Sébastien Loeb does not discount and also wins the third special stage in a row, Special Stage 5 Val-de-Chalvagne / Entrevaux 1 of 17.11 kilometers of the Rallye Monte-Carlo 2022 and, thanks to this result, is the new leader of the first event of the World Rally started last night.
The time of 10’56 “8 led him to win the race thanks to a last split that was effective to say the least, with the bottom becoming less and less icy step by step. This greatly favored the Alsatian of the M-Sport team. who was able to take advantage of the opportunity to become the new leader at Monte.
Thanks to this, Loeb became the oldest leader in WRC history with his 47 years, 10 months and 26 days, beating the now former record holder, Swede Bjorn Waldegard in this special ranking.
Now Loeb has a lead of 10 “6 over the first of his rivals, who became Elfyn Evans after a great test in PS5. Sébastien Ogier slipped to third position, but he was still the author of an excellent test considering his starting position. which forced him to slow down a lot in the last part of the test due to a particularly icy asphalt in the shaded areas.
Hyundai Motorsport raises its day a bit thanks to the excellent performance of Thierry Neuville, who seems to have better understood the i20 N Rally1 and how to make it work more effectively. The Belgian got the third time thanks to a fabulous final stage despite the still very icy asphalt. It is there where Thierry made the difference, managing to climb to fourth position in the overall standings.
For him, now, the comeback against Ogier will be difficult. Between the two there are 27 “2, but in Monte-Carlo nothing can be taken for granted. Both Craig Breen and Gus Greensmith have lost several positions. The latter did not have the support of the hybrid system due to a failure, while Breen is rediscovering Monte-Carlo after several years of absence and, as we know, experience is a fundamental factor in being able to do well in the Principality.
The difficulties continue for Takamoto Katsuta, Kalle Rovanpera and Oliver Solberg, respectively eighth, ninth and tenth in the general classification. The two Toyota drivers are struggling to become familiar with the GR Yaris and with the use of the hybrid system, while Solberg has smoke entering the cockpit and makes him tear (clearly visible at the end of the test), also making him lose concentration. The Swedish / Norwegian also faced other troubles such as several spinning and an energy management brought by the 100 kW electric motor still to be perfected.
As for the WRC2 Andreas Mikkelsen has become the new leader of the race after the problem with the right front suspension that occurred on Eric Camilli’s Citroen C3 Rally2. The Frenchman crashed and now the TokSport team driver commands the general with a 3 “9 advantage over Stéphane Lefebvre, who is also at the wheel of a Citroen C3 Rally2. Third position for Yohan Rossel (Citroen C3 Rally2).
The morning lap of this first day of racing of the Rallye Monte-Carlo 2022 ends here. Drivers will now be able to use the Tire Fitting Zone for changing tires, but not the mid-day Service. An extra difficulty for everyone, especially for those who have damaged their vehicle or who have technical problems.
The day of competition will resume this afternoon with Special Stage 6, the Roure / Beuil 2 of 18.33 kilometers. the first car, the GR Yaris Rally1 number 1 of Sébastien Ogier and Benjamin Veillas, will enter testing at 14:16 Italian time.
WRC – Rallye Monte-Carlo 2022 – Ranking after PS5
Pos. | Pilot / navigator | Car | Time / posting |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Loeb / Galmiche | Ford Puma Rally1 | 54’40 “9 |
2 | Evans / Martin | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +10 “6 |
3 | Ogier / Veillas | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +13 “0 |
4 | Neuville / Wydaeghe | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +40 “2 |
5 | Breen / Nagle | Ford Puma Rally1 | +46 “0 |
6 | Tanak / Jarveoja | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +48 “3 |
7 | Greensmith / Andersson | Ford Puma Rally1 | +56 “5 |
8 | Katsuta / Johnston | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | + 1’23 “5 |
9 | Rovanpera / Halttunen | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | + 1’58 “8 |
10 | Solberg / Edmondson | Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | + 1’03 “1 |
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