspension, a expensive consequence of working huge on a downhill hairpin.
Evans, a four-time runner-up within the drivers’ championship, noticed his lead diminished to simply 1.5sec by noon. A spirited response after service helped him lengthen the margin to 7.9sec, however catastrophe struck on an icy part in Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes – La Bâtie-Neuve. A half-spin on a treacherous patch handed the stage win – and the rally lead – again to Ogier. The Frenchman, energised by competing on roads only a stone’s throw from his dwelling village of Forest-Saint-Julien, prolonged his benefit additional with a commanding efficiency on the day’s finale.
Sébastien Ogier staged a powerful comeback on Friday at Rallye Monte-Carlo, vaulting from third to first general as Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans fell sufferer to the treacherous Alpine roads.
With Neuville and Ott Tänak each dealing with setbacks – Tänak clipped a telegraph pole on SS6, damaging his i20 N Rally1’s bodywork – it was Adrien Fourmaux who carried the Hyundai torch. On his first WRC outing with the group, Fourmaux confirmed promise with a stage win and two second-fastest occasions, securing the ultimate podium spot simply 1.6sec behind Evans.
Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanperä additionally discovered his rhythm after a measured begin on Thursday. The Toyota ace received the morning’s opening stage and climbed from sixth to fourth by day’s finish. He ended 24.3sec behind Fourmaux however held an 8.8sec cushion over Tänak, whose SS6 second required a purchasing record of alternative physique panels.
Grégoire Munster delivered considered one of his strongest performances to this point, securing consecutive second-fastest stage occasions within the morning loop. The M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver ran as excessive as fourth earlier than a tyre deflation on the penultimate stage dropped him to sixth general, however worse was to return as {an electrical} fault on the highway part after the ultimate take a look at compelled his retirement.
That meant that Takamoto Katsuta rounded out Friday in sixth, forward of Neuville and Toyota’s younger star Sami Pajari. Neuville misplaced extra time on the second cross by way of La Bréole – Selonnet, struggling a tyre deflation that brought about him to slip huge on the identical nook the place he had faltered earlier within the day.
Flawless Rossel builds mighty Monte WRC2 lead
Yohan Rossel laid down an emphatic marker, storming right into a commanding WRC2 lead in tenth general by Friday night time.
The Frenchman, driving a PH Sport Citroën C3 Rally2, has been unbeatable to date, profitable each stage contested over the primary two days of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season opener.
Rossel, who fought tooth and nail to say victory right here by simply 4.0sec final yr, is in a league of his personal this time round. By the shut of Friday’s motion, he held a staggering 2min 3.2sec benefit over Hyundai i20 N Rally2 driver Eric Camilli, due to an unbroken streak of stage wins throughout Thursday and Friday’s Alpine phases close to Hole.
The Rossel household jubilation continued as Yohan’s youthful brother, Léo, dazzled on his WRC debut. The 27-year-old drove one other PH Sport Citroën to 3rd general, simply 16.0sec behind Camilli. Léo additionally led the WRC2 Challenger class, open to up-and-coming drivers who haven’t beforehand received a WRC2 or WRC3 title in a Rally2 automobile or scored WRC producer factors.
Elsewhere in WRC2, Roberto Daprà guided his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 to fourth, with Jan Černy and Filip Kohn rounding out the highest six. Maurizio Chiarini impressed within the WRC Masters Cup, holding a decisive lead within the class for drivers aged 50 and over.
Saturday is the rally’s longest day and contains six phases totalling greater than 120 kilometres towards the clock.
