Neuville clinched the win, he was the fastest in Sunday’s, and grabbed the top spot in the rally-ending Power Stage. Thus, the Belgian opened his WRC season with 30 points.
“I don’t have the words. it was just so great this weekend, the team was just working so well. I think it’s the first time the team has come together like this, with Cyril (Abiteboul). We were the boss this weekend,” said Neuville, who secured his 20th career victory.
Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier finished behind Neuville on Sunday, with a final gap of 16.1 seconds to the winner. Ogier was visibly shaken during a stage interview on Friday and later elaborated on his emotional state after the event.
“It’s been a nice battle. Well done to Thierry. It’s been a tough week, big rollercoaster of emotion. Especially Friday was tough. I had to say goodbye to an important person on Monday who inspired me into motorsports and gave me my first car,” Ogier summarized, referring to his recently deceased uncle.
Elfyn Evans, who led the event after Friday, ultimately had to settle for third place in his Toyota.
“At the end of the day we weren’t fast enough to win. Didn’t get it on Saturday afternoon. On this one, the tires were screaming halfway up, “Evans commented.
Hyundai’s Ott Tänak finished the rally in fourth, ahead of M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux and his teammate Andreas Mikkelsen. The seventh spot went to Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta.
In the championship points, Neuville took home the full haul. Ogier collected the second-most points, a total of 24. Among Neuville’s real contenders, Evans grabbed 21 points and Tänak 15.
Rossel makes an incredible climb to class victory
The WRC2 class saw a thrilling battle for victory, with Citroen’s French driver Yohan Rossel taking the win on the final stage by just four seconds ahead of the Skoda-driving Spaniard Pepe Lopez. Nikolay Gryazin finished third, 15.4 seconds behind his teammate Rossel.
“It’s crazy. My tires are completely dead, I think it’s the same for Pepe. Incredible feeling. A big thanks to the team, my family, and my friends. It’s unfortunate for Pepe. He also drove brilliantly,” Rossel said, tears in his eyes.
“Satisfied, no. We fought a lot of win this rally. All the things we have we did the best. Thank you to the team. Let’s see what this year brings us,” said Lopez, one of the rally’s big surprises.
Competing with Toyota’s new Rally2 car, Sami Pajari finished fifth in his class. He was nearly five minutes behind the leader. However, Pajari was not competing for points in his class at Monte Carlo.
MM-sarjan pisteissä Neuville siis saalisti täyden potin. Toiseksi eniten pisteitä otti Ogier, yhteensä 24 kappaletta. Neuvillen todellisista uhkaajista Evans nappasi 21 pistettä ja Tänak 15.
The World Rally Championship continues with Rally Sweden in February.
Final results of Rally Monte Carlo:
1. Thierry Neuville Hyundai 3.09.30,9 2. Sebastien Ogier Toyota +16,1 3. Elfyn Evans Toyota +45,2 4. Ott Tänak Hyundai +1.59,8 5. Adrien Fourmaux Ford +3.36,9 6. Andreas Mikkelsen Hyundai +5.34,6 7. Takamoto Katsuta Toyota +8.28,5 8. Yohan Rossel Citroen +10.29,8 9. Pepe Lopez Skoda +10.33,8 10. Nikolai Grjazin Citroen +10.45,2 11. Nicolas Ciamin Hyundai +14.44,1 12. Sami Pajari Toyota +15.16,3
